We were loading coal, I was on a merchant ship, we went ashore to a bar (as you do) and a few of us were invited home to the house of a couple we met in the bar. We were so hospitably treated with beer and food that I remember little of the rest of the afternoon only the apology the following day when our hosts came onboard to visit the ship. Australia is a great place, one day I’ll have to see it sober :-)

n.b. I did see Sydney and Melbourne sober in 1989/90, but having spent 3 weeks in Aus and three months in NZ I think that tells you all you need to know about my preference.