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Page 84 Wynnum High and Intermediate School

Jottings on British Empire and
Commonwealth Games Tour
Enthusiastic farewell at Sydney Airport—returned next morning—
could not land at Fiji because of cyclonic winds—false start. Bus from
London to Cardiff kept breaking down—slow finish.
At Gander Airport, Newfoundland, met da Silva, gold medallist in
the hop, step and jump of two Olympic Games—the world’s a small
place.
Noisy huts in Village—group thundered through passage late at
night—Alby Thomas, “Righto you blokes, why don’t you go back and
get a tractor and drive it through.’’ Charlie Morris, a naval lieutenant,
brought team a cup of tea each morning—shades of Sergeant-Major.
Maltese swimming team training—Australian Ray Mitchell dived in and
rapidly outpaced them—on their query as to what event he swam, he
replied. “I don’t swim, I’m a wrestler.”
Embarrassed officials as the Australian flag refused to open at the
Welcome to Village Ceremony. Coaching by example—Percy Cerutti ran
to exhaustion on morning of mile—told Herb Elliott and Alby Thomas
that if he had will to drive his body to its limits they could do likewise.
Typical English sporting comment by Ken Kilmshurst after hop, step
and jump—“Thank you, gentlemen, for an interesting afternoon’s sport.”
Comment on Dublin mile—week before race spent in London with
round of receptions and sight-seeing with little time for sleeping or
training—on morning of race Australian team played round of golf—
result of this pre-race preparation was Herb Elliott’s 3.54.5 mile—two
other Australians broke 4 minutes.
Incident of long twilight—retired early to bed—knock on door and
hasty retreat of maid—checked watch—9 o’clock—daylight outside and
this with thinking the maid wished to make bed, arose and dressed for
breakfast. Felt foolish when told it was still evening.
After Highland Games in Edinburgh hitch-hiked with Merv. Lincoln
from Calais to Stockholm. In Sweden, after a particularly long wait,
gratefully accepted a lift in a hay wagon to important cross-roads. In
Arnhum slept in a wash-house—lack of hotel accommodation. In
Germany, spent two days with group of British Army—spent interesting
time with two officers who knew tourist attractions.
Amsterdam statistics—population 1.75 million, .75 million bikes stood
at corner during peak hour—entertained by hair-raising driving by
cyclists flitting between cars.
Boson training camp—wonderful facilities—in one training session
jogged along paths through pine forest and lake shore, worked out on
the cinders track, sweated in the sauna bath and cooled down in the
indoor swimming pool.
Oslo : Competed in Lekern Games—crowd of 35,000 watched
athletics in pouring rain—track covered by water—pole vaulting
spectacular because of greasy poles—competitor reached crest of vault
and very disconcerted as slid down pole into pit—crowd highly amused.
Cologne : At end of competition, lights out and winners of
European Championships mounted spot—lighted, flower bedecked dais.
German crowd of 45,000 lit programmes—singing—cheering—very
moving. To overcome language barrier often used signals. In Cologne,
set out for swim—wished’to know where pool located. Stopped woman,
and performed pantomime of swimming and pointed at togs. She gave
us directions in perfect American.
The last week in Europe was spent in sight-seeing in Paris, Zurich
and Rome. Statistically again, passed through 26 countries.
MORRIE RICH