The rainbow never sets

"Have a good trip! Bye-bye!" Meanwhile, all the streamers had broken. The tug boats had freed the SKAUBRYN from the pier and it could move under its own steam. It quickly disappeared around Benelong Point, behind the old tram sheds. The quay was almost empty, the crowd had quickly dispersed, leaving me on my own. I felt terrible. What had I done? Was my courage to leave me now?

As I was walking along Pitt Street towards Market Street, the early excitement of the new city came slowly back to me. I had studied the map of Sydney and almost knew it by heart. I decided to walk back to Darlingpoint Road, physical exercise would do me good and in any case, I had plenty of time. Walking down William Street towards Kings Cross, the neon lights at the end sent their advertisements in continuous flashes. The Cross on a Sunday night was deserted. Then I walked down towards Rushcutters Bay, past White City, the famous place where a number of Davis Cup games had been played. I thought, one of these days I will become a member there. When I arrived at the boarding house, it was already late and everybody seemed to have gone to sleep. I was thankful and happy to have a warm and clean bed.

Next day I hired a taxi truck to pick up my trunk from Central Station. At dinner time I met the other boarders. All of them were single people, working in the city. The two Japanese wool buyers could not speak much English, but they seemed very friendly. After dinner we hugged the gas fire in the lounge room, the only place which had heating, but as people seemed to be getting up very early no one stayed up late.

Having found a roof over my head, my next priority was to find a job in the wool trade. This turned out to be far more difficult than finding accomodation. I found in the pink pages of the telephone book all the wool firms listed with their addresses and phone numbers. Just what I needed, I thought, and I ripped out the page. But rather than phone them, I decided to visit them personally.

Amongst the early firms I visited was Victor Dekyvere & Co. Mr. Victor Dekyvere told me that he could do with a helper, but he would not employ anybody before the new season started in August. Others told me that they were either not interested, or, if they wanted to employ an overseas person, they would go directly to their contacts there. The prospects were not good and I became quite disheartened. After about two weeks of job hunting, having visited about seventeen different firms, I gave up. It became apparent that there was no point to keep knocking at people's doors until just before the new season would start in August.

I had arrived in Australia with £48. By Friday of the second week I had spent £15, not counting the board of £5.5.0 due on Sunday. I was getting worried that my money might run out. I simply had to get a job. That morning I went to the employment office and asked for a job.

"When do you want to start?" I was asked.

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