December 1958 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls; Grammar School Mag-azine

December, 1958"·

:Brisbane Girls; Gramma1· School Magazine

De.cember, 1958

Then Mrs. Harcourt sees her husband go under, when 'is boat overturns (wouldn't go down wi' 'is ship--not he). So she gets frantic-like-almost capsized our boat she did. But in the end she loses 'er balance an' falls screamin' into the sea. Many men say'd, "Good riddance," but I tells 'em to love their neighbours . Long afore we' ad lost our oars, an' we was beinq toss'd aroun' and aroun' by the gigantic waves, like we w~xs toys. We was nearin' shore now, an' the villagers waded in an' dragg'd us, exhausted, to their cottages. It was all hazy-like, those men in their mackintoshes an' 'ats wi' glowerin' lonterns waverin' on' squeekin' in the gale. We wos the on'y survivors , our boat an' the one behind us. After obout a week o' coreful nursin' I 'ad fully rec:over'd. I used to wander olong the sea-shore, o-wotchin' the men carryin' orff bodies jest been wosh'd up upon the shingle. An' ot night os I wolk'd aimlessly olong the row of neatly white- wash'd fishermen's cottages, on' stood in the light from the glow of the oil-lamps within, I could 'ear the pitiful sobs of the women on' chillen a -mournin' on' woilin' for their drown'd lov'd ones, an' the melancholy voices o' the men tryin' to comfort them-but in vain . It was about six months later tha' we return'd to Englond - leavin' behind us a small graveyard, in which lie buried, to this day, those poor unfortunates, whose bodies were recover'd from the drift-wood strewn beach for months afterwords. How we thank'd Providence for savin' us, and still to this day, when I pray I remembers to pray for their souls (even Mrs. Har- court's). Aye 1 but tha' were a long time ago, an' I 'ove lem·ned to forget. Oh 1 God forbid! What's tha' woman o-yellin' for now. Arh 1 It must be toy-time, an' come to think o' it, I do feel a wee bit 'ungry, a' thot. - Merrilyn Leagh-Murray, ·IVA.

COON CARNIVAL

The Christmas holidays bring many excitements for Cape- ionians, one of them being the annual Coon Carnival, which takes place on the first and second of January. Preparations are made months ahead for these days, which are so importont io the Cape Coloureds. All the coloured men belong to clubs which decide on their costume for the carnival and these are as colourful and g audy as possible. Some modern Brisbane houses remind me of them. One club 's uniform might be a Malay pink, satin suit, specially tailored on the "Zoot-suit" lines with gold lapels, blue suede shoes, a grey hat with a pink band, a blue shirt, and o brilliant red sash about the middle. The whole outfit costs anything up to twenty pounds. Preparations ore made in s ecret so that everything will be a surprise on the great doy . On the first of January the bands begin their marches. Overloaded trucks bring hoppy, singing men and boys to the city from country areas. The streets are crowded with gaily dressed acrobats, who hold up the traffic and jingle boxes under pedestrians' noses, hoping for pennies. Eoch man must outdo his neighbour, make more noise, and jump higher. At ihe head of each band towers the man on stilts. These amazing men have trousers ten to fifteen feet long, which hide their wooden stilt legs. All the bonds head towards Greenpoint Track, where the big events are held. The carnival tokes the form of competi- tions in which awards are given for the best dressed group, the best dancers and singers. The carnival is a perfect excuse for the performers to show off and entice pennies out of the European onlookers' pockets. For days ofterwards the streets are invaded by bands of Coons who, with their bonjos and guitars, sing and donee to moke the best of the holidays. Children run after the sounds of their voices ond gaze odmiringly at their brilliant suits, rib- bons and parosols . Graduolly the excitement wears off, · the suits become tattered, the performers rather worn too, the public less patient, and everybody feels rather glad that there is a whole year to go until the next Coon Carnival.

Christine Hardy, IIIC.

- Else Budtz-Olsen , IVD.

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