A True Story

(Photos from Oriana website)

This is a true story about our trip to Australia on the ocean liner, Oriana in December, 1967.

There were 9 of us in our family, and my youngest brother was only 5 years old when we began our journey.

Several other American families went on this cruise, intending to settle in various places in Australia, along with our family who first went to Smithton, Tasmania. On the Oriana, children under a certain age ate in the childrens dining room apart from the older ones.

That was over 45 years ago, and just a few years ago my very grown up brother met a woman in his Australian home town, who had never been married.  When their friendship bloomed into romance, my brother took her to meet our parents.  While visiting, she found out they came on the Oriana. She, too, had travelled with her family from the U.S. on the Oriana.  She had saved the menus and other souvenirs, which were exactly like the ones my mother had saved from the trip.

By comparing memories, this lady found out that she ate in the same childrens dining room as my brother, on the Oriana in 1967.

They were married a few years ago,  and I call it a match made on board. They were both in their late 40's when they met.

I have heard other stories of couples whose paths crossed over the years, finally meeting and marrying. 

More pictures of the Oriana:

Afternoon Tea every day: