A Beginning at the end of the Line

The late 1960’s found Australia involved in an Asian conflict, and I too “was only nineteen”.

The “tin hare” rattled and clattered. Like my college peers, I had requested a city school. Limited vacancies in the “big smoke”, however, had resulted in a thirteen hour journey to western NSW. The railway terminated, and I alighted.

During the day, the mercury had surged to 117^oF Yes, you read correctly, a temperature above forty-seven degrees Centigrade—still a record for the town. The disappearing dusk heralded the onset of a stifling evening.

For a naive teetotaller, the prospect of a room in an outback pub was daunting. Not knowing the whereabouts of my pre-booked lodgings I boarded the waiting taxi. I swear the short drive to our destination took less time than extracting my bags from the car boot.

At the hotel, I walked in on a Friday night birthday bash for the hotelier’s daughter. As nervous as a ten-year old out front of the Principal’s office, I clutched the formal letter of introduction given me by the booking agency.

“G’day mate”, welcomed Ted. “So you’re the new teacher; park ya gear and come and join the celebration.” I scrunched the note, clearly inappropriate, and took a deep breath.

“Minimal”, best describes the accommodation. Swinging a bilby in the room would have proved difficult: two beds, token cupboards, and a try-hard window. My door, like several others, opened to an area partly enclosed by wire screening. The concrete floor of this larger space sloped towards the centre and acted as a rainwater drain. A plethora of potted plants attempted to make the enclosure accommodating.

Indescribable heat, combined with reverberating sleeping sounds from roommate Duncan, resulted in three sleepless nights. I had but a couple of days to explore the town before embarking on the first day of my teaching career.

Would I survive?
“So long as you have courage and a sense of humour, it is never too late to start life afresh.” Freeman Dyson (1923-) British/American mathematician, physicist.

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