'Pentakota', Down Under

On to Bowen, with Pilot Mr. Clay still on board. Bowen at that time was another port with one long pier, the end of which opened into a 'U' shape which could accommodate four ships.

Bowen, 15th-18th March, 1950, Main Street, S. side.

Bowen Pier, 'Pentakota' at No.3 berth

It was raining when we arrived, and one of the leading lights wasn't working, but Mr. Ahern, the Harbour Master, anchored us successfully until 0600, when he turned us round on our Port Anchor, with the aid of a knuckle on the end of the jetty, and a rope from the Port quarter, took us stern first into the 'U', alongside No.2 berth, and we warped across to No.3. Bowen, from what we saw when we got ashore, consisted of one dusty main street leading down to the pier; raised boardwalks and saloons with batwing doors as far as I can remember. Hitching rails too.

On we went toward Brisbane on 18th March, with the Barrier Reef pilot Mr. Clay navigating. And we came alongside at Pinkenba, some 5 miles downriver from Brisbane centre, at 1515 Tuesday 21st March.

This was the life! We remained in our berth at Pinkenba for fifteen days. We didn't see any dock labour for the first week, because of a 'rolling strike' which lasted just over three weeks.

One of the blessings was the milkman, who delivered bottles of fresh milk every day. One thing I could never abide at sea was the so-called 'milk', a concoction of powder and water which had about as much resemblance to milk as chalk has to cheese. And what about the ship's fresh water supply? The water that the cook added to the powder never tasted quite the same, depending upon the port that it came from, the length of time it had been in our double bottom tank, and the amount of 'Staboclor' that we Cadets had dropped into it, down the air pipe. Add to that the fact that some ports supplied so-called 'fresh water' that was definitely brackish; Malta, for example. Aden and Gibraltar weren't much better.

Eric the Mate took full advantage of the dockers' strike by sending all spare blocks, anything that had not been annealed and tested in Bombay or Calcutta. Enough blocks and shackles to equip one 5 ton and one 10 ton derrick were put down on the Boat Note as Urgent. Two hatch slab slings received the same treatment. Derrick gooseneck pins were shifted round as necessary, so that they could all be annealed, and the Dockers wouldn't have a chance to 'black' the ship because of faulty equipment. I realised that Dockers were able to scare the living daylights out of Mates.

In my experience the Union rep would act very suspiciously about all the gear on the first day, and threaten to call in the 'Department of Navigation' (Nautical Surveyor), if anything was found wrong. If they wanted anything changed, change it. Espcially winch wires and derrick guys. After they started using the gear, however, they would put their trust in everything, and become friendly and cooperative. I'm sure the winchmen, especially the older ones, liked to have a go with one of our old Clark Chapman steam winches, just like old times.

Our only warning came from the Port Health Authorities about our rat guards not being good enough, with some missing.

Brian and I made a beeline for the Seamen's Mission in Brisbane. These Missions were a Godsend (literally) to impoverished Cadets. Dances and picnics were organised. We even went horse riding at a riding school near Pinkenba (I got thrown right over a horse's head when its forefeet sank into mud).

Brian Davies with two ladies from the Seamen's Mission, Brisbane.

Even when the Dockers finally arrived, (Monday 27th March), they didn't exactly arrive in hoardes. In my 'official' diary I entered it thus:-

'One gang of stevedores arrived at 0900 this morning, an proceeded to open up No.2 Hatch. The first sling of Bitumen went ashore at 1025 after Smoko. The crew are chipping overside. The gang went to meals from 1200-1300, with another Smoko 1500-1515, and commenced closing down at 1640. The gang was off the ship by 1700.'

For the first four days at least, only one gang came, and only worked a day shift. What happened after that my diary fails me for a few days, because my children, many years ago, used the diary (exercise book) to draw and paint in. They alse removed the pages between Thursday 30th March to Friday 7th April. Heigh-ho.