Classified. Nobody works here on Sunday – well I’ve got marking and reading to do. I spent a good few hours with Ben Rowe yesterday. I felt real admiration for him because he’s built his own “long – liner ’67 mostly on his own; for fishing purposes mainly. He’s been on the boat for about four years now. He is quite intelligent. I enjoyed talking with him. Apparently Sheila and Verity (past volunteers) spent most of their time in his house. I must visit them soon.

Claude’s rhetorical speech makes him appear ridiculous at times to me. He is a good enough bloke though. I heard from Rev. Lewis that Alex is to be sent home by Christmas, which is very hard luck on him. I was down at Ben’s place last night from 10.30p.m.1.30a.m. He is a very sensible man. I liked him a lot. I said I’d help him with his long – liner, about sixty- footer. Amazing! Three Ward families arrived and my class expanded in size up to about thirty although it will still increase further. I spent time at Cliff Rumbolt’s, Charlie Sampson and Jim Sampson. I was impressed by Jim (father of Victor and Headley in my class.) I showed them my moon pictures and told them about the moon landing that I saw on TV until I’m sick in the face. The mail boat is due soon and little Vic in my class had a kitten.

October

Dealing with some Problems

Over half of these kids need to be taught how to work! Yesterday I received multi-vitamins, newspaper and biros from home.

I am finding discipline the biggest problem with the kids because it takes me too long to get round all the different Grades and I think I am too kind with them. Two more families came in today from their summer fishing settlement which means an even bigger class. Apparently the kids were really rough last year with one kid stabbing another. I don’t know how much I am going to like teaching here. I’ll be able to better judge at the end of the year. The environment, attitudes etc. are so different from Exmouth School.

Winter’s Approaching

It’s also remarkable how quickly the weather changes here. Winter’s setting in now. I am just back from Stephen and Sandra Cook’s house (Pentecostal Principal) after receiving an invitation for Sunday dinner and tea.

New toilets are going up near our School. Tide washed? Ice? Foul? I was freezing cold when I woke up again this morning after being down at Ben’s last night. There was quite a heavy snowfall yesterday morning. It’s cold but not snowing this morning. The mail boat is due this Saturday which probably means Sunday or Monday!

The “SS Bonavista” did arrive this Saturday morning at about 7.00a.m.after all. It had to wait for daylight before navigating the stretch of water known as “The Tickle”. I opened the local dance last night where fisticuffs was brewing but didn’t come to anything. Clive arrived last night but had to return at about midnight. I’ve been having some discipline problems with my Grade 5 who are also not doing their homework. There will be a parents meeting soon about that. Scott has just got a new Parka and a gas

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