17a["Shipping", The West Australian, Friday 04 December 1908, page 6]

...

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

...

DERBY.

Arrival. December 2.--Minilya from Singapore, 7 p.m.

Departure, December 2.-Minilya, for Broome, 7 a.m.

...

notes:

Tom Ronan senior probably left Napier Downs at daybreak on November 30th or December 1st, 1908,

for the overland run into Derby

Boarded Minilya for Fremantle early on morning of December 2nd.

17b["Shipping", The West Australian, Saturday 12 December 1908, page 10]

PORT OF FREMANTLE.

ARRIVALS.--December 11.

Minilya, s.s., 2,744 tons, Captain Richardson, from Singapore via ports. Passengers: Messrs. Collingwood, Masters, Underwood, Grill, Frizzell, Grant, Ronan,...

...

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

FOR EASTERN STATES.

Kanowna, s.s., today.

Hobart, s.s., December 15.

Grantala, s.s., December 19.

...

notes:

Minilya looked like the only boat that Tom Ronan could have caught, and a Mr. Ronan unaccompanied among the passengers.

These 'projected departures' are not the only options for travel east;

Orient liner R.M.S. Orotava, dep Fremantle 17th arr Port Adelaide Dec 21st looks the best option.

17c["Shipping", The Register (Adelaide, SA), Tuesday 22 December 1908, page 6]

...

ARRIVED.--December 21.

Orotava, R.M.S., 3,452 tons, s., W. V. Plunkett, from London...

...

From Fremantle--50. And 31 in the third class from various ports. And 401 en route to eastern States and New Zealand.

...

17d[General news, The Argus (Melbourne), Tuesday 22 December 1908, page 6]

...

The English mails brought by the Orient Royal Mail liner Orotava reached Adelaide too late yesterday to catch the express train for Melbourne, and were sent on by a special train last night. The train is due in Melbourne at 12 minutes past 4 o'clock this afternoon.

...

notes:

If Ronan arrived at Port Adelaide by Orotava, he would almost certainly have taken train departing tue 22 dec arr Melb wed 23 dec. Timing is right.

17e["Shipping", The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 26 December 1908, page 10]

SHIPPING.

ARRIVALS.--Dec. 25.

Orotava, R.M.S., 5857 tons, Captain S. W. V. Plunkett, from London, via Gibraltar, Marseilles, Naples, Port Said, Colombo, Fremantle, Adelaide, and Melbourne. Passengers--Mr. W. A. Long, Mr. and Mrs. Busby,...

..., Mr. Ronan,...

notes:

Ronan on the Orotova passenger list, and booked to Sydney!

It looks like he might have disembarked at Port Adelaide,

taken the train to Melbourne see his wife,

and then rejoined the ship for the run north to Sydney.