Unique Position as Train Stewardess

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 6

Unique Position as Train Stewardess

As new train stewardess on the Spirit of Progress, a girl walks 60 miles each week, while she is travelling 1160, says an Australian pajier. While the train hurtles along to Albury she strides up and down the 600 feet of carriage corridor so many times and it is an understatement to say she does a 10-mile hike each trip. Miss Monica Hillman dismisses this effort with a wave of her capable hand.

She was the first to be chosen as stewardess from the refreshment room staff at Flinders Street station. Miss Hillman does the return run to Albury three times each week. The other nights she is relieved by two junior stewardesses. Soon after the train pulls into Spencer street, she walks up and down the corridors so that passengers will realise she is there ready to assist them.

Once the whistle shrills and the journey starts, she continues with her vigilance work, never sitting down or resting until the Spirit of Progress reaches Albury. ‘ ‘I try to give as much of my time to the second class as to the first class travellers,” she explains. “Mostly I heat bottles for babies or look after children while their parents are in the dining-car. Sometimes I supply just the righ shade of darning silk to mend ladders which have unexpectedly run up and down stockings. “Naturally I never have time to get bored.

“After the train has emptied at Albury and I have helped passengers out of their carriages, I go to Wodonga and sleep until I am called at 5 a.m. to get ready to greet the Spirit of Progress once more.” Miss Hillman has been working as train Stewardess since the Spirit of Progress’ maiden journey a month ago.