BOGONG

I served on the Bogong in late 1974 and into 1975 as a deck cadet on the regular run from Port Kembla to Port Hedland in ballast and back again normally fully laden. I remember us being anchored off Port Hedland sometimes for a couple of weeks waiting for our slot to go in and load and the dust storms that engulfed us while anchored. Perhaps the saddest time was having our Christmas lunch in Port Hedland in dead calm conditions while Cyclone Tracy was hammering Darwin. And I remember also do a stint of marine engineering and cleaning scale from the water tube boilers while anchored in 50 degree heat. I must confess I'm not fond of steam power!