Year: 2021

According to Wikipedia: "The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passing headlands, and become a "folly"…

"The week between Perth and Colombo was too short. The weather was perfect, and the routine most agreeable. Deck competitions were in full swing and everyone getting to know everyone…

"Swim & sunburn this morning"the only words jotted down on Mum's brief daily log on P&O letterhead! Photo from Jean's collection "Joe and Nell on deck"

Now the true voyage began - with eight days sailing on the open seas ahead before next land-fall in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Jean was now settling into the…

"Delightful bus trip to Perth. Wandered round university. Shopped in Perth. Back by bus - different route"From Jean's rough jottings (journal) on P & O Himalaya Letterhead "By Thursday morning…

Letter to Mary, 25 April: "Please excuse the hurried letter - I'm trying to get a few written to post tomorrow at Freemantle....not much life on board yet. Paid 3/-…

From Jean's journal: "Next day, Sunday, we reached Adelaide. Mum's brother, Obed Bishop and his wife Florrie met me and took me home for tea. Next day I went with…

Letter from Jean to her sister Mary, 22 April: "Dear Mary, Here we are almost to Adelaide - it's just 24 hours since we sailed and have done 430 miles.…

Weeks of preparations had led to Jean's departure from Melbourne on 21 April 2021. Her previous travels were most likely limited to visiting family in Albury / and southern New…

In 1951, aged 24, Jean Alexander was living in the suburb of Strathmore in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, with her parents Jim (James) and Bertha Alexander. She had two…