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THE IMPERIAL HOTEL, GORDONVALE
- Like many Queensland country towns, there wasn't a
shortage of hotels - even though when we arrived in Gordonvale there
was a shortage of beer. The Mountain View Hotel, run by the
three Winifred sisters, became a second home to many of us. At night
after dinner the tables would be cleared as Miss Betty gathered
groups around her piano for singing sessions. Playing by ear, she
gave us whatever we wanted; "Paratroopers' Song", "God Bless
America", "Yankee Doodle Dandy", and before our departure our
favorite "The Three Little Sisters". George Daly went every night he
could - sometimes walking and sometimes catching 'the white bus", a
local bus, riding on the roof if necessary. The sisters were our
adopted aunts, indulgent ones, though they kept a firm hand on the
behavior of both Digger and GI. However it never seemed to stop us. Well tired and emotional,
one paratrooper felt that that his training had conferred upon him
an invincibility which would allow him to jump from the top verandah
into the street. So he climbed to the upstairs railing and did his
best aircraft exit, and with a cry of "Geronimo!" managed to
break one of his ankles.
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