Personal travel journal of Ian Johnson, covering March and April, 1956.
Object Type
Documents and books/Book/Journal
Date Used
1956
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Object Detail
Brief Description
Ian Johnson's personal travel journal documenting the trip from Melbourne to London, beginning the Australian cricket team's 1956 international season, with Johnson as captain. Johnson documents events and observations en route between 17 March and 7 April, 1956, mainly including the first matches in Tasmania and Western Australia, and the three weeks at sea aboard the SS Himalaya, ending in Colombo. A thick, dark green leather cover, with "MY / TRIP" embossed in gold on front. Inside cover illustration is of a tropical beach scene, with a book plate title page featuring Johnson's handwriting of his name and address: "206 PAGE STREET / MIDDLE PARK / MELBOURNE VIC AUST" and brand details below: "COLLINS BROS. STATIONERS PTY LTD / 23-29 MENTMORE AVENUE ROSEBURY NSW". A handwritten note on the first page reads: "TO IAN / WISHING YOU FURTHER / SUCCESS AS CAPTAIN OF / THE 1956 AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN / IN ENGLAND", signed by four well wishers: "Noel ??? / ??? / ROY MORGAN / ???". A alphabetical index is located at the back, and a pocket sized colour map of the world is folded neatly. Johnson relates playing golf between team mates; Burge, Rutherford, Wilson, Benaud, Davidson, Crawford and Mackay in Tasmania during March. One entry on 21 March mentions, "...M BURN, 94 YEARS OLD, PLAYED TEST CRICKET UNDER BILLY MURDOCH IN 1890 WAS PRESENT." On 27 March, "LEN MADDOCK VERY LATE TO PRACTICE. PULLED TO ORDER". Also of interest, an entry on 1 April refers to a game of 'deck tennis' being played on the ship, with the rules and diagram of the game also featured in the travel journal's informative pages. Several of the journal's various forms have been filled out by Johnson; "TRAVELLERS CHEQUE NUMBERS, GIFTS TO BUY, CASH ACCOUNT AND BILL BOOK, ITINERARY".
Measurements
0 - Whole: H: 203.87 W: 128.77 D: 17.2mm (H: 8 W: 5 1/16 D: 11/16")
Associated Event
Associated Person
Date Used
1956
Place Used
Location
In storage
Registration No
M16881.5
Credit Line
Kindly donated by the Johnson family.
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