Norm Anderson

[Norm Anderson]

SHIPS NAME AND SERVICE RECORD

Full Name

Norm Anderson

Discharge Book Number

R 771778

Department

Catering / Engine Room / Catering

Your Rank/Rating

Steward / Greaser / Steward / Chief Steward.

Which Ships were you on and When

BRITISH SHIPS
Orion 1962 ( Passenger )
Port Townsville 1963 - 1964 ( cargo / 12 passenger )
Otaio 1965 ( cargo / cadet training ship )
Royal Daffodil 1966 (Thames to Calais ferry)

AUSTRALIAN SHIPS
Empress of Australia 1968 ( Ferry Sydney to Hobart )
Kooyong 1969 ( coastal - general cargo )
Balarr 1969 - 1970 ( coastal - general cargo )
Caltex Kurnell 1970 -1973 ( products tanker )
Century 1974 ( coastal - general cargo )
Iron Cavalier 1974 ( ore carrier )
Mary Holyman 1974 - 1978 ( ro ro general cargo )
Iron Kerry 1978 ( Iron products & ore carrier)
Troubridge 1979 - 1982 ( Ferry )
Mobile Flinders 1982 ( Oil tanker )
Troubridge 1982 - 1985 ( Ferry )
Robert F Bauer 1985 ( Drill ship )
Abel Tasman 1985 - 1989 ( Ferry )
Challis Venture 1989 - 1997 ( Floating Platform facility )

Notes:

After inviting myself to stay in Australia. in 1964 for 18 months or so ,I worked my passage as a greaser on the Otaio from Sydney to London and then spent 2 years working on the trains ( dining cars ) out of Kings Cross to northern parts , before going back to Aussie ( legally this time ) and this countries Merchant Navy and continued on until retirement ... just couldn't resist the calling-of-the-sea !

[Doc Vernon]

Now Norm
Wlcome to the site and thanks for your details on your Ships etc
Always nice to have new entries n our Crew Database!
Nice lineup of Ships and you have had a good Sea going time.
Just an addtive i too worked on long didtance trains at one time as a Steward and know all about that ,it could also have been a hard job at times,but i loved it.
Cheers

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Norm.
Welcome to the site, good mix of Aus ships there, had you been earlier on the coast we may have met in the Bunch of C in Sussex St or the Piermont in Sydney. I was with the Union Co on the NZ /Aus coast after leaving the UK ships in 1957. Worked on the old South Steyne Ferry for around nine years ending in 2010, floating restaurant in Darling harbour.
Plenty of good yarns on here to bring back old memories.
Cheers Des

[Norm Anderson]

Thank you Doc ... interesting to know that you had the same experience as me re. the trains , it was another job that I look back with fondness.

Doc , it really is Norm not Norman ( legally & officially ) ... I typed this into my service record but for some reason it was changed on me.

' From Tottenham to Tahiti and my life beyond '

[Norm Anderson]

Hi Des
Thanks' for the welcome ... ! first went to Pyrmont in 1962 and got to live and know the area in 1964-5 ... I could write-a-book about Monty's & the Duke of Edinburgh pubs , always chock-a-block full of seafarers off of the berthed ships and those that had invited themselves to live in Sydney and we were often invited back to the various ships to party on.

Cheers !

' From Tottenham to Tahiti & my life beyond '

[Des Taff Jenkins]

HI Norm.
You would also have partaken of the delights of the Mushy peas and pie from the cart down the waterfront, later used by the fast and famous.
And like me had a word with Bumper Farrell the big copper from Darlinghurst on his rounds keeping the peace?
Cheers Des

[happy daze john in oz]

G'day Norm and a warm welcome.
In Adelaide I see, great city, pity about the water and that beer they sell.
Coopers, problem is it has now got across the border. LOL

[Norm Anderson]

Hi Des
Yes fond memories indeed ... fortunately I still have good memories and a good memory for them all.

Cheers Norm

' From Tottenham to Tahiti & my life beyond '

[Norm Anderson]

Hi John

Thank God for Pura Tap aye !?

Coopers , I don't touch the stuff ! ... they can send it all down to Melbourne for mine , I'm a Guinness man myself I mix with the Irish folk at the Irish club and it is almost like mixing with seafarers especially when they start singing their seafaring songs , love it.

A poem that I put together in 2015

When I retired from the sea their was plenty I intended to do
so far only bending the elbow drinking the Guinness brew
I hit the deck each morning figure I'll write a book
Alas only one achievement I'm improving as a cook
I sailed the seven seas working on passenger ships ,
cargo ships and the occasional oil tanker
Figured Langton Park lifestyle village , a very
good and safe place to drop anchor
Our next overseas trip is near and I am sure it will
turn out fine
Won't get to drink any Guinness but will make the most of the
wine
As we cruise along the Mekong river through Cambodia &
" Viet - narm " their will be plenty of Sav Blanc on board
So there will be plenty of lifting the arm.

The first two lines are a bit exaggerated but the rest is about spot on.

' From Tottenham to Tahiti & my life beyond '

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Norm.
Did you ever meet up with Tass Bull? He was the walking delegate in Sydney, did a bit for us when i was with The NZ USS.
Cheers Des