Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

[stormfour]

Yes Olwen it was a fantastic day,with a great response for our first one,we had 55 people turn up,and every body seemed happy.So many photos taken,I cannot wait to see the group shot,that was a buzz.
Andy and Jim did a great job with the BBQ,and Judith with all the signage too.I had a ball and it was suggested that we do it every year..seems like a good idea to me.
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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

[aussietrekker]

It was magic from beginning to end. I'll add my thanks to everyone who was mentioned already, especially the caterers...and to every person who turned up, you were all treasured. Loads of hugs and laughs and swapping of stories. it was good to get a few surprise responses from the flyers as well. It was an honour to have Mary Griffin and Alan, who had arrived from England at 9.30. Our prayers worked, volcano and all. An amazing effort, and what better place to wind down than a gathering of loved ones overlooking Williamstown beach. We also had her sisters and the Heaneys come down from Queensland.

I loved the bit where we all posed for a group photo, then everyone suddenly burst into the old hostel songs, it was the best. And the story of the 3AK transmitter next door, when someone went into the ironing room and when she plugged in the iron it started playing PLEASE DON'T TALK TO THE LIFEGUARD.

Caroline McKeeman and are are besties for life, I've got a new Trekmate and
we managed to squeeze in a lot of Star Trek discussion. Martin and Colette, my brother and sister turned up and even though they knew almost nobody, they were so glad they came. Everyone found less than "six degrees of separation' once they got talking even to total strangers- well that's the Western Suburbs isn't it, and most of us stayed in the region.
Thirteen of us went to the RSL after, and we were there for hours. My Angela (age 14) was happy as she won 8 bars of chocolate on that $2 chocolate machine, and I got the Big Ben jackpot on the pokies, $54. (very handy as I'm going to England in a few weeks, and will spend every spare dollar for REAL chocolate). It was a great experience for Angela to be part of, she took an interest in everything instead of being bored as I expected. She listened to everyone at the RSL like another adult, and it's good to know that someone from the next generation will have the stories to pass down. No matter how many reunions we have in the future, yesterday's will have the most meaning.
Frank Mcmanus and Jimmy Logan went on somewhere else after the RSL- they've been mates ever since meeting as 4-year olds when Frank's Ma sent him for water for the kettle. Frank travelled up with me from Geelong, hadn't seen him for 8 or 9 years. He does vocals for the Weekend Warriors, and we were singing duets of old songs all the way to Williamstown (and Angela cringing in the back seat!), we reckon we might get a band together one day, I play a couple of instruments. I can see a lot of socialising between many of us now, in between reunions.

Watch out for THE STAR and the HOBSON'S BAY LEADER this week. it'll reach a lot of people that we couldn't do by the deadline.

[caroline]

what an absolutely brilliant day,I had a wonderful time,and I am so glad I got to meet you Judith,it's as if we had known each other for years and I count you as one of my dearest friends.It was a great day from the start to the finish,All the organizers did the best job ever, and I can't wait to see the photo's,I have not laughed so much in a long time, you know what I mean Judith, fromAndy, his brother Jimmy and Frank. how funny they were with their antidotes of the hostel, and when Frank burst into the hostel songs, I was a kid again.I just had a absolutely wonderful time. Judith your gorgeous daughter is a credit to you, an absolutely lovely wee girl. talk to you all soon. xxxx

[stormfour]

Hey guys as we dont get those papers over here in the south east could someone be kind enough to send a couple of copies for us...would love you forever and ever
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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

[Susan Gillet]

Or at least send us the articles please. Maybe then I could pass it on to our local papers so that they could run the story to reach folk who have settled over this way.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965