After the hectic rush of refit we were finally ready for sea, the branch lost a couple of old faces and gained some new ones. Bob Henson left for Anzac, Verge Reutens for Watson, Kev Holmes for Niremba and Leigh Clayton for the Naval College to train for his commission, congratulations go to him for getting the chance to reach the upper deck. The new faces Spike Jones, Jack Orford and Graham Cocks all came from the Anzac and John Alderton from the Vampire.

After a few days work up at sea, we sailed for Noumea. On the way home a "Star was Born". We ran into a rather violent gale during which Mick deemed it necessary to blow on a soldering joint on the 974 radar aerial to cool it in the teeth of a freezing seventy mile an hour wind!

Off to Brisbane we sailed and it seems that half the branch come from Queensland and there was a noticeable absence of the natives who went home for a very welcomed few days with their families. In Sydney final preparations were made for the trip "Up Top' during this stay we gained petty Officer "Googy" Withers and Joe Williams and lost Jim Palmer to Voyager and John Alderton to hospital with a broken arm received in a football game in Brisbane and Peter Milkie to the Army to become an Officer.

We left Darwin for Singapore. We crossed the equator one day out of Singapore and for those who had not made the trip it meant meeting King Neptune and his court for the first time.

We arrived in Hong Kong on the 21st December in time for Christmas. Christmas Day, to those who have never been on board for one, was quite an experience. Some of the punishments you handed out to your defaulters were a bit rough, weren't they First Lieutenant Hayes? The New Year's Eve party was held in the Ocean Bar and everybody greeted the new year through an alcoholic haze, everyone that is except Yorick who thinks it is better to sleep it in, draped along a seat in the bar. I believe that Johnny Marsh has designated himself fleet limbo champion and is willing to accept all challenges. "Yipee" Bean has become official carrier back home for the mess and takes a bag of handles ashore with him. I believe that Mrs Orford has bought the family car, what sort did you say it was again Jack?

Congratulations to "Yippee" Bean and "Slinger" Woods for picking up their hooks. I believe that Keith Richardson is to be a father pretty soon. Graham Cocks is to be married on arrival back home and best luck to Ross Fenton who is to announce his Engagement on our return.