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Growing up Australia in the 1960’s
I can hear the sound of Clydesdale horses clip clopping along Main Road Ballarat, The milk bottles are jangling in their crates, and our empty bottles are ready by the front door with money ready for the ‘milky’ to collect and replace with two full pints. A mere aluminium cap is all that was needed to be taken off to taste the delicious cream that had settled on top of the milk. This was real milk, not lactose free, light, extra calcium, low fat, skim or any other baffling combination. It was also recycling at its best - the glass bottles were reused, over and over. If mum is lucky she will get to scoop up any nearby horse manure before another neighbour does. Plastic bags were never offered at the supermarket checkout. Mum simply took her own shopping basket, and if she needed extra capacity, her groceries were packed in one of the cardboard boxes, used to pack bulk items.
Winters were very cold and puddles were often iced over. We gingerly tested our weight on them and at the sign of the first crackle of ice we leapt off. Walking to school was a 1 mile walk from Main Road, up the hill, past the monument which acknowledged the point where gold was first discovered, sending Victoria into a Gold Rush frenzy. Golden Point State School stood proud at the top of the hill. Teachers introduced us to Enid Blyton and the magical stories of the Faraway Tree, The Enchanted Wood etc. The only heater in the room was behind the teacher’s desk but we were too energetic to feel the cold. The girls were crazy for Chinese Skippy, and netball. Leading into inter school competitions our sport teacher groomed our teams for cross ball, tunnel ball, clean baton relay exchanges etc., and our slick precision and hours of practice paid off when our school came first. The head master was so proud of our schools sporting achievements he arranged for peppermint ice creams to be delivered to Golden Point and given to every pupil.
After school we ‘sleighed’ down a large mullock heap on rusted sheets of corrugated iron at what is now the site of Sovereign hill. We suffered scrapes and bruises, but the thrill and adrenalin of riding to the bottom outweighed the injuries when we did come to grief. Sovereign hill was magical - full of yellow broom and prickle bushes - so many places to play ‘Hidey’.
Just above the Gold monument families gathered for the annual Guy Fawks night. All the neighbourhood kids contributed to a massive bonfire, sneaking whatever we could from our homes and yards to make sure the bonfire would be fuelled to last for hours. On the big night we could hardly contain our excitement to let off the penny bungers, sky rockets, sparklers, tom thumbs, pin wheels and jumping jacks in our cracker bags. The next morning it was a race to return to the smouldering bonfire and in first light search for crackers that hadn’t been lit.
At the end of the school year we were taken by bus to the Eureka Stockade for a full day picnic. We wore plastic cups with handles which hung on string around our necks. This was for the red cordial drink at lunch time, which was a real treat. There was a pool at the Stockade, but the water was dark and murky, and only the bravest would swim in it.
On a Friday night, fish and chips from LeCoutiers one Main Road was a popular family treat. Neighbours queued out the door and onto the foothpath. On the way home it was standard practice to tear a hole into the end of the wrapping and gorge as many hot greasy chips as one could, while savouring the warmth the warm parcel afforded, when held to your chest. I remember the Chinese restaurant in town, but we had to take our own saucepans which were then filled with a cuisine that filled our senses when we brought them home. This was a super treat - often celebrating a birthday.
When the street lights came on, we had to immediately return to our homes or face the consequences. Sunday night was great TV viewing with the Banana Splits and Disneyland. The 60’s were wonderful years filled with real friends, not cyber friends. Men tipped their hat to bid good day and homes were full of healthy families eating home cooked meals. There were few scraps and little waste.
That said, I derive great enjoyment reflecting on my life. We have seen incredible advances in technology, medical knowledge and science. In the words of the great John Lennon and his timeless lyrics I can only “Imagine” if the races and cultures across our beautiful planet will ever put their prejudices and differences aside so that we can all live as one.
