Construction of the Seven-mile Airstrip and Reclamation Area (continued)

I was delighted when one of the marine section asked me whether I would like to learn to sail the dinghy. After two or three lessons I was adjudged qualified to sail on my own. I had many happy off-duty hours sailing that dinghy in the south-east season of 1941, often with various members of our staff as crew. The dinghy accommodated four or five. In the south-east season the harbour, although sheltered, developed waves of one metre or more. From our house high above the harbour Audrey would sometimes watch anxiously when the hull of the small boat disappeared behind the waves some kilometre or more distant at the northern end of the harbour.

One day Ted Tunbridge (a new member of our meteorological staff) and I sailed to the entrance of the harbour where there were some small sandy cays on one of which we made the exciting discovery of an ancient ship's cannon.

Ted Tunbridge was one of the staff of our meteorological office who was an enthusiastic sailing companion at that time. I still remember Ted's habit of asking me on the first day of the new month whether I had remembered to say "white rabbits" before I uttered any other word. Ted was convinced that this ensured good luck for the rest of the month.

Other construction which occurred in 1941 included the building of an Officers' Mess, Sergeants' Mess and living quarters for Officers, Sergeants and other ranks. This camp was on the eastern shore of Port Moresby harbour, not far from the Administrator's residence at Konedobu.

Bureau of Meteorology