From Melbourne (Mum) 5.11.84

From Melbourne

25.11.84

Dear Alan,

                                Just a letter to let you know that Daryl is going to South Africa next Sunday (2^nd Dec) for business. He was only told this week and all he knows is that he is going to Johannesburg. He will be in South Africa for two weeks leaves here on the 2 and comes home on the 16^th Dec. He doesn’t know what he will be doing in his spare time if any – but we have given him your phone number. I am not sure what he does but it something to do with computers. His wife wanted to come with him but it is strictly a business affair.

                By the time you get this letter he will already be there but he only just found out.

                Beverley finished her exams and last week she bought all her junk home. We haven’t quite tidied it all up yet but it is easier to walk through the lounge room. Tonight she was watching Countdown which is still going now she is watching MASH. Things don’t change very much do they. All the afternoon Dad and Beverley were watching the 2^nd test between the West Indies and Australia. But the Australians are hopeless I doubt whether the West Indies will have to go in for their 2^nd innings. The two teams seem to play different games.  The West Indies play so much better look as though they are enjoying while the Australians are so worried about what they are doing that they muck it all up.

                I spent the afternoon gardening and put some vegetables in. We didn’t have much success because the trees are now so big that we don’t get enough sunshine in for them to grow well. At least the trees keep the kitchen cool. The sun just can’t get in.

                Next Sunday we are meeting most of our Neyland relatives at Auntie Grace’s.  All of Keith’s family and Evelyn’s family will be there. Not all of the families from Heidelberg are coming. They never did have much to do with us but a couple are coming. Even Ian has come back from New Zealand so he will be there.

                I hope that Lorna got all her work done. When you haven’t studied for a few years it is hard to get back into the habit. Anyhow she has got her life in front of her not like me.

                I do try new ideas at the kindergarten but it gets harder each year to change. I do make an effort every year to do something different otherwise I think I could get stuck in a groove. I know what you are thinking Beverley and Lois say I am stuck in a groove. We even learnt some new songs. They took me weeks to learn and the children about 10 minutes. It really is harder to remember as you get older.

                I suppose the girls have started Christmas activates now. All the children are making presents for their parents and learning some Christmas songs to sing at the Christmas party. I suppose they will have something at school and kindergarten too.

                Next day. Couldn’t find out anything about what Daryl was doing. The Australians were slaughtered in the cricket and Kim Hughes resigned as Captain. I don’t think anybody would have done any better. The others are just too good.

                                                                      Love from everyone  Mum

From Melbourne (Dad) 13.11.84

From Melbourne

13.11.84

Dear Alan,

                It was a pleasant surprise to hear your voice on the phone a few weeks ago and we would like that to happen more often. We wouldn’t mind if you reversed the charges. A phone call does seem more intimate although we appreciate letters as I am sure you do too.

                We are getting a constant stream of letters from Pamela (no phone calls) telling us in great detail of life in Tonga. The letter-writing may be a way of relieving boredom as I’m sure nothing very exciting happens there.

                Tonga hardly ever appears in the news in the Australian media which is not the case with South Africa. There has been a deal of attention lately with particular emphasis on the disturbances (or riots) in the black townships. From here the situation does not look good but we could hardly say it was altogether unexpected. 

                I formed the impression from our brief visit, plus the reading I have managed about South Africa, that some violence was inevitable and likely to continue for some time.  However wholesale revolution is perhaps another mater and hopefully the Govt will act sensible before that happens. We (your mother and I) attended a very interesting lecture last week given by Allen Boesak the colored SA clergyman who paid a visit to Australia in which he addressed 45 meetings in 13 days. He is a dynamic speaker, rational and articulate, and certainly not a communist. His main attack was on the spurious theological basis for apartheid and he did a first-class demolition job on the subject of non-violent opposition he pointed out that he was in a dilemma as a Christian and a man who had been greatly influenced by Gandhi and Martin Luther King he felt impelled towards non-violence but asserted that non-violent opposition had always been countered with violence by the Government.

                Boesak alleged that the ANC had been non-violent for the first 50 years of its existence but had been forced to take up violence by the Govt’s attitude. Your thoughts on that would be interesting.    

                The other big news we’ve been getting from Africa is the drought, particularly the situation in Ethiopia. I have a strong feeling that no matter what aid is sent we will be seeing similar scenes on TV screens for the next ten years. The situation in so many countries is so complex – mismanagement of issues, bureaucracy gone mad, internal facilities etc, that a few shipments of wheat isn’t really going to make much difference is it?

                The political scene in Australia is very different. At the moment we are in the middle of an unnecessary election campaign and it has become a monumental bore. The campaign is too long (about the longest in Australian history) and as the result is almost a fore-gone conclusion nobody is very interested. The main debating points are superannuation, capitol gains tax, wealth tax, assets tests on pensioners indirect taxes; hardly life and death issues, more the self-indulgence of an affluent society. And yet unemployment is 8.5% and 2,000,000 Australians are supposed to be below the poverty line. Even if all Australians are not well off I think it can be said most live in “the lucky country” at least for the time being.

                Perhaps it is better to concentrate on serious subjects like sport. We have now started the cricket season, after a very interesting football season, but judging by the first test against the West Indies which finished yesterday it looks like being an unmitigated disaster. The Aussies were beaten by an innings in 3 ½ days and were pathetic. Although to be fair it was more a case of brilliant play by the West Indies. They are so good it makes you wonder why the blacks aren’t encouraged to play cricket more in South Africa. Apparently they are not so interested but perhaps they were discouraged in the past.

                If the Australians aren’t too demoralized in the next few tests we’ll probably have a look at them when the test is played in Melbourne at Christmas.

                One thing we have seen recently is the new State Theatre in the Victorian Arts Centre in St Kilda Road. This complex of theaters next to the art gallery is really something and most experts consider it world standard. Not exactly the Sydney Opera house from the outside but beats Sydney on the inside.  Who said there was no culture in Australia? We have seen one opera there and are booked to see another in a few weeks’ time.

                However most of our spare time at present is being spent trying to keep the grass down at Trentham. Excellent spring rains have meant a prolific growth and we want to be on top of the situation before the bush-fire season.  We went for a tour of the Wombat Forest last Saturday with experts from the Native Plants Preservation Society and it was an eye-opener.

                In places it was like a garden and we logged 58 different species inn two hours. Partly the result of the bushfires; partly knowing where to look.

                 On the home-front we are gearing up for a busy pre-Christmas period. Beverley finished exams last week and is doing some part-time work while awaiting results. She edited a magazine for Uni College and it was distributed last week. Quite a good effort.

                Received the photos from Lorna, much appreciated.

                                                                                Kindest regards Dad

                

From Melbourne (Mum) 8.10.84

From Melbourne

8.10.84

Dear Alan, Lorna, Melissa and Jolene,

                                                                It was nice to receive the letters from Melissa and Jolene. Jolene is just like the drawings the children do at the kindergarten. I was glad you liked the books. I have put more in a box that I am sending over for Christmas. One is a big book to share and the others you can decide between yourselves.

                In your last letter you said a friend was coming to Melbourne he hasn’t been in touch with us but we were not sure when he was coming. If you remember I put in an article from the paper by a senator who had been to South Africa. I made a mistake I said he must have been Liberal because a Labour man would have been more anti South Africa Government. But he was a Labour man! He was Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs who should have known a bit.

                I am sorry Lorna I have taken so long to get the photos I am enclosing. I really am not very good at taking close-ups – not bad on scenery. I took 7 photos of Lois before I got this one. I only had to take three of Beverley before I got a decent photo. Both of them a reasonable likeness of them. Maybe it is time I got a camera that I don’t have to focus.

                We haven’t forgotten to send you a wedding present it was just too hard to think of something we could send so we have decided to send you some money. There must be something you would like to buy. I would rather bought something but all things II thought of were not suitable to send. We should have been quicker but I don’t know the time just disappears. Before we know it Christmas will be here. Parcels to reach you by Christmas have to be sent next week.

                We have been reading a lot more news about South Africa in the paper lately. When there is trouble it makes news. Do you ever see anything about Australia. We only seem to be worried about what are really minor problems in most country but we make them into major problems because that is all we have.

                Pamela is finding life is very different where she is. It is very poor but they have plenty of food and nothing else. She says the king is more worried about his few sheep (which are in a paddock opposite Pam’s house) than the people. They are the only sheep in Tonga and haven’t been sheared since they came. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that was the only sort of problem that most countries had? Can you think of something better for Jolene and Melissa to call me other than Mrs Carlton.

                                                                                                                         Love from Mum

From Empangeni (Jolene and Melissa) 1984

Photos from Empangeni 1984

From Empangeni (Lorna) 1984

From Empangeni

Dear Mr & Mrs Carlton,

Thank you for all the photos you sent. I certainly did not recognize Alan in the photo that was taken of him and his sisters at that picnic. Alan says that Beverley has changed such a lot that he hardly recognizes her. We have sorted out a few more photos for you. The three with Alan and myself were taken at the Zululand Safari Lodge at Hluhluwe where we spent a weekend. The other photos are the bridge that was washed away during the flood just in front of my sister’s house in Swaziland and of Melissa and Jolene with friends and cousins at my mother’s house. At the moment I am studying very hard for my exams. I have already written one exam and have another five to write. 

The weather has warmed up quite a lot already and we are swimming nearly everyday at the swimming pool.

Alan ran a 16 km race last Saturday evening, it was his first race in over a year, and he came 24^th and then won a lucky prize after the race. Melissa and Jolene were so excited about it. Alan is going to studying computer science with the university next year, also correspondence, for non-degree purposes. At the moment he is busty making a word processor program for the computer so that we can use it as a word processor as well. One of these days you will get a letter printed by the computer.

You mentioned in your letter that you wondered if we ever see anything of Australia in the news. We quite often see things on TV about Australia but it is usually a dog that can write his name and lay the piano, or a man riding on the back of a cow which he has trained to carry him like a horse or something funny, but nothing newsworthy. Melissa and Jolene have drawn pictures for you.  Melissa’s is of Alan running on the rack track and Jolene’s is a house and a flower.

Anyway, that’s all for now

                                Love from Lorna

From Empangeni 5.9.84

From Empangeni

5.9.84

Dear Mum,

                                We have just moved into a Government house. It has a very large garden which is slightly over-grown. It needs a lot of work.

                It’s coming up to summer and the natives are getting restless. I don’t know what it has to do with the weather. Maybe it has more to do with Colored & Indian elections which were held last week. Really can’t see any long term future for this new constitution. The more I think about it the more depressed I get.

                Also the economy has taken a dive in the last few months. The Rand is continually reaching all-time lows which is good for the tourist but bad for anybody who wants to buy anything with rands (esp. foreign currency). Any constitution should be a moving changing thing but this one is going to move so fast it is ridiculous.

                The worst rioting has been near Vereeniging. Do you remember that place? Mobs of blacks were even stoning shops in white areas. The township closest to Vereeniging is Sharpeville. A well known place but I’m sure few of the residents know why.

                It’s going to be a very hot summer. During winter I think I wore a jumper to work, from memory, twice. We can’t complain. It’s been a beautiful winter. The weather has been perfect but we will pay for this.

                The Medical Superintendent from this hospital is visiting Melbourne. I gave him your phone number. If he contacts then please make him feel welcome.

                                Regards Alan

Photos: Swimming Pool 1984

From Melbourne (Anne) 28.8.84

From Melbourne
28.8.84

Dear Lorna,

                                Thank you very much for writing to Mum and Dad and enclosing photos of Melissa and Jolene. Benjamin saw the photographs and understands that they are his cousins.

                He wrapped up some of his old toys and wanted to send them to the girls. But I won’t let him send “junk“  to them.

                Instead I have enclosed some photos of Benjamin. I haven’t any current ones. The current ones are in my camera! I was going to take lots of photos these holidays but his face is all puffed-up with suspected mumps.

                I have spent most of the school holidays at home because he has been sick and also because it has been so wet.

                I work full-time as a Maths-Science teacher in a technical school i.e. the students are aged 11 -18 years old. It is a “rough” area where I teach but I enjoy it most of the time.

                My friend who lives across the road, Geesje minds Benjamin during the day and takes him to kindergarten. 

                Next year in February her son Daniel and Benjamin start school which is a milestone in anybody’s life! I find it hard to believe that my son is that old – His first years have gone so quickly.

                Benjamin will be 5 on the 28^th September. On the 29^th September we have the footy Grand Final which is   a big event in Melbourne. The final five i.e. those whose play off in the finals is still undecided.

                I live in St Albans with my husband Dennis and Benjamin. We live about 6 miles from Mum and Dad.

                We also have a black and white cat called Puss-Puss.  She is about 6 years old. And we also have a pure bred Cardigan Corgi – she is mainly black with touches of white and tan. Her name is “Joey” and she is the best natured pet I ever had. She is very quiet and only barks when there is reason to. She is absolutely devoted to my husband and follows him everywhere.

                I hope that Lorna you don’t find this letter too boring as there is no news in it. It sort of just introduces my family and I.

                I hope all is well with you, Alan, Melissa and Jolene,

                                                                                                                         Love from Anne.

                P.S. I am Alan’s eldest sister.  I will be 30 on the 31st December this year.

From Melbourne (Dad) 1.8.84

From Melbourne

1.8.84

Dear Alan,

                Firstly congratulations on your marriage. Your mother and I sincerely hope your married life is a happy and harmonious one. You both have our best wishes.

                Since our return from South Africa we have had time to let our impressions sink in but we saw so much in a short  time that it is a little dangerous to form definite opinions without  a great deal of thought. The holiday was a memorable experience; I found the scenery, animal life, plant life and bird life very impressive but he fascinating thing about South Africa is the society. For the whites the similarity of life-style with Australia is obvious but underneath there are certainly marked differences. The potentiality for upheaval is certainly there but my impression is that it is not likely just yet. However I’m not making any predictions, the situation is too complex and so much will depend on the rate of reform. I see the ANC is still causing trouble and I have no doubt that it is going to go on and probable escalate but SA can probably life with a certain amount of violence.

                The political scene in Australia is rather different; the general debate seems to be on rather trivial matters. The present major concern is over a false customs declaration by a minister of the Fed Government. Hardly earth shattering matters. There is also the ever-present obsession with higher wages and shorter working hours despite the lessons of the recession.

                However it has to be said that the Labour Government is performing fairly well on the economic front.  Inflation has drifted to the lowest level for about six years and there has been a drop in unemployment. Economic growth has been fairly strong in the   past six months and if that continues there could be a further improvement in the employment figures.

                The big news at the moment however is sport. The Olympic Games is getting massive coverage in all the media. By the end of next week we could well be bored to tears, perhaps relieved a bit if Australia wins any Gold medals. 

                I believe there is no TV coverage of the Games in South Africa but no doubt there is news in the Press. I can imagine the furore if Z Budd wins a Gold medal. South Africans seem to be as besotted with sport as Australians.

                The football season here is drawing to a close with the final set-up yet to be determined. Footscray and Melbourne are both still with a chance of making the finals; the next couple of weeks will tell the tale. However Essendon & Hawthorn look superior to all the others with Essendon best bet for the flag. This year for the first time some of the finals will be played on Sundays – a cause for some controversy. 

                I have not been to any matches this year as we have been too busy on most days and on others the games have not been attractive.

                That we have been busy in the business is a good sign; at least we are still viable even if somewhat outmoded. We should be able to hang on for another year or so before thinking about closing the door.

                The house has been somewhat quiet in recent weeks since Pamela left for Tonga. She used to come in quite often and give a spurt to any discussion. She also was not adverse to new ideas a d stirring up her parents. 

                We have had several letters from Pamela since she reached Tonga – one arrived on the same day as your last letter. She is experiencing the conditions of a real third-world country and has to life on a wage the same indigenous people would receive. She is in charge of the library of a secondary girl’s school run by the Methodist church and has to battle with very limited resources. She is already talking about us going over for a holiday. I’m not sure about that. A holiday on an island about 50 miles long isn’t all that attractive unless it could be combined with another place. Personally I would like to visit New Guinea; it has an exotic flavor and is not far from Australia. Your mother is keener on seeing more of Australia and I must concede that makes sense. In the meantime we will have to work hard and save-up.

                Your mother is looking for photos of you sisters to send to Lorna but hasn’t found suitable ones yet. We might have to have some taken. Everybody is well except Lois broke her hand at hockey.

                Kindest regards to yourself @ Lorna

                                                                 Dad

From Melbourne (Anne) 25.7.84

From Melbourne

25.7.84

Dear Alan,

                I am writing to congratulate you on getting married and to give you and Lorna best wishes for your future together.

                If you have any photographs of the wedding please send them to Mum and Dad so that we can see them.

                Mum said Lorna has 2 girls. Benjamin will be 5 on the 28^th September. Please tell us when their birthdays are.

                When Mum came back from South Africa she gave me a wall hanging. It is a weaving of 2 elephants which I have hung in my loungeroom. It looks great.

                The thing that Benjamin liked the most were some black wooden crocodiles that Mum had.

                I am writing this letter at school. Work is going alright and I am getting quite used to teaching. We have this new teacher EM who used to go to school with you. He remembers you well. He teaches Maths and Science like I do. He lives in Sunshine with his parents.

                Once again I hope all is well with you and Lorna.

                                                                        Love from Anne Dennis and Benjamin xxxxxxxxxx

From Empangeni (Lorna) 13.7.84

From Empangeni

13.7.84

Dear Mr & Mrs Carlton

                                We have just moved into a house and are starting to settle in. The house has got a pool which is quite necessary in this hot climate. It is supposed to be the middle of winter and yet it is almost hot enough to swim. Melissa has started settling in at her new school. She was quite far behind when she started as she was doing different work in Pietermaritzburg and has had quite a lot to catch up with. The schools have broken up now for the holidays and her report said that she had done well to catch up to the rest of the class. Jolene settled in quite easily at the pre-primary. They have both been up to Howick to spend a few days with my mother.

Alan and I went to False Bay for a night and tried out the new tent that we bought. False Bay is on the northern shores of Lake St Lucia. We had a nice time hiking through indigenous forest. We saw quite a lot of buck, birds and a few warthog. While we were walking along the shore we could see footprints of Hippos. Swimming and yachting are not allowed as the lake is apparently full of hippos and crocodiles. We also saw a few pelicans. There is a pelican breeding colony in the vicinity. There are also huts in the bush that you can only get to by hiking to them. While we were sleeping we were woken by a fairly large buck which was eating the vegetation behind the tent. We also found a porcupine quill but did not see any porcupine.

This weekend we are getting my sisters to stay and we had two of Alan’s friends from the Transkei to stay for a few days. They will probably come back this weekend and get a lift with my sister back to Swaziland so it is just as well we are now in a house. We went through the photos to see if we could find anything suitable and these are what we could find. If we get anything else we will send them as well. Can you please send me photos of Alan’s sisters and yourselves as well as Benjamin.

                                                                                          Love from Lorna, Melissa & Jolene

 

                

From Tonga (Pam) 21.7.84

From Tonga

21.7.84

Dear Alan,

                Bev copied out your last letter to Mum in full. So even on this isolated tropical island news travels fast. Congratulations.

                This post card is a bit of a con; there are coconut palms everywhere but poverty and frustration also. I am working and living at the main girls school in Tonga, run by the free Wesleyan Church. It has the environment of a country school in Australia 100 years ago I now know what a real book worm looks like.

                                                                                Regards Pam

From Melbourne (Mum) 2.7.84

From Melbourne

2.7.84

Dear Alan and Lorna,

                                                We have just received your letter today saying that you are married. We were pleased to hear it you should be happy together and the two girls.

                I am glad that we were able to go and see you both before so we don’t feel as if Lorna is a stranger.  We have a few photos of Lorna and the girls that we took but none of them are very good so if you have any good photos could you please send us some. We have only got the ones taken at Umfolozi and at Vereeniging and they are just photos. Don’t send us photos just sitting around looking at the camera but good ones of the children playing and Lorna doing something.

                When we think what to send we will send you something for a belated wedding present – I can’t think what it will be but I hope an idea will come.

                Lois rang up tonight and she was happy to hear you were married I am sure that is what she would like to do. At present she is off from school with a broken bone in her hand from hockey.

                You said in your letter it was getting cold if you had ben here today you would know what it is like to be cold. It got to 9 today. There was snow in the mountains and in the lower hills today. It was freezing outside and now it is raining. But until today it has been a mild winter and one of the driest May and June we have had.

                Even though it is so cold Dad went back to work tonight so I am here by myself. Beverley should be home for tea tomorrow night.

                I am not sure if I mentioned in my last letter that Anne had left Dennis and because and because the place she is staying at is only temporary she may be coming back here. We have plenty of room with three spare bedrooms and only Beverley now and again since Pamela went to Tonga last weekend.

                Some one said to me the other day they can only be sure of what they are doing one day at a time and how true it is.

                Tell Jolene and Melissa that when they are old enough that they have to come to Australia and visit us. I am sure they would enjoy it. I think Jolene and Benjamin are about the same age. But just at present Benjamin has nothing to do with girls – he and his friend Daniel “don’t like” girls and only play with boys. He will learn.

3-7-84 today is even colder the children at the kindergarten didn’t take off their parkas although we had the heaters on. Would you ever get a frost where you are?

                A man who said he was a friend of yours in Queensland wanted to get in touch with you because he wants to go to Zimbabwe. I told him that you wouldn’t be much help but I did give him your address. He was a dentist in Queensland.

                                Give my love to everybody

                                                                                                Mum

From Melbourne (colleague) 26.6.84

From Melbourne

26.6.84

Dear Alan,

                                You old bugger. We thought you were lost in some African wilderness for good. Actually me and GC thought you might have got married & didn’t want to let us know due to a certain bet (actually Dr C is going to tie the knot soon so we’ll be in the money…that is unless you are already married?)

                I hope you are enjoying work & life in RSA. I suppose you must as you’ve been there a few years now. I’m still working in Melbourne & bored shitless with it; I’m doing three jobs adding up to a full week BUT I’m getting the inspiration to travel; thus this letter. I am going to England eventually (after planning to do so for the past 4 ½ years … actually my passport will expire soon @ I’ve been nowhere!)

                But in addition to this I am interested in doing a 3-6 locum in Africa. I considered Zimbabwe but cannot find out anything about it in Australia as they have no ambassadors etc here! What do you know about it? How politically stable or unstable is it? Etc. Also how is the work situation in RSA do you think I would be able to find a 3-6 months locum position? Can you get your money out of the country if required? If you can provide me with any info I would be most grateful.

                I see fuck all of anybody from our year & I guess you care less about them. I see GC quite often @ is now finished his masters @ in private practice… still a womaniser & a pisshound. I see JC occasionally (@get pissed when I do) he is getting pissed off with work at Altona (yes! he’s still at it) & talking about visiting the UK next year … he’s even looked after a  few practices here in Melb. But has not come close to buying yet. Most other people are (a) married (b) have kids (c) bought practices @ (d) are now bloody bores. Actually about ½ our year have gone back to do Masters now. Enough on those turds. Dentistry in Vic is fucked: too many dentists vs fuck all patients. I saw 5 patients today!  

                These days I spend my time getting drunk or going scuba diving. I’m trying to kill myself by getting heavily into cave diving at MT Gambier. BUT all in all I’m pissed & looking forward to a change. I am waiting for a job offer from PNG as well …. Waiting for 6 months that is. I am registered up there but have to wait until they can afford to employ someone … which is not going to happen soon with their latest border problems with Indonesia.

                Hope this finds you in good health & hope to hear from you soon,

                                                                                Best wishes you shit,   CJ

                

Photos from Zululand Safari Lodge

From Empangeni 21.6.84

From Empangeni

21.6.84

Dear Mum,

                                It’s been almost getting cold. Last week it was quite cold especially when you don’t have any heating but three weeks ago I swam in the sea.

                The phone number I gave you is incorrect. The correct number is the area code + XXXX.

                Last week I got married and we went away for a couple of days.

                                                                                                                Regards Alan

From Melbourne (Mum) 13.6.84

From Melbourne

13.6.84

Dear Alan (Also Lorna and the kids),

                                                                                Just a short letter to say we arrived back here. It did take me a few days to get over the plane trip. I had hardly any sleep almost everyone was sprawled out over the seats – the plane was only about half full but I talked to a mother who was trying to stop her young child from crying. I slept most of the next day and was back at work on Wednesday.

                Everyone we meet wants to know what it is really like in South Africa. I am tired of telling people the same stories all the time.  They are not as interested in the animals, or the scenery etc but just how the people and how they all get on together or don’t get on.

                If we go overseas again I think I will choose a place that no-one is interested. We most likely will be going to Tonga next. On Saturday next Pamela is going there for two years with Australian Volunteers Abroad.  I can’t remember if I told you or not because she didn’t know for sure until we were away. She will be working in a library and also teaching Geography. She will be earning the same wages as the local people which is not very much. She will be able to survive but won’t save any money or be able to travel much. The island is only 50 miles long and narrow but there are many small islands around.

                Considering neither of us have taken many photos the photos we took are not bad – so good and a few didn’t come out but altogether we have a good picture of our holiday. Some of the animals taken at Umfolozi especially the giraffes look good. The hospital at Butterworth turned out alright and our Victoria Falls were better than expected. The photos of Capetown were a bit dull the weather caused that. In the next letter I’ll send a couple just to show you. Also found we have a bit of money not changed so I will put that in too. It’s no use to us.

                I am glad that you asked us to come over there. We would never have got there without some prodding.  Now we know where you are working and how you are getting on. Also it was good to meet Lorna and the girls. We really haven’t any reason to worry about you – well at least not at present. It is very hard to know to what is going to happen in South Africa. It is a country full of contradictions some very good people but some people who are very biased but Mr Botha if he is given a chance may be able to bring about some changes gradually. I hope so.

                                Love from Mum

                               

               

Photos from trip to South Africa in 1984

Diary of trip to South Africa 1984 : Part 3 by Dorothy Carlton

Friday – Caught train 9 o’clock – bit misty but lovely to watch going up plateau. Then the little Karoo – saw few baboons in a couple river valleys. Electric to Beaufort West – Diesel to Kimberley then electric to Joberg

Stay awaken to De-Aan still has many steam engines didn’t have much sleep

Saturday – Alan & Lorna met the train

Shopped a little in Joberg went to friends of Lorna at Vereeniging –

Saw first plant to convert oil from coal

largest steel manufacturing factory in SA.

Vaal crossed several times into OFS then back.

Some very large houses on large blocks – wide streets very flat – smoke fumes.

Sunday – caught bus into Joberg ordinary SAR bus only 5 of us on it. Joberg very quiet everything.

Went to Gold Mine Museum in afternoon – very good

Down mine – see gold

Working model of extracting gold.

Early mining

Monday – after taxi, 2 planes bus arrived at Victoria Falls Hotel. See mist from hotel. Went for a walk before dark. Saw part of falls. Large mist from falls from plane. Beautiful old English hotel – a honeymoon hotel

Plane from Joberg to Bulawayo full mostly Zimbabweans coming home. School starts tomorrow.

Tuesday – Visit to “Native village” then falls – the wetter you get the less you see.

very little in way of barriers

must be careful

late afternoon visit crocodile farm then ride on river

very peaceful saw sunset on river saw lion lying near track down to river waiting for game

baboons everywhere

came back saw African dancing after tea

walked back to falls in full moon light saw bush bucks go across track in front of us.

Had breakfast, lunch, tea on terrace overlooking gorge with spray coming up. 

Wednesday – up at 6 o’clock went into   Zambia cross bridge to see falls from other side walked down to bottom of gorge – had to buy curios to get into Zambia

Had breakfast in lounge too hot on terrace

Back to Joberg.

Plane from Vic Falls to Bulawayo mostly Australians (Queensland)

Thursday – Tour of Soweto

Streets very dirty no footpaths houses clean – children all in school uniforms

day nurseries all with aprons on

students at a secondary school were old @ large must have been 18 or more

plenty of open spaces which could be reserves or sporting grounds but most were neglected @ dirty

went up Carlton center

wonderful view – bit misty

walked around shops

saw part of Africana museum

Friday – Pretoria

Voortreeker Monument

Diamond mine

Paul Kruger’s house

Driver first person we meet very right – interesting to hear

Lunch – conversation American talking about China Russia with German couple opposite he was in tank at Stalingrad. SA guide in his own   

World not going to have anyone tell him what to do.

Two other Americans couldn’t care less about politics on a 30 day trip around world.

Saturday shops – & zoo

Sunday – home very long

Couldn’t get to sleep.

Diary of trip to South Africa 1984 : Part 2 by Dorothy Carlton

Thursday – Through George – very old town

Autumn leaves

Went through pass to Oudtshorn – see track taken by voortreekers over mountains  

walked through some of Cango Caves went to crocodile farm – mainly for leather few put back in wild.

Lunch at Oudtshorn ostrich egg ostrich biltong.   Malay dish cooked by colored told all about ostriches several in party tried to ride ostriches – ostrich race. Most workers colored. Oudtshorn center of little Karoo – went through cutting could see how Karoo formed of conglomerate of stones

very poor soil

along river flats cultivated good for ostriches.

1000 acres under irrigation

1000 not irrigated

1000 birds – all for feathers other farms kill for meat.

Ostrich museum in town.

Slept night in Oudtshorn 

Friday – down to Mossell Bay 

Lunch at Stellenbosch old town

Down through apple orchards 

Italian farmers POW from 2^nd World War

Into Capetown

Saturday – Shopping in morning

afternoon walking in gardens & cultural museum from early English, Dutch, German settlers

stones – carved by early sailors

Sunday – went to church nearby – just like Footscray mostly old – not very well dressed – very cold and windy.

Went to walk through Malay section houses very old – mosque still much the same as always. Don’t see many Malays around.

South African museum bushmen & other native displays very good

Good display all about Karoo – printing museum too.

Monday – The Castel of Good Hope never fought a battle

exhibitions of seas discoveries & ships & also military museum

very good but guide all against war I think he was “born again” Christian thought God was only hope.

walked through “the Companies Garden” beautiful big old trees @ squirrels

went up Table Mountain in cable car.

bus trip up through narrow old streets

cold up top but view wonderful

everything closed by 5 o’clock & city soon deserted no night light.

A lot of people have friends or relatives in Australia a lot of tourists here from England – Germany.

Tuesday – Shopping  

Went on to Parliament

Couldn’t understand much in Afrikaans if asked question in English answered in English.

Some English members.

Beautiful building. 

Wednesday – Down to Cape of Good Hope through Simonstown – Naval depot 

saw some animals in reserve

place where two oceans meet.

Back through Constantia lovely old house. 

Thursday – Wine tour – two cellars wine tasting – didn’t like them much except Noble Rot one Moselle

Stellenbosch lovely town

Diary of trip to South Africa 1984 : Part 1 by Dorothy Carlton

Monday – flew from Joberg to Richards Bay

wonderful way to see country

had lunch in hut at Umfolozi

went first trip in reserve

saw zebra giraffes different antelopes baboons monkeys

meals cooked by natives in main kitchen we can’t do anything

Tuesday – went for 4 hour walk in bush with guide saw more animals mainly giraffes zebras & buffaloes 

late afternoon went for drive saw lots of animals in lights of car along road on way back.

Wed – I stayed home minded Jolene & Melissa while others went on another walk through wilderness area. We walked a little way along road but only allowed to go little way afternoon went for longer drive through reserve saw both sorts of rhinos more antelopes @ other animals passed white rhino in water going to somewhere else.

Thursday – Came back to Pietermaritzburg to Lorna’s house

Christine lives in small house in back yard. She and children get on very well

Friday – went to Durban spent day walking around town and fixing trips

met Lorna’s mother and father one brother Ron & wife one sister Debbie & Lionel – different ideas – Alan cooked tea – fish dish, kebabs, curry, salmon mousse

Saturday – in morning went into Pietermaritzburg Voortreeker museum – walked around town

Sunday – came in early to Durban started bus tour

left sugar for dairying – cattle goats sheep – black pigs to clean up – bad erosion

roundavels everywhere

night at motel Umtata   

Monday – spent night at Umtata – Transkei

university @ minister’s homes

travelled through Transkei to Butterworth

lunch at East London

onto Ciskei

between SA and homelands

like a day from musical comedy

Tuesday – left Ciskei back into SA lunch at Grahamstown   at 1820 monument high on hill overlooking town formally signal station went over Fish river good cattle country but no grass – euphoria – acacia low bushes

Tea in Port Elizabeth view from window overlooking harbor like Geelong

Wednesday – through Jeffrey’s Bay long wide beaches

Through Tsitsikamma rainforest doesn’t grow again after fire which is very seldom but where burnt planed with pines or eucalypts trees numbered so you can name them

Lunch at Forest Inn through Knysna where furniture made from yellow wood @ stink wood very expensive @ very scarce

Spent night at wilderness – home of Mr Botha seaside place

Went through several narrow passes bus driver blowing   horn most of the way

From Melbourne 27.3.84 : Dad

From Melbourne

27.3.84

Dear Alan,

Giving the rather slow mail this may be the last letter to reach you before we arrive. We have just about completed all arrangements and are both looking forward to the trip. The arrangements are as before, we will arrive in Joberg at 9:10 pm on Sunday 22^nd April.

We have booked accommodation for one night, presumably at the airport hotel, and have also booked a car for the next 2 days. Whether we can make the journey in one day might be a bit doubtful; the long flight could be more tiring than we anticipate.   However we will start off optimistically.

The arrangements you have made seem quite satisfactory and fairly flexible which is what we want.

Last week we attended a film night at the RACV held in conjunction with the South African Tourist Authority.  The films were very spectacular (one on main attractions in South Africa, the other on wildlife) and presented a very attractive picture. The real soft sell. Not a mention of politics and hardly a black face in sight. 

There seems to be a bit of a push to increase tourism from Australia although the lack of planes is a draw back.

The response to the film night exceeded their expectations and they had to repeat it a few nights later. Most of those present seemed to be well heeled and middle-aged and probably tired of going to Europe or Hong Kong.

We have been reading as much as possible about South Africa and hope to arrive reasonably well informed. I have been reading Scramble for Africa to get a clearer picture of the history while your mother is in the middle of a book on geography of the continent. Both subjects necessary to understand any country.

Mentioning books, South Africa was prominent at the recent Adelaide festival as both Andre Brink and Bessie Head were among the guest speakers. Heard them both on the radio.

I haven’t a clear idea of prices in South Africa but they would appear to be on a par with Australia. We will be tacking a fair amount as we do not want to be parsimonious and at our age can’t do what young people would do to save money.

As far as news from home, it’s all rather pedestrian at the moment and I suppose the chit-chat can wait till we get there.    Cousin Robert Wilson leaves tomorrow for a trip to England, probably about six months.

We will be busy in the next three weeks making sure everything is done before we go. Won’t be able to take much interest in the football season– which starts next Saturday.

We are looking forward to seeing you and anticipate a memorable four weeks.

                                                                                                Kindest regards Dad

From Melbourne 6.2.84 : Mum

From Melbourne

6.2.84

Dear Alan,

                                We are getting things ready to go but it is taking longer than we thought. The government has made it harder to get passports since you left but we have fixed that all up.  They should come this week then we can get our visa. I hope there is not too much trouble but the Australian government hasn’t allowed visas to several people from South Africa both to do with sport. They didn’t seem very good reasons for not letting them in so I hope the SA government doesn’t start making it hard for ordinary tourists to get in. Last week we saw several short new films of Natal & Swaziland where floods were. Not very often we see pictures of Southern Africa plenty of middle & northern Africa where there seems to be plenty of fighting and also droughts. Last time Swaziland was in the news children were dying of drought now it seems they are drowning. Sounds very much like the weather in Australia.

                We are not worrying too much about clothes we bring with us because we thought if we really need something we should be able to buy it over there. It is not as if we are going to the ends of the earth.

                I started work last week so did Lois and Anne but I haven’t seen either since. The weather was cool so the children started well but it is getting warm now and that is not so good for the young children.

                Beverley has met some people who have a book shop in Frankston and she started there today to help in the shop just for two weeks. Because they live a long way from here Beverley is going to stay at their place. I hope it is alright. Pamela has meet the lady through meetings of Librarians and seems to think it will be OK.

                Could you give us some idea of what we will be doing in South Africa so that we can think about what we should do here first. Pamela is thinking she should do something else she has applied through the Volunteers Aid Abroad to work in another country for 2 years. It is very hard to go though only 1 in 10 is chosen and whether you go depends on what sort of help the country needs. She reckons she won’t get anywhere unless she applies even if there isn’t much hope.

                                                                                                                Love from Mum