July 1960 School Magazine

Brisbona Girls' Grqmmqr School Mcrgcrzine

Iuly, 1960

Brisbcrner Girls' Grqmmar School Mcrgczine

Iuly, 1960

PORT ARTHUR During recent holidays in Tasmania, our family visited the ruins of historical Port Arthur situated about eighty miles south- east of Hobart. We boarded the gleaming blue and silver bus at Franklin Square in the main street of Hob art, Elizabeth Street. Soon, with ?-purr of the motor, we were on our way. The bus wound quickly out 9{ th9 .ity, and in no time we were passing th.rgugh the countryside which resembles so greatly that of britain- with iis tanglgs of pink, wild roses, and .oniict-b;ilr Jo*Gdg;; surrounding the patchwork fields. At ten o'clock, the bus, topping a crest, revealed a breath- taking panorama of Fagle Hawk Neik, surrounded by sparkling blue sea. It was obvious that, as history relates, a chain^of mei qqd dogs could easily prevent runaway convicts from escaping. After lunch at the modern Lufra Hotel, we passed on to three Jt the main tourist attractions. The first, Tasman's Arch, is a natural rock span across the sea joined at either end to the mainland. a p?t4 hqt been worn away along the top by tourists. The second, a grimly fasci-13ting place, is the Devil's Kitchen. It is formed by sheer-sided_ cliffs, ending in a seething, bubbling mass of watei. Yuty are the tales told of desp erate convicts drowned while seek- ing escape in this place. The Blowhole, the third attraction, is a treacherous piece of the coast where water surges in from a hole in the outer itim into ? hollow, stone-covered cove. The water is forced upward in a huge, white spout. As the water recedes, the stones grind upon each other as they are sucked down. From here, we went to the ruins of Port Arthur itself. The ruins of the prison are awe-inspiring. The beautifully-designed, convict-hewn church, stands roofless today. The golden after:noon sunshine mellowed the bricks, throwing a warm-light within the church. In contrast, the convict cells are dark and miserable. Today, th.e1r, like th9 church, stand roofless for the most part, and *..0t stick gregl heads through the chinks. tsut it is ^still a place of horror. The guide showed us the punishment cells where ?onuicts Yere_ Put, sometimes for days on end, in complete darkness. Even the buttons were cut off their clothes so that they would have nothing to play with This, then, is Port Arthur to-day: "Five shillings each, sir !" ias you go through the turnstile, roofless stone buildings ful of past mJSery attq-gruesome tales-and on either hand, and'the very ground you walk on, the history of Austrarra. JUDYTH N4ATTHIES, IV.B.

INTERFORM SWIMMING"

-CHERYL PRICE, III C.

AMBULANCE SIREF{ In the silence of the night it came, Wailing afar. Then com:ng closer, rising

And fading away, Soaring, ebbing to nothing.

And all the time louder, louder, And as it passed I was frightened. No sound but that desolate, desperate cry In. emptiness. And my little brother woke, And gazed about wi h round child's eyes, Asked wondering baby's questions. Then the wailing went away. The thoughrs cf fear for ones I love Went too. And Richard fell asleep.

-J.L., V.B.

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