FLEW AT 9:A.M. SMOOTH FLIGHT TO NEW FLYING BOAT BASE OUTSIDE OF BRISBANE. DON VERNON MET ME, BROUGHT MY SUITCASE & GAVE ME A PAINTING WE HAD DONE IN 1945. A GOOD VISIT OF AN HOUR WITH HIM. ARRIVED SYDNEY JUST AFTER DARK - LIGHTS VERY BEAUTIFUL. MET BY AMBULANCE; TO HELENIE PRIVATE HOSPITAL (MATRON TRAPER) AT RANDWICK. QANTAS AIRWAYS HAVE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE TRIP. CUSTOMS VERY DECENT - NO TROUBLE. STAYED AT ORIENTAL HOTEL AT KINGS CROSS. LISTENED TO THE FIGHT THAT ALL AUSTRALIA WAS EXCITED ABOUT - BANTAMWEIGHT - GAULT + CARROTHERS + LATTER (AUSTRALIAN) RETAINED TITLE. 318 (289) SAT. NOV. 14 47 SYDNEY - EN ROUTE TO DARWIN. SHAVED GEOFF IN A.M. HE HAD A GOOD QUIET NIGHT. DOWNTOWN TO ANGUS + ROBERTSON TO BUY A FEW BOOKS. BOUGHT 2 KANGAROO BELTS - 1 FOR DORY, A SMALL SEW- ING KIT WITH BEAUTIFUL SCISSORS + A KEY CASE FOR IT AND A NEW WALLET FOR MYSELF. TOOK TRAM OUT TO WHITE CITY TENNIS COURTS TO SEE THE N.S.W. CHAMPIONSHIPS (ROUND BEFORE THE 1/4 FINALS). 3 GOOD MATCHES: V. SEIXAS VS. D. CANDY - VOLLEYING + SERVICE - 3 CLOSE SETS TO SEIXAS; T. BROMWICH VS. T. TRABERT - WENT 5 SETS - IF BROMWICH WERE YOUNGER THE MATCH WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS - TRABERT WAS PASSED + LOBBED + OUT THOUGHT TIME AFTER TIME BUT BROMWICH STARTED NETTING IN THE LAST 2 SETS (BROMWICH FIRST WON THIS CHAM- PIONSHIP IN 1937!); ROSEWALL VS. WILDERSPIN - BOTH MEN HAVE BEAUTIFUL GROUND STROKES + GOOD ALL-AROUND GAMES - W. HAS A SEVERE SERVICE, AS HAS ROSEWALL, FOR HIS SIZE - W. HAD R. 2 SETS TO 1 + 3 ALL IN 4TH WHEN I LEFT - THEIR PLAY IS TOO METHOD- ICAL TO BE VERY EXCITING. BILLY TALBERT + T. AYRE WERE PLAY- ING THE TEAM WHICH HAS AS A MEMBER THE 17 YR. OLD FRENCH TR CHAMPION. BROMWICH + QUIST, THE OLD DOUBLES TEAM, DID NOT LOOK TOO GOOD AGAINST 2 UNKNOWNS. AMBULANCE CALLED FOR GEOFF AT 8:P.M. TO MASCOT AIRPORT. WE ARE TRAVELING BY CON- STELLATION TO LONDON. OUR PLANE WILL BE THE FIRST TO STOP AT BANGKOK. GEOFF HAS A BUNK BUT QUARTERS ARE RATHER CLOSE. TAKE OFF AT 9:30 P.M. SEATS VERY COMFORTABLE. SENT CABLES TO MIRIAM TATE + KAY 319 (290) SUN. NOV. 15 46 ARRIVED DARWIN AT 5:A.M., JUST BEFORE DAWN. BUS TO A PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION STATION (SHAVE, SHOWERS, BEDS, DINNING ROOM) AT BERRIMAH. TAKE OFF FOR TARKATA AT 7:A.M. SINGAPORE FOR