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 Pat Atkin on a bus tour to Mount Lofty in the morning, had lunch at the Grosvenor, then walked around shops in the afternoon and back to the ship by train in time to sail about 6pm. It was a beautiful evening. We sailed just at sunset in perfect calm, and before we were far away we could see the stream of traffic lights heading back to Adelaide. It was all very fairy-tale under a new moon and starry sky, with the red glow of sunset still on the water.“
Image of Obed and Florrie Bishop (taken at a later date)
P & O provided one page guides to each port of call. Click on the image to view the guide to Adelaide “The City Beautiful”.
“A representative of the Government Tourist Bureau boards all of the Company’s vessels on arrival for the purpose of arranging shore excursions and assisting passengers in any way possible. Buses leave the steamer’s side for tours to city and environs as early as practicable after the vessel berths”.
Letter to Jean’s sister Marj from Adelaide, 23 April
“Dear Marj, Alex, Mrs Hood and little boys,
Thank you all for the lovely things I found in my cabin on Saturday.
I’m hurrying to write this before breakfast so that it will go from here today. Everything is wonderful – absolute luxury plus!
Uncle Obed and Florrie met me yesterday when we docked & took me to their place for tea – the only time since we left that I felt a bit sick – thick soup for tea, got to the last couple of spoonfuls and saw a coupe of maggots or grubs!
Food on board’s marvellous – tea and an orange at 7, three course breakfast at 9 (if you want all 3), I there’s beef tea sometime in the morning, but missed it at church. yes – Sunday, 3 or 4 course lunch, arvo tea at 4 (bread & butter & cakes), 4 course tea at 8 (second sitting night through).
We go on a bus trip round Adelaide this morning, hope to have time in Adelaide to look round shops, and sail at 6 tonight (more streamers!).
Dancing on deck last night, but the crowds “dead” just yet! They say things don’t liven up till after Perth.
we had some fun last night having our hands ready by young Indian, just finished civil engineering degree at Melbourne University and going home.
I want to get another letter written before we leave in 1/2 hour for the tour.
Cheerio now, hope to have more news at Freemantle.
Lots of love, wish you were all here, love again from Jean.“
Excerpt from a letter to Mary written several days after departing Adelaide:
“Spent a good day in Adelaide on Monday – bus trip in morning, lunch, then a look round the town. Bought a nice long sleeved jumper at Myers – they didn’t have them in Melbourne.”
Another jotting on Himalaya note paper with some further recollections of her time in Adelaide:
“22nd: Arrived Adelaide 3pm. Met by Obed and Florrie Bishop and taken home. Grub soup for tea – Ugh. Had hand read by Indian civil engineer. Danced on deck.
23rd: Tour by bus to Mt Lofty. Lunch in Adelaide at the Grosvenor with Pat. Shopped in afternoon. Back to ship by train.”
