Wednesday 12 August

Up early, shuffled the gear to the wharf. The water was smooth so we looked forward to a smooth ride over - we sat up front where we could get a good view - there was a bit of a swell then we tucked in behind Horne Island and had a smooth run up the passage.

The water was a sparkling aqua marine - the sky was blue and there was only a gentle breeze - what a sight. T.I. at it's best.

John met us at the wharf and then we went for a walk where Mal waxed lyrical about a childhood of misdemeanors and cut feet - of Beverly Clark the over powering little girl who has haunted Mal's nightmares ever since. She probably was not so bad but I was little and she was tough. We did stop in to see when we could check in and found the room would not be ready till after 2.00pm.

We had lunch at the Sea Breeze Bakery on the waterfront which was lovely and clean with friendly service. Sue and Tom ate Crayfish Pies which Mal passed on and had salad.

We wandered back to John's place and then later John dropped us down at the Federal with our luggage.

We had a quiet drink in our room and then later went out for tea. We usually have early nights and this was no exception however we did go for a stroll on the esplanade in the evening.

Thursday 13th August

Thursday on Thursday Island - today was reminiscences day.

We had an early breakfast and headed out to photograph Mal's points of interest.

We also took the opportunity to visit the soriety girls shop and find out where Patricia Wymara could be found.

So we looked up Patricia at the Native Titles office and she suggested we meet up on Friday night at the Torres Hotel for Karaoke.

So what is T.I. like in 2015 compared with 55 years ago in 1960?

Less scruffy, more ordered, with lots and lots of cars but no traffic lights - YET!

Mal noticed that in the 60's people walked so there were informal walking tracks but now people run in lycra or drive their car. The houses have multiplied, and while there are still significant areas of native vegetation, the houses are winning at present. The houses are different, they have less windows and air conditioners are like industrial burls growing on synthetic river gums with tin roofs.

Gone are the wide verandas and the ceiling to floor louvred windows. Mal must report that there is still enough broken glass on the beach to keep a 1,000 strong emu parade busy for many weeks but genberally the island is tidy with very little litter. I think there are as many dogs as there always was and while most houses have a fence there is not the dysfunctional sense of the rich Vs the poor like ypu see in Vanuatu.

On the economic level as far as we could see, the island is largely run on Government funds and grants of a 100 different varieties. There is a small crayfish industry, a small tourist industry, then there are a 1,000 different government buildings and their staff - a very large hospital, lets not forget Tug Boat Tony's "BORDER FORCE" team proclaimed by a large sign on the fence of the Customs House, and I guess some income is generated by Torres Strait Pilots.

The pearl luggers have gone from the harbor, there is not a sense of industry and bustle, just the quiet rustle of administrative papers as the numerous public servantsd local and on short term visits scurry around getting everything ready for the arrival of Tug Boat Tony as he steams in the port with a hoard of selected and controlled media advisors and carefully controlled media personnel.

At lunchtime we caught up with Dogs, well Jeff but everybody calls him dogs because his last name is Body, and that is what you get when you join the army as a teenager. Well be had lunch at the Sea Breeze and made the introductions, Mal had made contact with Dogs through one of the photographic forums Mal is a member of. Dogs has a medium format camera like we have and so we have photography in common if little else.

Dogs took us for a drive around the island and showed us some good spots which was much appreciated and so we agreed to do a sunrise shoot on Saturday morning - Dogs thought it would be good motivation to get out and get some shots, he dropped us off and he headed back to his job at the hospital.

On Thursday afternoon we took the ferry to Horne Island where John took us to the museum which was very interesting and then his friend Mark lent us his car and John drove us to several locations on the island, including Cable Beach where the original communication line to the mainland crosses the beach heading for the mainland.

We headed back to Mark's place and passed the bush fire which was trickling it's way through the natural woodland - it was not raging just flaring every now and then as it hit a really dry patch.

We boarded the 6,30pm ferry a the sun set over T.I. and a lazy but never to be ignored croc lay in the shallows a 100meters from the wharf.

As we walked along the jetty, the captain of the ferry walked quickly down to a tinny, cast the bow line off as he stepped in, and with a quick pull was seated and had the bow pointed back to Horne Island.

We all walked up to the Grand Hotel for cheap Thursday - $10 meals. The pub was stacked full and the sport channel TVs were on full noise and the line to the food bar was 10 deep. Mal thought crap, we could have a $10 meal at the Federal any night and there it was quiet even if it was not "The Place" to be - he thought he didn't care.

We found a spare table out the back and they sat down and waited for their meals, it was little quieter overlooking the back lane from anm unusual deck that seemed a bit like a rounded front beck of a boat.

We walked home in the evening along Victoria Parade, Mal was glad to be out of the noisy pub - and then a shower and off to bed - what a day.