Wyatt Earp: and the Boomerang Refugium

by Jack Sunn

Later that afternoon, “Alisha, do your parents like a wine or two?”

  “They do.”

  “Would you kindly take me to the Australian shop that is here that I have heard about, that is if it is handy? The USS Navajo raided it for a gift box for Uncle Jack, but kind of nicely he gave it away to a kind woman at the hospital who had helped in looking after him while he was in a coma.”

  “We can do that, and I’ll call Mum to sort a time.”

  To Ray, being at the Australian shop was like being in an Australian Territory or enclave. It was oddly also like an Australian duty free airport store with accompanying Australian kitsch, especially little koalas. But the liquor section was well stocked with Australian wines and spirits. South Australian wines were plentiful, as were Bundaberg Rums. Not surprisingly Ray selected a Penfolds sparkling Salinger, a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc, and remembering Uncle Jack’s preferred taste, three bottles of Redman Shiraz. Though Ray did not drink rum, he also selected a Bundaberg OP Rum for Alisha’s Dad. Ray was being enthusiastic while Alisha was trying to restrain him, but Ray was having none of it. He checked out with the box of bottles, and asked to be directed to a florist.

  Alisha was on the verge of embarrassment when they arrived at her parent’s home. Ray was introduced and handed over his gifts of liquor and a large arrangement of Phalaenopsis and Oncidium orchid flowers. Both he and Alisha were so warmly welcomed that time went into a twilight mix of laughter, storytelling, eating and drinking.

  Later in the evening Alisha’s Mum took Alisha aside and said, “Darling you look really happy, and deservedly so. Please know that I think Ray is a fine young man. I am sure your father is also happy for you as always.”

  Ray and Alisha left at about 12.30am and took off back to her bungalow. By this time they had been up for about 18 hours. Though both were young and fit, the next day’s activities were only about six hours away, so they embraced, lightly kissed and went to their separate rooms. For Ray sleep was nearly instantaneous. The ritual of teeth cleaning, changing, and lying down after a physically full day led to easy and deep sleep. Not so for Alisha. By the time she entered Ray’s room unannounced, Ray was lightly snoring. She thought of the pleasures of waking him, but let him be.

  When Ray woke shortly after dawn, he knew instantly he was not alone. Not surprisingly, it is difficult to not notice an arm, which is not your own, laying across your chest. Now it was his turn to try not stirring Alisha, who was sound asleep. With great care, he extricated himself from Alisha and went to the bathroom. He returned and slipped under the sheet.

  Shortly she stirred to hear Ray say, “I think we will have to change our timetable.” And that they did. Breakfast was held off for two hours.

  CHAPTER 25

  The day of the opening ceremony at the Redlands had come around in a whirlwind. Alisha was on holidays and in Australia, intent on not missing any of the proceedings. That morning Ray and Alisha were busy with final preparations for the afternoon ceremony. The cabin they had shared was close to Bev’s. The three had eaten together the previous evening, and all was going to plan. While Alisha was busying herself ensuring her dress uniform was spotless and ironed, Ray had been making and receiving calls. During the last week Alisha had got used to knowing when Jack was on the phone, but today was different. It was not Jack’s voice, and Ray was not saying who he was talking to. She thought this a bit strange, and given how close they had become was a bit concerned when Ray would not tell her. More calls came and went and she thought it best to leave alone, but what was he up to? All preparations were being coordinated with Jack.

  At nearly 11am Ray dropped by the cabin, but was not his usual cheery self.

  Alisha asked, “Ray, what’s going on? You have been making calls all morning and now you look upset or unwell. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  At this Ray just stopped. “Alisha, I love you, but do not want to upset you with my worries. Some things are working out, and some not. Jack’s plans are fine. I have some separate plans Jack knows nothing of, and they are going well. But something else has not happened and I am disappointed. That’s all. I’m sorry.”

  With that said, Alisha took Ray by both hands and said, “Out with it. We can deal with this if you share it with me.”

  Ray was controlled, but inside not happy, and upsetting Alisha was just another thing he did not want.

  “No better time than now Ray. There is only now, and right now we have each other, right?”

  “Hard to argue with that I must say. Alright. I have been making plans to surprise Uncle Jack. That’s all working fine. No problems yet and none expected. Should be good. Not so good is another plan which has failed me. Not blaming anybody, it just has not worked out. I wanted something ready by today and it can’t be done. But today is more important than my wants and expectations. With that said, will you marry me Alisha? I rang your Dad earlier and have his blessings, but I am sorry, I have no ring to offer you.”

  Alisha simply threw herself at Ray saying yes, yes, yes, and kissed him. “It’s alright. I thought something bad was up. Come on. We’ve plenty of time, let’s go see Bev.”

  They walked to Bev’s cabin and knocked on the door. Bev opened it and Alisha hugged Bev and hurriedly said, “Ray and I are getting married.”

  “That’s wonderful, and congratulations to you both.”

  “Ray only just asked me. He had it planned for today, but could not get a ring that he wanted in time, and was not going to ask me, but he did, and I’m so happy.”

  It was soon Bev’s turn to speak, and she had thought about this for a long time should the occasion ever arise. “As you know my husband is now passed, and we had no children of our own, and no cousins. I have here my jewellery with no home to go to. Over the past few months and weeks, you, Jack and Susan have become all the family I could wish for. Would you honour me, and hesitated, no no, too presumptive.” She took out a small box from a nearby drawer, and unwrapped three rings. “One was my mother’s engagement ring, one her mother’s and one mine. Would you be able to wear one of these, if only temporarily?”

  Alisha was quick to respond, especially after seeing Ray smiling. “Only if I can call you Aunty Bev. Both my parents are only children. And yes Aunty Bev, I would be honoured.” And they embraced.

  “I now have both an aunty, an uncle-to-be, and a husband-to-be. Can we take a photo together to send to my Mum?” Not one to hesitate, she quickly took a photo of the three of them together, and a picture of her ring finger.

  Ray’s phone started ringing, and he motioned to step outside and did so. Alisha sent her Mum a message and two photos, and within the minute received a return call from her saying how pleased she was for both of them, and wishing them well for today as well as hoping to see them soon.

  It was Bev then who said, “I’m very happy for you both. But now you must go find Ray. He is a good man and needs you. Be gone and I will see you all soon.”

  Not ten minutes later Jack and Susan had made a quick trip over from Sunnybank to see all was well and knocked on Bev’s door. Bev opened the door, being pleased to see them.

  “Bev, we would like to invite you to a post celebration dinner. One a celebration that today will have gone as planned, and the other a celebration of our engagement?”

  “Of course, and excitedly congratulations. Please come in a moment, I have something important to say to you both as well.”

  “We are short for time, but thank-you.”

  Bev gave them both a shortened version of what she had told Alisha and Ray, and was thrilled when Susan allowed Jack to place her choice of ring on her finger, but Susan was quick to say, “Bev, thank-you. But may it be yours always. It’s lovely and means a lot to me, but it must also mean a lot to you. I will take good care of it for you.”

  As they were leaving Bev asked them both, “Have you seen Ray and Alisha since you got here?”

  “No, we haven’t. We came straight here to see you. But we have to pop b
ack to Sunnybank soonest. See you soon, bye, and thanks again.”

  Susan said to Jack as they were on the way back to the car, “What do you think Bev meant when she said had we seen Ray and Alisha?”

  “No idea, but I guess we will find out. But time to go or we could be late.”

  Susan spoke, “A husband-to-be and an Aunty Bev in one day. What an amazing woman, and so generous. A girl could not get it any better I think.”

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  The front of the Sunn residence faced the adjacent street but had none of the flash usually associated with a suburban residence. There was no letter box, no lawn and no garden. Instead it looked more like the rear of a storage warehouse. The wall was drab concrete, with two industrial size roller doors facing the street, and a concrete apron ran to the kerb. Rarely were the doors open. Vehicles normally entered from the rear of the building. Today though was a special day and the apron and adjoining kerb had been pressure-cleaned giving the appearance of near new concrete. Three bright orange witches’ caps stood on the road to ensure the driveway was not blocked.

  Everything was set for a 1.15 pm exit. By 12.30 a line of motorcycles had started queuing behind the witches’ caps. At the head of the line was Ruth’s red and silver Honda Gold Wing.

  1.00 pm and both roller doors lifted open. The sun shone in brightly, reflecting sharply off the metallic silver paint of the immaculately presented Rolls Royce, which in turn reflected off the 1955 model Holden FJ Ute painted in its original Milano Cream colour. The thirty-year difference in age was matched by a 94cm difference in length. The Rolls was not only bigger, but also lacked the utilitarian bench seat of the Holden. A lone figure stood by the Rolls Royce. A beige suit was not normal attire for the attendant, but the large beard was a giveaway for it was Alf, with cloth in hand, making sure no cobwebs or other adornments had deposited themselves on either of the cars in the last hour since they were last thoroughly cleaned.

  As planned, exactly at 1.05 pm, two Queensland Police motorcycles arrived and parked in front of the open roller doors. But not the new brightly patterned BMW’s the police use, but carefully restored 1970’s four cylinder Honda CB 750s. With the arrival of the two police officers, the Alexanders together with myself and Susan left the residence and entered the garage. Susan and I greeted the police officers. It was then that the official US car pulled up with the US Secretary of the Navy Bill Everson, and his aide Bob Nugent. Both exited the car, and the car’s driver reversed and parked nearby.

  Pleasantries were exchanged, and Mrs. Alexander motioned for Bill to sit in the back of the Rolls with her husband. She had earlier given Alf a bottle of Sullivan’s Cove whisky to place in the back for the two old salts to try on the short journey ahead. She was happy to be with Alf in the front. This naturally left Bob wondering what to do next. Not missing a beat, Ruth rode up from her poll position, and parked in front of the Holden. Taking her helmet off let a long length of red hair fall over her shoulders.

  “Hi there sailor. I’m Ruth, ex RAN MP. Like a ride? You’ll need a bucket.” Without waiting for a reply, she extracted a helmet from the pannier.

  “Should fit. What’s your name?”

  “Robert.”

  “Are you called Robert or Bob?”

  “Bob’s just fine.”

  “OK Bob’s-just-fine, climb aboard for the ride. But first we need another flag.” On the front of her two-wheel motor home Ruth had two flag holders. One already held the RAN Ensign, a small desk flag of 100 by 150mm. From the pannier she got out another similar sized flag, the Flag of the US Navy. Dark blue with the seal of the US Department of Navy in the centre, above a yellow scroll with blue lettered United States Navy, it contrasted sharply with the RAN ensign of white flag, blue stars and red and blue Union Jack. The Flag of the US Navy is for official US Navy only, for among other things parades and ceremonies. She placed it in the other flag holder.

  “That’s better. We are now officially a couple.” As she was about to replace her helmet, one of the police officers came over and quietly talked to her so no one else could hear. Ruth smiled, and acknowledged the suggestion. With Bobs-just-fine seated behind her, Ruth started the big Honda and slowly moved across the apron down to the road.

  Easing down the road was not something seen any time in the past, nor likely again. Ruth had installed two way communications between her helmet and the pillion helmet Bob was wearing.

  “Bob. What sort of music do you like?”

  Bob was about to answer suggesting country music, but thinking better of it said, “Surprise me.”

  The Gold Wing came with 4 speaker sound, clearly audible at speed. Without a word, Ruth had it sorted. Asking Bob was merely a formality. She knew what she wanted.

  So, moving down the road, centre stage was the Honda Gold Wing complete with flags, driven by a middle-aged redhead in full leathers, pillioning a US Navy ‘Suit.’ Following slightly behind were the two old Police Honda Fours, in turn escorting the immaculately presented Rolls Royce Silver Spur, followed closely by the FJ Ute carrying myself and Susan. As we left, an entourage built up of seemingly endless numbers of motorcycles bearing flags of both Australian and US origins. The riders were a mix of both men and women, many wearing old and current service uniforms. It only got grander as they progressed along Kessels Road on the way out to the Redlands. The police had arranged total control of the traffic lights and all intersections along the way. Sunnybank to Redlands express non-stop. And at the front was the heralding sound of AC/DC.

  The press had not been told of anything that was happening, and so the spectacle of the motorcade was unseen by them, and since there was total traffic control the journey was relatively short-lived and largely unseen. What I did not know would wait.

  Ruth, the two police, the Rolls and the FJ entered the van park and stopped near the manager’s cabin. With helmets off, the riders escorted the others into the annex for a light refreshment that Bev had prepared. Inside the US Secretary of the Navy immediately recognised Laura from the USS Navajo and made appropriate introductions. I was surprised to see her and gave her a hug and asked after her and the crew. But in all it was light conversation, as the proceedings of the afternoon were set to start.

  I was to act as the master of ceremonies, and was well prepared, but again was not in the know of all that was going to happen. On the platform, just near the entrance to the park, was a lectern, and microphone. Gathered nearby were now hundreds of onlookers, many having arrived on bikes or by taxi. For me, it was time to reflect a moment and take it in. I took the microphone.

  “His Excellency the Honourable, Admiral Gordon Alexander, retired, Mrs Alexander, The US Secretary of the Navy Mr Bill Everson, Crew of the USS Navajo, the services of both Australia and the United States, both serving and retired, families and friends, welcome, and thank-you for coming. My name is Jack Sunn, and it is a pleasure for me today to be here, and to see an amazing crowd of so many, and so many in uniform. I am overwhelmed without reserve by your support. Today, we take a step forward in recognising all that the Services do for our countries, and we have here the first of hopefully many more to come, a low cost residential facility for veterans of both our great countries, and for use by Legacy Australia. I acknowledge firstly the work of my family and friends who have given greatly to make this happen, at cost of material only, so that this facility can be run at cost and not-for-profit. It is my hope that other facilities will follow similarly. We have set up a trust with a board of directors to help administer the park, which is to be jointly opened by our retired Governor-General and retired Admiral, and the US Secretary of the Navy. It is now my great pleasure to introduce a great man, and ex-serviceman, His Excellency the Honourable, Admiral Gordon Alexander, to officially name the park. Sir.”

  “Thank-you Jack. I applaud what you initiated and developed in a short time. I too am overwhelmed by the sea of Service people before us. To place things in perspective, it is time for a story, a short one only, and Au
stralian naval history serves us well.

  In 1919, a 408-tonne single deck motor vessel was launched in Norway, and was purchased for an Antarctic expedition in 1933 by an American explorer named Lincoln Ellsworth. He refitted the ship with armor plate and renamed the ship Wyatt Earp after the marshal of Dodge City, Tombstone, Arizona. Indeed, it made four trips into the Antarctic waters between 1933 and 1939. But in February 1939, it was purchased by the Royal Australian Navy. It was commissioned in October of that year as HMAS Wongala, an aboriginal word meaning boomerang. It was re-commissioned in November 1947 as HMAS Wyatt Earp. In late 1951 the ship was sold to a commercial operator and renamed again as Wongala. The choice of the names Wongala and Wyatt Earp twice, would seem appropriate to living up to the idea of a thrown boomerang returning to its thrower. The ship eventually came to rest in Queensland, being wrecked in 1959 at Double Island Point.

  When you throw something away, it usually goes away. If it is a boomerang, it might come back. Throwing out the idea of an institution such as we have here today, as a kind of boomerang, may mean it will land safely and reproduce. To also incorporate the idea of Australian and American co-operation, I have pleasure in announcing the Wongala Trust as the administrator of the Park here, which henceforth is to be known as the Wyatt Earp.”

  The applause was near deafening and seemingly unending. At the conclusion of the Admiral’s speech, both he and Bill Everson unveiled the large sign at the park entrance: Wyatt Earp, a centre for Veteran’s accommodation, and Legacy Australia.

  Bill Everson then introduced Laura from the USS Navajo, who presented me and the facility a handmade timber replica of the ship Wyatt Earp, encased in a Perspex box.

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  The afternoon went by in a seeming blur after the excitement of the day. We had earlier planned to make the transition from afternoon to evening as easy as possible by staying at the park for dinner and overnight. By dinner time the crowds had largely left leaving us in a tranquil lull.