Those who have made the trip know how it is. After the flight down from Port Moresy, a ride on the flat tray of a tractor to the Gabbagaboona wharf then a four hour boat trip on either the Blue Peter or the Labini you are met at the Samarai wharf by everybody just knocking off work at four thirty. They have come down to "check out" whose arriving, after the "check out" they all wander off to the club. Most of my friends had left Samarai by the time I arrived back but Dauncy English stayed to help with my bags. I didn't need much help, they had been lost so we headed for the club and a few beers with old and new friends. After a couple of beers I was approached by the Club President , John Lynch, and told that seeing as I was a resident of the Island I would either have to join the club or leave. To say we exchanged a few heated words would be a bit of an understatement. John & I eventually became good friends and we still see a bit of each other though John now lives in London. I still don't understand how I did become friends with a bloke who dresses in pink and thinks he's a ballet dancer though.

Samarai hadn't changed at all in the two years I was away. A lot of my friends had left but it wasn't long and I had made a lot more.

The Buffalo Lodge (778) was always a good night out, at one stage or another I held every office in the lodge. Other members I can remember were - Reg Rod, Dauncey & Winston English, Jack Burnett, Bert Spiller, Jack Tanaka, Sid Matthews, Gordon Price, John Dowling, Charlie Quinell, Peter Wendleborn, Keith Gribben, Les Simpson, Frank Luff, Tal Sandford, Tom Steen & Lysle Burrow.
During this period one of the social highlights of Samarai was the Annual Buffalo Ball. Other Balls on the island were the Masonic Ball and of course the New Years Eve Bachelor's Ball. Any of these balls could go all night and often ended up in the swimming pool at dawn. I remember leaving one ball and playing soccer on the oval while we waited for the club to open.

In late '70 early '71 we built a bowling "green" on the old cement tennis courts opposite the school. Tar was laid over the cemnet and while it was wet rubber chips were poured onto it, leveled and rolled. It turned out to be a pretty good surface to play on except, being black, it got so hot.There were a lot of trips up the road to the club for a cooling drink. Most of the usual suspects named above were members but also Ron Self, Alan Alan, Frank Lewis and Terry Jorgenson are the ones I remember.

When I arrived back on Samarai Alice Marshall was on the wharfe checking out the in-coming males. Using all her wiley ways (see photo) I was enticed into taking her out. In October 1971 we were married in the Roman Catholic Church on Samarai. Now after 37 years, three children and three grand children we are still happily married, only the wine has changed. Alice & I left Samarai in October 1973 and returned to Australia.