Burns Philp ship SS Bulolo

[Richard Quartermaine]

Here goes Tony & Vernon and I press Submit with bated breath!!! Richard Q

This is the Burns Philp ship SS Bulolo at Sydney- pride of the Sydney Based Burns Philp & Co fleet - that was a hospital ship in the 2nd WW and this was taken in 1948 on her first trip after reconversion. She sailed the Sydney/Papua New Guinea run. Burns Philp were the Australian trading company operation in most Pacific Islands - they used to say "if it has a coconut palm it will have a Burns Philp store". There was such store here in Apia Samoa. By the bye, up on a hill behind the town is 'Vailima' the last home of Robert Louis Stevenson. In the front garden is a gravestone above his resting place with the epitaph 'Home is the sailor, home from the sea and the hunter home from the hill.'

[Gulliver]

Thanks Richard,and in case nobody found a link there's a nice feature HERE on s.s.Maritime com site.

Gulliver

[Richard Quartermaine]

Thank you Gulliver. That is a great informative link and dispels the myth that Bulolo was a hospital ship in WW2. She did, however serve with pride. Another Burns Philp ship that I was on, the coal fired SS Morinda built in 1913 served in both world wars. I was particularly impressed with the way the little old girl handled herself in some atrocious weather conditions. You might be interested to see my story about her on Bulolo. Commander Rothery was her skipper of distinction as the Japanese advanced and was the skipper of the Bulolo on our first trip after her refit to regular service.
Cheers,
Richard