Well-known Australian journalist Dorothy Jenner ('Andrea') has recently been elected representative of her camp area (such people were generally called 'blockheads'). It's not an easy job and today she confides to her diary, 'committee a hellish one - I am automatically everybody's enemy'.
Source:
Christina Twomey, Australia's Forgotten Prisoners, 2007, 61
No news of importance. High wind, rain.
We may write to Shamshuipo Camp - 50 words, but only 1 card per family, but Mr Fantham says I may use his.
Finished Chapter 2 of story ((written in shorthand)).
Mr. G. H. Cautherley, a bank official, and Mrs. D. A. Cautherley, have a boy, George, in Tweed Bay Hospital. Later George will remember his years in Stanley as happy ones. Fast forward a few years and whenever Kiyoshi Watanabe, who was loved by the Camp's children, comes into Camp George will be following him around.
Better weather. No authentic news or information.
Pam ((Pritchard)) told me that later, after the surrender they were suddenly given notice to clear out of the hospital. I am not sure what happened to the patients; I suppose they were sent to Bowen Road Military Hospital. At all events, they were whisked off in open lorries which were driven down Magazine Gap Road and around the tortuous corners at such a pace that several of them were nearly flung over the side.
Repat. rumours in the air again.
In evening, to St Stephens to hear Mrs. Drown play piano with Miss Bicheno - wonderful music.
Baby Ogley (Olivia) born today, Baby Cautherley (George) yesterday.
Olive has bad cold. She despatched $5 to Topper (in Shamshuipo Camp)
To Mr. & Mrs. W.C. Ogley, a daughter.
Rec'd letter from Stanley (S'hai). ((Was the letter from Eric's brother, who was interned in Shanghai?))
Repatriation circular
Softball - woodcutters 15 v. Kitchen 8
News good in general.
We each received HK$5 from the Vatican. Olive has already sent hers to Topper, Mabel and I intend to send ours to the boys tomorrow. (('The boys' were Arthur Alsey and Harry (Sid) Hale, Royal Scots, also in Shamshuipo Camp.))
We were all inoculated against cholera.
Cholera innoculation*
Gift of $5 per person from the Pope
Russians breaking through German lines in places. Chinese within 22mls of Canton.
Had 4th injection.
Joyce Shaw's father died (Joyce was a friend of Mabel's, she was in Australia).
Further warning about taking too much notice of repatriation (prospects) came round today.
Optimist's Concert good, especially Vi Evans and Mr Garton. ((Vivian Garton, PWD. Vi Evans had been a neighbour of us Redwoods in Gap Road, Happy Valley. She died later in camp.))
William Shaw, aged 58, dies of heart failure in bed just after lunch.
The Maryknollers receive HK$5 (presumably per head) as their share of the relief from the Pope.
Dorothy Jenner witnesses two fights: one is between a married couple, the other starts when one internee refers to another as an 'old bitch' and ends with bloodied noses.
All New Guinea in American hands? Foochow evacuated by Japs. Chinese making progress on Canton.
Concert.
Swim.
Mabel had been saving her bread slice for afternoon when she and friends were going to have a picnic. She said she felt sick and dizzy in church. Later on in morning, she flopped down in the room, it turned my heart over. Dr Tomlinson came and said it was only through not eating things; but now the lids have been taken off the Bovril and Vitamalt ((our iron ratons)) just as well to have it inside us, I suppose. How dreadful that Mabel should faint from hunger.
Wrote small poem:-