The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Fay Berry 2013 © – Chapter 15

 

Unley High School had established a brother/sister relationship with Melbourne’s University High School and each year the two High Schools would exchange sports teams to compete against each other in either Melbourne or in Adelaide. In my second year at High School, in 1952, the University High School girls’ teams were to come to Adelaide and the Unley High School boys’ teams were to go to Melbourne. This required accommodation to be arranged for each of the girls who were coming to Adelaide.

Students were to be billeted out in students’ homes. The exchange was to occur in the last week of the first term. Students were provided with a list of the names of girls needing accommodation and we were able to choose a suitable girl from the list. To my great delight, Mum and Dad agreed to billet a girl in our home. There was a girl on the list who described her religion as “Christadelphian,” and her name was Judith McKinlay. I wrote to her and asked if she would like to stay with our family in Adelaide. She wrote back that she would love to stay with us. Her family owned a shoe factory called “Imp Shoes” and I presumed from this that they were probably quite well off.

The teams arrived by train and all the families who had billets met the train at the central railway station. We were all so excited; perhaps hysterical was a better word to describe the pandemonium made by all the students as they met their billets. When I first met Judith I felt very shy of her because she was one year older than me and seemed very sophisticated. Judy was to share my bedroom for the week and we each had a bed on either side of the fireplace in my room.

Unley High put on a social night to welcome the University High contingent. To my disgust, the social night was to be an “all-girls” affair because our puritanical headmistress, “Fanny Grosvenor” insisted that boys must be segregated from girls. What was wrong with that woman? When we dressed for the school social night I was very impressed with Judith’s outfit. She wore a white sleeveless dress with a scooped neck, close fitting bodice and a full skirt. The material of her frock was flecked with gold and she wore a thin gold belt around her tiny waist. Her beautiful high heeled shoes, made in her father’s shoe factory, were also painted gold. The overall effect was stunning. She looked like a model.

I felt over-awed by her and it took me some little while to feel at home with her. She turned out to be not at all “stuck up” and by the end of the week we were good friends. After she returned to Melbourne I received an invitation from her mother and father to come and stay with them during my next holidays, which I gladly accepted.

I made friends with so many of the girls from University High and we had some great outings around the town. We hired some boats on the Torrens and I was in one boat with a girl called Joy Eunson. She had black curly hair and a happy, outgoing personality. I don’t know what team she was in, but one thing is for sure, it was NOT the rowing team because she rowed us directly into the path of the oncoming “Pop Eye” on the river Torrens.  I do not know how our frail craft was not sunk, but we did get soaked by “Pop Eye’s” wake and had to bale out our boat to get back to shore.

 

 

All through my early school years I found that I liked the company of boys more than I liked the company of girls. This was probably a consequence of having three brothers and being surrounded during the week by their school friends, and on the weekends, their friends from Sunday School. Girls only came if I invited them! I did have girlfriends at school, out of necessity, I guess, but I never really found a “soul mate” amongst them. In Primary School, Pauline Viney was a good and faithful friend but the “fit” with her was never really quite right for me.

Prudence Parker, who became my friend in grade 6 and 7, was one of those girls who insisted that everyone “play to her tune.” I spent time with her mainly because I wanted to be accepted by the “In” group. Avis Wallis was never a real match either and in my Sunday School class there was no one who interested me at all. There was Wendy Jolly, Wendy Pitcher, Barbara Foulis, Marlene Gross, and sundry others whose names escape me. My best friends in later years were Phyllis Matthews and Nancy King who were about three years older than me.

In my first couple of years at High School I had a “crushes” on a number of boys. The first was John Badman. He was a tall “sporting” boy with a long fringe of blond hair that flopped over his eyes and had to be flicked away every now and then. I played “brandy” and “keep the ball away” with him and his group of friends. He was in third year whilst I was in first year. One weekend I went for a ride on my bike to the street where he lived. I didn’t expect to see him but wanted to see where he lived and what his home was like.

To my amazement and confusion I saw him walking towards me as I rode down his street. We stopped and he asked me what I was doing down his way. I made up some excuse about meeting a friend a few streets from here and then got on my bike and rode off. Then I was angry with myself for not making the most of such an opportunity to spend some time with him. Some time after that, John asked me to go to the school picture evening with him. I was delighted, but when I asked Mum if I could go she said,

“No, you are too young.”

I was determined to go in spite of Mum and decided that I would climb out of my bedroom window on the night of the picture evening and meet up with John and go with him to the pictures. The day before the picture evening, John wasn’t at school and one of his friends told me that he had been in an accident on his bike and wouldn’t be able to take me to the pictures. I was so unhappy about that and made the assumption, wrongly as it turned out, that he simply didn’t want to go with me and was making excuses.

So that was the end of that for me. I never spoke to him again. Years later he came to Dad’s factory on business and told my brother that he had really liked me when we were at school and could never understand why I had cut him off so abruptly, and with no explanation whatsoever…   How foolish was I? In later years I found out that John Badman was very likely a relative because my mother’s first cousin married a Badman.

 

 

Neil McIntosh was another boy who asked me out in 3rd year. He invited me to go to the school picture evening when they were showing the movie “The Glenn Miller Story.” This time I canceled out at the last minute because I decided that I didn’t want to see that particular movie. That’s what I told myself, anyway, but I think I was unsure of whether I really liked Neil or not. So many things I used to do or not do in those days because I was unsure of myself. There were a few other boys I liked at High School, there was Ron Sword and Bill Coghlin, John and Peter Lawrie, all two or three years ahead of me at school.

There were other boys that I simply “worshiped from afar.” Other boys who liked me and wanted to go out with me were boys such as Graham Kelly, Ian McIntosh and Roger Green. I remember riding home from school one afternoon with Graham Kelly and liking him a lot. Then he began to boast about going behind the toilets at school to smoke. I hated smoking! And here was Graham boasting about smoking. I sped up on my bicycle and rode off “into the sunset” and that was the end of Graham Kelly for me.

 

 

In May, 1953, the time for the exchange with University High had come around again and this time I was in the “A” Grade Softball team and was one of those selected to travel to Melbourne to compete with University High School sports teams. These days we would probably all have traveled by plane, but in 1953 there was nothing quite so salubrious for us, it was the torture of the “dog boxes” or nothing.

On the Melbourne train in those days, on one side of the train was a walk way and off of this were the compartments we called the “dog boxes.” They were entered through a sliding door and there were two rows of bench seats facing each other and above the seats were two netting roof racks for luggage. You can’t imagine a more miserable and exhausting ride to Melbourne. You could be reasonably comfortable if you were able to snaffle one of the luggage racks to try to sleep in. You could climb up and stretch out full length and at least be only reasonably uncomfortable.

When the day of our departure arrived, all the team members met on the platform at the Adelaide Railway station. A crowd of well-wishers from school and their parents and family members were there to see us off. Jim Luke was there with a group of friends and he came to wish me well. He said he wanted to hear all about the week when I came back. The whistle blew and the chugging of the train began and then the train lurched and began to move out of the station. We all hung out of the windows waving and yelling to our friends gathered on the platform.

When we could see them no more, we all began to establish ourselves in our allotted compartments, finding our friends and sorting ourselves into each cabin. Those who managed to get up in the luggage racks were there for the night and the rest of us sat or walked or lay on the floor or whatever we could manage to try and pass the night without too much discomfort. It was an exhausting trip to Melbourne and we were all so glad when we finally arrived at the Flinders Street Railway station.

I was billeted with a girl called Renata Morris who lived at 49 Hartwood St, East Kew. Renata was a tall angular girl and lived in a very lovely home, so I presumed her family was quite well off. Each day we would go to University High School and either watch other teams’ matches or play in matches ourselves. I was very happy when our softball team won all our matches. In the evenings there were various social and event nights held at the school.

We could go dancing in the hall or run around in the school grounds outside of the main hall. University High is located right next door to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and some of the boys and girls got the bright idea that we should “storm the hospital.” A bunch of us climbed over the fence into the Hospital grounds and climbed up the outside fire escape. We were laughing and calling to each other as we ran up the stairs.

Inevitably we were discovered by a couple of nurses and an orderly. We all turned and ran back down to the bottom of the fire escape, laughing and jostling each other as we scrambled back over the intervening fence. We had such a good time and when our week came to an end we were all of us sorry to have to finally board our train back to Adelaide.

 

In my third year at Unley High I was chosen to play in the “A” softball team and in my fourth year became captain of the team. I was very good at softball and often had been told that I had a throw “almost as good as a boy’s.” I used to arrive at school early in the morning and stay late in the afternoon and throw a ball back and forward endlessly, usually with Colleen Robjohns as my practice partner. In my 4th year and early in the year I went out to watch the tryouts for the hockey teams. I had never played hockey and had no idea of the rules.

Mr Boundy our maths teacher was a State hockey player and he was the one choosing the players for the teams. Miss Tomlinson, who was our softball coach, was there helping him organise the tryouts. I was standing there, minding my own business, when Miss Tomlinson suggested I should try out for the hockey team. Before I knew what I was in for I found myself fitted out in goal-keeper’s pads and a hockey stick was thrust into my hands. I knew nothing about hockey and Miss Tomlinson instructed me about only two things, that I was not to raise my stick above my shoulder and even more importantly, I was not to let the hockey ball go between the goal posts.

With these basic instructions I found myself standing all alone in front of the goal posts, wondering what on earth I was doing there. I noticed that the action was no longer up the other end of the field, but coming straight toward me. Mr Boundy, the State hockey player was dribbling and hitting the ball with two other players running beside him, desperately trying to take the ball from him. I remembered my instructions. I grabbed my stick firmly in two hands, making sure that I didn’t raise it above my shoulder and ran towards the oncoming group of players. I charged straight at them, swung my right foot back and then kicked with all my might. My foot connected to the ball with a resounding thud and then the hurtling players were on top of me and we all went down in a heap.

When I stood up again and surveyed my handiwork, I found that Mr Boundy was rubbing a bruised knee and holding a broken hockey stick and the two other players were sitting on the grass looking dazed. That day I was made goalkeeper for the school’s “A” team and continued to play in that role for all of my fourth year at UHS. My greatest hockey moment was when I filled in for Greenwood “A’s” absent goalkeeper for their semi-finals and won them the game by preventing five potential goals from passing my foot and stick. The funny thing is that I still don’t know the rules of the game any more than I did that first day.

 

 

There are so many people that I remember from my school days. There was a boy called John Hollamby who was nicknamed “Bugs Hollamby” because he was so interested in collecting bugs. He later became a scientist and worked at Roseworthy College at Gawler. Then there was a boy called Maurice Longden. He was very good looking and he won a baseball prize and his photo was in the school magazine. Years later he went up in a balloon at Alice Springs and his balloon collided with another balloon and he was killed. I could scarcely believe it when I read it in the papers.

 

 

Then there was a boy called Robert Catlin who was in one of the school photos sitting right in the front row because he was so small. He was one of those boys who sit in the front of photos with their arms crossed and trying to push up their muscles so they seem bigger than they are. I later met him at a school reunion and he recognised me but I didn’t recognise him at all, and for a very good reason. In the school photo he was such a little boy and this grown Robert Catlin was now around 6’ 4” tall. No wonder I didn’t recognise him. John and Peter Lawrie were two brothers at school that I liked very much because they were so good looking. In those days, looks were so important to me.

 

 

Gunta Vitolins was one of my girlfriends during third year. She was a small slip of a girl with blond hair caught back in a pony tail. She was a ballerina and one day was very upset because she had failed in her audition for entrance into the Bolshoi ballet (I think that was the company). Leonie Everard was a tall girl with beautiful black curly hair. She eventually married a boy who attended Unley High called Wayne Dodds. I heard some years later that Wayne fell from a tree he climbed whilst fooling around at someone’s wedding reception.

Alan Lane played tennis and he took me to the movies after our school was lined up to welcome the new Queen Elizabeth in her parade along North Terrace when she visited Adelaide in 1954, one year after her coronation on 2nd June 1953. Alan later played tennis at Wimbleton I believe and now lives up in Qld and still works as a tennis coach.

In the meeting there was one boy that I seriously fell in love with. His name was Des Manser and he attended Adelaide Technical High School and also used to go to the Adelaide Ecclesia. He was three years older than me and I absolutely adored him. He was good looking, good at sports and a popular member of the young people’s group. I used to sit behind him at lectures and occupy myself drawing the back and side of his head in my notebook. I liked him from when I was 11 years old until I was 16 years of age. What ended my “crush” on Des? Well, it happened in this way:

In November 1955 when I was 16 years of age there was an outing to Port Elliott for the young people. It was a beautiful day and I remember swimming in the sea with a group of the young people including Phyl Matthews. I also struck up a friendship with a group of boys, not Christadelphian, who took me out on their surf boards to one of the islands off Port Elliott. We walked around the island looking at the penguins and bird life there. When we returned, I was into trouble with the youth committee for leaving the young folk’s group and I was feeling rather rebellious.

Later on Des asked me to go for a walk up to the rocks at Port Elliott. When we came to the rocks we sat down and watched the waves crashing below us. It was then that Des kissed me! I had been waiting for what seemed like forever for Des to kiss me and now it was a reality. I should have been over the moon. The trouble was that Des was just 6 months too late in making his move. Six months ago I had met Jeff Berry and now I was more interested in Jeff than I was in Des. The irony of it suddenly struck me and I began to giggle. Des stopped kissing me and said rather huffily,

“That’s nice, I kiss you and and all you can do is laugh!”

Sorry Des, you should have got around to it sooner.

 

 

 

As time went on, although I was no longer seriously interested in Des we still saw a lot of each other. I got on famously with him and his parents, in fact, his whole family. I would ride my bike to his place and spend the afternoon and evening at his house and then Des would put my bike in the car and drive me home at night.

 

 

 

The Manser’s were not well off and Des used to call their home at 20 Albert Street, Payneham, “the Royal Dump,”  but I used to have so much fun there.  I often used to be there for dinner and although there was enough food you never knew what would be available and what would not.

You would say,

“Pass the jam please.”

“Sorry, no jam” would be the reply.

“Is there any honey?”

“No.”

“Ok, then what is there?”

“Peanut butter or Vegemite.”

So you would have peanut butter or Vegemite and we were all as happy as could be with that.

Des and Brian used to call each other “Jack” and it was very confusing.  It would be “Jack, this” and “Jack that” and you never knew which one was meant. Des’  brother and sisters liked to get into his room and Des didn’t like it so he took the handle off his door so they couldn’t easily get in. The only way into his room was through the window or by opening his door with a screw driver.

I remember their toilet was way down in their back yard. Ronda, Des sister had diabetes and she used to hate having it because everyone else could eat sweet things but she was never allowed to. Their younger sister Barbara was a beautiful little girl.  She would have been about four years old at the time and she had curly hair and freckles across her nose and we used to call her “Bubbles.”

When it was time for me to go home, after an evening at the Manser’s place, Mr Manser would give Des the keys to his car and Des would drive me home. When we got to my place Des would turn the car engine off and we would chat for ages. He used to tell me everything that was happening in his life. When it was time for him to go we would always have a “pash” session as I called it to myself. We did this so often and yet we never “went together,” and it never occurred to me that Des would actually, really like me. I somehow thought that he just regarded me like a little sister or “the girl next door” and his time spent kissing me was just a sort of “practice” run or something.

I know, teenage girls do not always have a reliable sense of reality. Such weird thinking, but that’s what I thought and when we met at Young Folk’s outings we would both behave just as good friends.

 

Des was very good sports and was captain of his school’s cricket team, but I remember that I taught him to play tennis and spent lots of time in his company.

When he went interstate for a youth conference he would come back and arrange to pick me up in his Dad’s car and then he would tell me all about the girlfriend he was currently pursuing and why it was or was not working. Then, as usual, we would have another ‘pash’ session and that would be that until next time. That’s just the way it was. What was wonderful about Des, was that he was one of the kindest and most patient people that I knew at that time. And I loved his family so much. Since those days I have become very good friends with Des’ sister Barbara, no longer “bubles,” but grown up. Barbara lives in WA. She was such a cute little girl at the time and is now a good “facebook” friend.

There were two girls who worked in the office at Unley High School. One of the girl’s name was Pam Hissey and the other’s was Dianne ? I became very friendly with these two girls and we used to write each other silly notes filled with shared jokes, poems full of little innuendos, such as

“For gardening hints refer to Pam,

She learned them all from Ian Trevan

And now she’s waiting for the showers

To share or wear the little “Flowers.”

I spent a lot of time in the School Office chatting and laughing with Pam and Di and they certainly brightened up my school life. I remember on one occasion they let me look at my brother Charles’ (Rick’s) school exam results for 1952 and 1953. He was always going on at me for not working harder at school but then when I looked at his exam results I saw that his scores were pretty average too and so I didn’t take a lot of notice of him the next time he told me I should work harder.

In November of 1955 a boy called Walter Pearce came to stay with our family from Sydney. He had come to attend a wedding of a young couple who were getting married in Adelaide. He was to play the Wedding march before the Wedding Ceremony. Mum found it very hard work keeping Walter entertained because he didn’t seem to be able to entertain himself . He seemed to be constantly under her feet making it difficult for her to get her work done.

One day I was sitting in class in the Chem Lab when Pam from the office came to the door of our classroom and surreptitiously handed a note to the girl nearest the door, asking her to pass it on to me. The note went from hand to hand until it finally reached me where I was sitting on the other side of the room by the outside windows of the classroom. In the note Pam informed me that my mother had rung and left a message asking her to tell me that Walter “needed entertaining” and could I manage to get out of class and go with him to Victor Harbor for the day? If I could get away, Walter would be waiting for me in Kyre Avenue, the street next to the school.

 

 

Looking back, I am surprised that it never struck me as odd for my mother to make such a request. I had a whispered conference with the girl who was sitting in front of me, Jill Black, and I asked her to make a diversion of some kind so that I could climb out of the Lab window without our teacher noticing. Jill quickly conferred with the two girls sitting in front of her and they had no trouble in diverting the teacher’s attention whilst two of the girls behind me heaved me out of the window where I tumbled into the garden bed below.

I dusted myself down and then ran to Kyre Avenue, and sure enough, there was Walter waiting for me. We went off to Victor Harbor where we walked around the rocks on Granite Island. Walter spent most of the time telling me how wonderful his sister Sylvia was and didn’t seem much interested in me so I decided that he was not the most exciting company I could have hoped for, but at least my mother got some peace for the day.

 

Roma Wilson, my brother Maynard’s girlfriend and her parents used to live on the top of the Richard’s Building in the city because they were the caretakers of the building. Sometimes Maynard and I used to visit them at their home. To get to the top of the building we used to go up in a lift from a side street. At their front door there was a big bitumen area surrounded by a concrete ballustrade and from this vantage point the whole city was laid out below us.

Mr and Mrs Wilson were able to let us use the building’s sporting facilities and so we used to go and play table tennis some Saturday afternoons on the second floor of the building. I would invite Des Manser to join us to make up a foursome. When Roma was a little girl she was playing with a broom in the laundry of the Wilson’s house when she put the broom between her mother’s legs causing her to trip and fall. Her mother received permanent damage to her leg and from then on she walked with a limp.

In my Leaving year, Jim and Brian Luke were good friends of mine. One day Jim Luke asked me to partner him at his cousin Robert Wallace’s 16th birthday party and I accepted his invitation. On the night of the party Jim came to my place and we rode together on our bikes to his cousin’s place which was a beautiful old house on Cross Road, Unley. The party turned out to be quite an experience for me! A large group of young people were there.

Amongst them were Alan Cheek, Julie Broadbridge, Brian and Des Manser and Joy Nettlebeck from Nuriootpa and of course, Jim and Brian Luke. There was dancing on a small dance floor that had been set up in a corner of the lounge room and games including various ‘kissing’ games. One game was a version of “spin the bottle.” One of the participants, a boy or girl, had to spin the bottle and whoever was in front of the bottle when its spinning stopped was asked to close his or her eyes whilst the “spinner” planted a kiss on the recipient’s mouth. They did that for a while amidst much hilarity and then one time when the bottle stopped the boy who was supposed to kiss the girl pressed a half of lemon on her lips instead of kissing her. Des and Brian Manser thought this was hilarious and laughed about it for years afterwards.

I remember taking a lot of notice of Joy Nettlebeck at the party because she was so pretty. She had black curly hair, creamy white skin and red lips and she was a magnet for all the boys. I never saw her after that because living in the country as she did, she didn’t come to meetings in Adelaide. We had a treasure hunt around the streets near the Wallace’s house and Rob Wallace, “the birthday boy,” asked me to be his partner. We were given a list of “clues” and it was supposed to be a race against time and the person who got back home with the “treasure” was to receive a prize. All the girls and boys who had partnered off did not seem to be too interested in racing to get back to the Wallace’s home but wandered around the streets for ages after.

Rob and I walked around looking for the clues down the side street adjacent to the Railway line near his house and it was quite good fun. Then Rob put is arms around me and kissed me. This should have been a momentous occasion for me, because I was almost sixteen and had never been kissed, unless you count the the kiss I received from the “Handsome Prince” in the play, “The Sleeping Beauty” in grade 1.

But then Rob spoiled it all when after having kissed me he asked,

“How old do you think I am, Fay?”’

I looked at him in disbelief. This was his 16th birthday party, and he was asking me how old I thought he was? Derrrrr! I decided it would be diplomatic to massage his ego, so I said,

“Oh, I’d say you’d be about 18?”

He looked flattered and quite smug.

“How dumb can you be?” I thought.

If there had been a likelihood of my being interested in Rob Wallace, or placing too much value on his kiss, well it ended right there. When the evening was over, Jim and I rode our bikes back to my place. We stopped at the Macklin Lane entrance to Dad’s Blacksmith shop and the rear entrance to our house. It must have been my night for kissing, because Jim kissed me as we stood there next to our bikes. Then I said “Goodnight” and went inside.

DIARY ENTRIES

1955 was the year that my brother Charles went on a preaching tour to Queensland with Perce, Jim and Eric Mansfield and on the way back he stayed in Sydney with Bruce Philp at National Avenue Sutherland where he described himself to Mum as having “no girlfriend and no prospects of one.” He was very unsettled and insecure about employment in Sydney. He had found it hard to find suitable work to support himself and had temporarily been working for Jack Ryan picking rags in Jack’s business whilst he looked for more suitable employment. He wrote to Mum and Dad asking for some of his books such as Phanerosis and Law of Moses to be sent to him and he warned Mum and Dad that Ted Spongberg would be “invading Adelaide” in a few weeks. He told Mum that he would like to be “home” because he was finding things in Sydney a “heavy grind” for him.

My brother Graham was to be married in Sydney sometime during the year to Joyce Rosser from Sydney. I remember Graham working on his car trying to get it fixed up sufficiently to go to Sydney. He would have been only 19 years of age. He was so poor that he should not have been marrying, but Joyce’s parents lived in a cottage in Sproule Street Lakemba and also owned an adjoining house and Graham and Joyce were allowed to live there. My brother Charles wrote a humorous poem about the two that was read at the wedding (attached).

19550403 Sunday – Nancy came to dinner after Sunday School today and when we came into the kitchen we found that Ian Wurfel was there. Nancy, however, mistook him for his brother Keith. She marched up to him with her hand extended and said “Well, look who’s here. How are you Keith? Well how’d you be, what blew you in?” Ian looked a bit confused but he shook hands with her anyway. Dad was looking a bit puzzled and he said,“I didn’t know you knew him.” And Nancy said, “Of course I know him, don’t I Keith?” “But that’s not Keith,” said Dad, “that’s his brother Ian.” Poor Nancy, Instead of just brushing it off, she went red in the face and said, “Oh. No! I thought you were Keith. Oh, what must you think of me. I’m not forward, I’m not like that really, Oh Hang!” Poor Nan, we laughed and laughed at her.

The subjects I was doing in 1955, my Leaving year at High School were, Book keeping, the plague of my life; Geography,these lessons were “fun” in that we spent a lot of time “mucking around” and driving our teacher Mr Pederick crazy, but the subject itself I did not do well in and I feel ashamed now of how we treated poor Mr Pederick. Economics was also a very bad subject for me. Anything to do with mathematics or anything that had a “numbers” base was beyond me. Needless to say I spent the majority of my time working in the subjects I WAS good at and had a talent for and they were English and Sports. I was good at anything that used words and communication, so I should have been doing Art subjects and not Commercial subjects. Sports I did play because I got lots of encouragement and rewards for my efforts and so an English lesson or a sports lesson was always the highlight of my day.

19550407 Thursday – This evening we had a family reunion. It was to say “Goodbye” to my Paternal Grandparents, Charles and Emily O’Connor who were going to Naracoorte to live. Ian Wurfel was there which was good because he took the family photo which is the only group photo we ever had taken of the O’Connor side of our family. I felt a little bit guilty about Ian being there because I knew that he liked me and although I flirted with him whenever he came down I never really wanted to take it any further than that because it was his brother Ken that I really liked. Ian left before Mum got to say goodbye to him and she was not pleased with Dad for letting him go.

1955 04 08 Good Friday – Easter weekend – I intended to go to the young folk’s tennis picnic at Waterfall Gully today but missed the bus so instead went with Dad up to Mount Osmond with Grandpa and Grandma O’Connor to show them the view of Adelaide from there. After that, I went with Mum into to meet Mrs Wurfel’s train which came in at 3 o’clock, but Mrs Wurfel wasn’t on it. She must have come down by car. To fill in time Mum and I went to the Savoy to watch the news reel. At four o’clock, Nancy King and Rosalie Foster came to our place after the picnic and so we took them to see “Scared Stiff” it was certainly scarey, but was it funny!

Before the the movie started, all we could talk about was the Wurfel’s and we had it all worked out. We decided that I would have Ken, Rosalie would have Keith and Nancy would have Ian. It would be great if we could, but we knew it was not possible because they are not Christadelphian and we couldn’t marry anyone out of the Truth. This is crazy though, I’m only 15, Rosalie’s 16, and Nancy is 17 and we are thinking of marriage already!

We were sitting in the back row of the back stalls and who should come in but Jan, Bill and Connie from next door. Also, Bob Battersby and his girlfriend were there, and Joan Reardon and her boyfriend. After the film, we met the boys and the girl from next door. We said, “Hello” and then we went with Nancy to the Station. After that, Rosalie and I walked back and then I caught the Fullarton tram, and guess who was on it, Jan, Bill, and Connie. Some coincidences!!

1955 04 09 Saturday –

This morning Maynard and Roma went to the picnic in the car but I couldn’t go with them because I has to wait for Rosalie Foster to come. Rosalie had to work in the morning. Rosalie came at about half past one and we decided that it was too late to go to the picnic so we played Softball for a while then lay on my bed and read books until at a quarter past four we went to see “Ma and Pa Kettle.” It was acrazy movie. When we came out Rosalie came home to dinner and after that I went with her to the bus stop and came back and went to bed.

1955 04 10 Sunday – I had a dream last night, and who was it about? The Wurfel’s of course. I dreamed that it was the September Show and I had gone there with some school friends but I had lost them in the crowd. I then continued to make the rounds of the show on my own and as I was looking at the heavy horses who should I see but (predictably)Ken. We said hello and he asked me if I’d come round the show with him and when we were saying goodbye he asked me to go for a ride with him tomorrow but then my dream faded worst luck, why don’t dreams come true. Ah Well!

After the meeting, Nancy and Rosalie came to dinner, and as usual, we had a great time. At about three o’clock we all went for a drive up the Gorge road singing all the way. When we got to the top of the Gorge where the camping grounds are, Rosalie, Nancy and I went on the swing bridge and jumped up and down and had an wonderful time. One little boy about 8 or 9 years old passed us with a sour look on his face and told us, “The bridge was for walking on not swinging on.” We felt suitably chastened, in fact, we felt quite ashamed of ourselves.

1955 04 11 Monday – Hike to Waterfall Gully. I arrived out the front of Myers at 9.20 and was greeted by a crowd of between 60 and 70 young people. We had to wait until about 10 o’clock before a bus came but when it did, we all piled on board and in half an hour were at the Terminus. Then started our hike. We walked up the road to Waterfall Gully for a fair way, then crossed a fence, on which I ripped my dress (as I always seem to do) and then continued to follow an old track by the side of a creek.

Rosalie Foster and I were in the lead most of the way and it wasn’t long before we began to settle into three separate groups. The leaders, the middlers, and the stragglers. We walked on for ages, across hill and dale. Rosalie and I were walking with Ron and Rob Hicks when we heard someone yodeling behind us. We looked around and saw this little Italian man who had followed us from the bus he was singing an Italian song and interspersing his Italian words with “I love you” in English here and there. The hike was so enjoyable. We are such a close-knit group. Tuesday night there was a kitchen evening which I also thoroughly enjoyed.

1955 04 14 Thursday – Another day at school in which Geography was the only bright spot in the day, but not for Mr Pederick I am afraid. They had the hop step and jump today and the girl who came first jumped 20 ft!! Colleen Robjohns came second. I practiced pitching for half an hour today and my pitch is improving. I have found out that I can’t have hockey sticks on my blazer after all because you can only have them if you have been on the team for a season and I have only just got into the team. I can have softball bats though.

In the evening I was just putting my night gown on when Wendy Swain rang up and asked what the homework was. I teased her about “being such a naughty girl and not writing down her homework in her diary.” I love Wendy’s laugh, it is so musical. I sat up in bed and did my homework and wonder of wonders, I got quite a lot of homework done.

1955 04 15 Friday – I arrived at school fairly early and found Wendy struggling to learn her economics and she seemed to be going around it the wrong way so, strange as it may seem, I showed her how I had been doing it and was she glad, because my way was much easier. Trust me to find the easy way.

Poor Mr Pederick. We were mucking around as usual and Al was jiggling his desk up and down. Pederick, with his usual waddle and pose, stood in front of him and glared. Al took no notice and continued his shuffling. Poor Pederick lost his temper and grabbed a handful of Al’s hair and pulled. Al then took out his comb and combed his hair carefully back into place.

Pederick just about blew a valve. He was standing there speechless with rage, and the class just laughed and laughed. When at last he gained control of his voice, he yelled “You don’t want to giggle at him, he‘s not funny.” At which everyone(including me I’m afraid) laughed all the louder. Pederick marched up to “Astronomy Brain” who was laughing the loudest and slapped him across the face and yelled “It’s not funny” at which everyone collapsed all over the place in even greater hysteria. Well, so much for the geography lesson.

1955 04 15 Friday – Mrs Daymond, our shorthand teacher, had a dream last night. She told us that she dreamed she was taking a shorthand lesson and a girl, the quietest most mouse-like creature, just sat there doing nothing. When Mrs Daymond asked her why she wasn’t doing anything the girl said that she wasn’t going to do any work, she was going to sit here and give Mrs Daymond cheek. Mrs Daymond reckoned she was just going to remove the girl by force when she woke up. Some dream.

The boys had their tug of war heats during the lunch hour today. We didn’t have any because there weren’t enough boys in our class. I teased Wendy by suggesting they have Wendy on one end and her weight would make them win. Wendy didn’t agree and gave me a good slap for my suggestion!! We missed the economics test because we had to go out on the oval and run the novelty heats. Were we pleased.

In the half-hour period, we watched the running of the school mile. Bob O.l won it and can he run. He was about half a lap ahead of everyone and won easily. I didn’t think he would have a very good figure, because he doesn’t look as though he has when he is wearing his uniform but boy, has he got a figure when he is in shorts and singlet. I’m doing my homework now – Mary Cobbledick is supposed to be coming to dinner tonight.

1955 04 16 Saturday – Today I’ve had the laziest most enjoyable day in a long time. All I did was lay down and read from about seven o’clock in the morning to 8 o‘clock at night, time off of course for meals.

I read “Bells on their toes,” by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It was one of the best books I’ve read for a long time. I read “Night without Stars” by Winston Graham and that was pretty good too.

David Russell came to dinner and I had to get dressed then, but that didn’t stop me lying down again after the dinner dishes had been done. David, Maynard, Roma, and Kathy went up to the Cobbledick’s place at Uraidla to have a look over the place where they are going to have the study group and hymn singing evening on Anzac Day. When they returned, Cathy came home for dinner and did some typing for Maynard (and saved me the trouble) and we had a lovely evening.

 

 

I dreamed of Ken Wurfel again when I went to bed, or really Sunday morning. I dreamed I had a ding-dong row with him, was it a beauty! We were rowing on the Torrens and I dumped him in the river for following Nancy. Seems like I must think we have an “eternal triangle” going.

1955 04 17 Sunday – I cut a stencil for the invitation for the Anzac Day study group and hymn singing night at Uraidla for Maynard today. I went to Sunday School and had a long talk with Jimmy Luke about the Softball match we are going to have with the Baseball boys at school soon. Maynard asked me if I would do some typing for him and I agreed as long as there wasn’t too much. He said there wasn’t a great deal but when I got home I found there were 10 pages to do. I did a little home work tonight.

1955 04 18 Monday – There were no practices today so I spent ages learning for tests instead, no that it did me much good. We tried to talk Pedrick out of giving us the Geography test, but we didn’t succeed. In the dinner break, I went out with the others to practice for the school relay. Gee I’m scared. Bob Oertel came up and told me we weren’t running far enough and he went with me and showed me where we should run to. I wish I could run like he can. He told me to come out in first lesson Tuesday and practice with his class’ relay team, but Mr Braunsthall would never let me get out of Bookkeeping.

Instead, I promised to come out at 8 o’clock in the morning and practice with him. In my spare period in the afternoon, Colleen and I studied like mad for the economics test. We had another spare period in the afternoon and Wendy and I sat in front of the physics lab and pretended to do English, but sang with the boys’ Choir who were singing in the Physics’ Lab.

After School, I went out to watch the boys 228 race but hadn’t been watching it for long when Miss Dunn came and shooed us off. Grr! What an unfair school this is. I did a little homework again tonight but I talked with Mum as well.

1955 04 19 Tuesday – I raced around the house this morning trying to get ready for school by about half past seven. I rushed and dashed and was sure I was going to be late, but the clock was wrong and I was early. When I arrived Bob Oertel. wasn’t there, but he came pretty soon. We went out onto the oval and he went for warm-up, which looked to me as though he was trying to break a record or something. He showed me how far I had to run and then the boys relay team showed me how it was supposed to be run and the best way to pass the baton. They did it in 53 seconds. Phew! They can run all right! If I hadn’t made a new year’s resolution to have no boyfriends, Bob would be the one I would choose for my boyfriend, but I have made the new Year’s resolution, so that’s that.

After school, I went to an Opera practice and Mr McKie spent his time trying “fairly” to cut down the number in the opera because he only wanted 70 girls in it. I have been getting my music from the office and I went up with the group who had the music and Mr McKie tried to cut down the remainder. He didn’t have a hope. It’s handy being so friendly with Roger Griggs because he can always get music for me if I need it. After that, we had hockey practice.

19550420 Wednesday – Sports Day – What a day! I’ve never had a sports day so bad in all my life. We hadn’t practiced for anything this year and were simply horrible at everything. We came second in the Corner Spry but either came last in everything else or jolly near to it. Joan Oldfield and I mucked up the circle gap. Wendy mucked up the Zig Zag. That was funny really.

It was almost Wendy’s turn to start moving when she went to sleep and the ball hit her on the head. She was angry with herself and so ashamed so she put her head down and looked at her feet but once again the ball came up her way and hit her on the head again! That was too much for Wendy. She burst out howling. This was typical of the day and summed it up for our class.

Andrew MacIntosh won the Senior cup and Robert Oertel was runner-up. Bob Oertel broke four records during the day, one being for the mile that he did in five minutes six seconds which beat the last record by 29.3 seconds. Phew! I was talking to him before the hurdles and the hundred yards and he said he couldn’t win the cup because he couldn’t make up the points now no matter how good he ran from here.

The school relay was really funny I must say. To start with Kay Everard forgot to give me her shoes soon enough and by the time I eventually had them on everyone was all ready to start and in line. I dashed up and got into position just as he said “Go.” Then I realised I didn’t know if Wendy was in the inside or the outside. I thought I saw her on the inside so I cut across in front of everybody and then saw her right on the outside. So I had to cut across again. I was cutting off everybody right and left and felt dreadful and everyone was glaring at me. Ah well.

Tonight I didn’t do any homework but talked for a long time with a Transport Driver who was staying the night with us because Dad was fixing his semi. I mucked around with Dad for a long time He was throwing a rubber on the wall, making it bounce in all directions and catching it. Small things amuse small minds!

1955 04 21 Thursday – We had an early hockey practice this morning which thank goodness got me over the mood yesterday had left me with. Just think, it is exactly 13 days to the Melbourne visit and I am not nearly good enough at hockey yet. Am I scared? We have to play the staff on Wednesday. I think I’ll stay home. Wouldn’t Miss Dunn have a fit if I did!

Wendy was still feeling the results of yesterday and was not well. I’ll be glad when everybody forgets about sports day. Thankfully, the Melbourne visit should do that. Miss Grosvenor has let everybody know she is back at school. The match we were supposed to have against the boys’ baseball team has been cancelled because Miss Grosvenor doesn’t think it’s quite right having girls play with boys.

Of all the Mid-Victorian people in this world, she’s the worst! Why didn’t I go to Adelaide Tech instead of Unley High? I had looked forward to that match for three weeks and now she’s back and spoiled it all. This school gets me down a bit. Not only the match, but the social we were going to have when the Melbourne girls come over will have no boys at it. Fanny seems to think we should avoid boys like the plague. Oh, it makes me so mad! I wish Fanny would retire. Oh, how I wish it but what hope is there of that?

1955 04 21 There was an article in the paper today saying that Unley High athletes broke 16 records on Sports Day.

1955 04 22 Friday – Jill Black, Helen Hester and I had a few hits at hockey this morning and had pretty good fun. I actually got my Bookkeeping exercise in. Wonders will never cease! Mr Jenkins hasn’t finished our tests yet darn him. I’m longing to know if I have come top or not (in English of course, what else? Certainly not in bookkeeping!!)

Geography Lesson again, The boys took my tennis racquet again and dressed it up in Des Chilton’s peak hat and Bob West’s army coat and that provided a bit of a diversion at the beginning of the class but all in all I really think our Geography lessons are improving a bit, believe it or not!

We had to run around the oval again dinner time and my legs are still aching from Sports day. We had a hockey meeting again and Miss Dunn discussed the tactics for coming matches. Hockey practice was crazy this afternoon, we had that dog chasing the ball again. Jenny would just hit the ball for a corner and the dog would grab it and dash off with it. Roger Griggs came out to watch the practice. I feel awfully sorry for him. He seems to like me so much (has done so for four years now) and it seems such a pity that such faithfulness should be wasted on me. I like him and always make a point of talking to him, but I don’t know, he’s such an unattractive lad that I couldn’t like him for anything but as a friend, yes. Maybe one day he’ll grow a bit taller. I think that’s the main problem for me. I hope he does.

After Hockey, I talked with Roger and the boy who took photos of me on Sports Day. I don’t know his name but he seems a nice boy. Only a short time before Melbourne! We are having a match against PGC hockey soon. Fancy having to play goaly in front of all our gawking boys. I have just put up my uniform another inch and it may be a bit short. Oh well, I suppose they’ll get an eyeful, Too bad.

1955 04 23 Saturday – The Transport Driver who has been staying with us left today. Everything has been cleaned up and he should have a good trip back. Graham took some photos of the semi-trailer before he left and a few of Jim and Frank.

I didn’t go to the opening of the new rest home. I was feeling tired and I had to wash my hair ready for Young Folks. The Young Folk’s class was the best one I have ever been to. It was a wonderful evening. Perce Mansfield presided and as anything he attends is always a success we were all satisfied with the the evening. He discussed the Names of Deity and it helped me wonderfully. There is no doubt about it, Perce is a wonderful man.

After Young Folks, we went back home. An evening was being held at our place in honor of Ted Spongberg just over from Sydney. He told us that he was working in his office in Sydney when my brother Charles walked in and told him he had gone to the court where some of our boys were having to stand for their consciences for refusing to take army training.

The judge wouldn’t see Charles if he wasn’t wearing a coat because, in the judge’s eyes, he was “inappropriately dressed!” Ted gave him his coat and when Charles had it on Ted said he looked “just like a Bodgie in it.” Graham and Maynard were trying their hardest to get Ted to help them with the meeting on Monday because they believed his backing of the conference would go a long way towards improving the attitude of the Young Folk towards the Conference.

At one time during the evening when Maynard mentioned the bad atmosphere that was creeping into the Ecclesia, he got Ken Clothier’s back up and there was a real argument. Eventually, Maynard managed to explain himself a bit better and Ken apologized for getting his temper up. Maynard told him about the last hike and how badly some of the young folk had behaved and how he thought it was through lack of leadership.

Ever since David Wauchope left for England the young folk have been without a leader. How badly David was needed and it was really hard without him. The meeting on Monday, particularly with Ted’s help, may be the start of a better attitude among the young people. The Conference should help to inspire everyone who goes to it.

Roma, Maynard and I talked until two o’clock in the morning about everything that had happened. How I wish Charles was back because we miss his influence in our family. When I read Charles’ letters it is almost like reading Paul’s epistles they are so sincere and moving. When I remember how loathsome he used to be, how spiteful and nasty, and how he suddenly changed into someone so much better, it still amazes me. I do miss him.

1955 04 24 Sunday – After everyone had left to go to the meeting this morning I had a bath, prepared the dinner and forgot to put the tart on. Oh well, at least I remembered the most important part of the dinner. For the rest of the morning I sat in front of the window listened to some classical music and studied my notes taken at young Folks. Everyone came home at about one o’clock and by half past two we were ready to go to Sunday School. I saw Marlene Gross there and asked her if she was coming to Uraidla with us tomorrow. She will be able to come, but her boyfriend, Des Chilton has gone fishing and he won’t be with her.

I asked her if she could come to dinner next Sunday and bring Des. She said she thought she would be able to come, but wasn’t sure about Des. Rosalie is looking after Marion Simpson a bit, and I am trying to encourage Marlene Gross, so it should work out all right. I will do my best to encourage her to become involved with the young people a bit more than she does at present.

After dinner, Dad and I went to Woodville to hear Ted Spongberg speak on “The Red Star of Communism and the Star of Bethlehem.” He spoke well although I was really too tired to enjoy it. I spoke with some of the girls at Woodville about their Sunday School. I might go there once or twice.

1955 04 25 Monday – Anzac Day – Today has been a simply terrific day. Dad took us to the station in the car and we caught the train at a quarter past nine and Rosalie Foster, Marian Simpson, Marian Medhurst and I were in a carriage together with Dean Pitt, Jimmy Luke, Verna and John Martin, etc. In the next carriage were Des Manser, Ray Frankham, and others, and of course David Cheek.

We sang hymns all the way and studied our notes. Marlene got on at Blackwood and she came in with us. At Mount Lofty, we got off in the rain and were met by Dad and the car and trailer. Everyone put their gear in the back and we started to walk to Uraidla. We had walked for about 2 1/2 miles when Mr Cobbledick came up in his truck and took us the rest of the way.

It was a lovely ride and the scenery was beautiful. We were all trying to tell where the Cobbledicks lived but couldn’t distinguish it from any of the other places. When we arrived we went into a shed and played basketball for a while. Before the meeting, we went up into the orchard and some of the boys rode an old draught horse in a paddock. One of the girls got on too but she had a tight skirt on and did she look funny! We all began chasing each other with our torches and it was such fun. In the rush, we missed the path and ended way over the other side of the hill until we found a path that led us past the tennis court and back to the sheds. We joined up again with the others and once again we had a lot of fun.

We had our dinner in the largest of the sheds and Des Manser and Max Kenett were sitting round the heater singing crazy songs and had us in fits of laughter. After dinner, we straightened up the boxes we were sitting on and prepared for the meeting. We sang hymns until Perce Mansfield and Ted Spongberg arrived and then Ted gave an address about the Conference. We then split up into four different sheds and had our study groups and discussed “Christ and his suffering.” Ted and Perce came in now and then and helped us in our discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A barbecue was prepared and when it was ready, we ate sausages and chops and then when it was dark we all began to run around in the orchard using our torches to find each other. When we were all thoroughly exhausted we began the hymn singing. At half past eight the buses came and we started for home. I sat on Nancy King’s lap next to Dean Pitt, and we didn’t have any lights on. Dad picked me up at the bus stop in Victoria square and we went home. I was absolutely exhausted, but it has been a wonderful day.

In 195505 we found we were to have a new headmaster at Unley High and his name was to be RA Potter. I wondered what effect that would have on our school. I didn’t see how it could be bad for the school because in my opinion, anything, anyone would have to be better than “Fanny” Grosvenor. She was such an “old woman,” obsessed with keeping boys and girls segregated in the school.

In the meantime, It was becoming apparent, to others if not to me, that my studies were not being very successful. I was beginning to realise that there was a definite possibility that time was running out for me to have any hope of getting my Leaving Certificate at the end of the year. It just seemed never to occur to me that I had enrolled in the “wrong course” for my few talents. I now know (many years later) that I should have progressed towards an Arts Degree, and never a Commercial direction. I am so NOT a maths-science sort of person. I had no one to advise me so I just went into the course that my Mum and Dad suggested so that I could be “gainfully employed” while I waited to get married. That was the direction my parents had chosen for me.

195504 I thought that if we beat Melbourne in softball this year it would be a surprise, because they were very good.  I was sitting next to Jill Black in a bookkeeping class and I asked her if she was having a Melbourne girl to stay with her. She told me she wasn’t, but said that I was having a Renata Morris to stay with me. I could have screamed I didn’t want to have Renate, the girl I stayed with in Melbourne last year, to stay with me this year.

I had hoped to have someone different. I decided to see Miss Grosvenor about it, to see if she could change it for me. At recess time I went to her room just as she was coming out. I asked her if she had the list of Melbourne girls yet (as if I didn’t know). Miss Grosvenor smiled her usual sickly smile and told me that she believed she had heard my name among them on the list but that Miss Dunn had the list.

Was I relieved, I knew that I could talk Miss Dunn around. When I went to her room she saw me and brought out the list and said that there was a girl who had asked to stay with me (I groaned). It was a Renate Morris she said (another groan). “There is also a girl who is a Christadelphian,” she told me “but Miss Dunn would like you to have a hockey girl to stay with you, and this girl doesn’t play hockey.” It didn’t take me long to tell her that I wanted the Christadelphian girl to stay with me. She agreed, thank goodness, so this girl’s name is Judith and she will now be staying with me. I am so relieved..

At hockey practice, we played in the rain. Brr! I froze. I arrived home late and didn’t have time to have my bike fixed. These hockey practices! When I told Mum and Dad who I was having to stay with me they were thrilled to bits. By the way, I have come top in English. I got 74%.

1955 04 27 Wednesday – Today there was a mixed choir practice and as usual I dashed over to save Wendy’s and my seats. My seat is the first one on the inner aisle. The boys that were going to Melbourne were seated up the back out of the way and we were told some things about what we were to do at the assembly.

We watched the final of the senior girl’s tennis at dinner time and Kay Byerlee and Moyne Peters won. They played against Sue Jellet and Faye Potter.

I wanted to get my hair cut for the social tomorrow night but I haven’t got an appointment, darn it. Oh well. There’s no interesting boys in the school so I don’t know what I’m worrying about.

In spare lesson this afternoon I sat in room 32 and watched a mouse in the waste paper basket. It intrigued me and I had to go out because I couldn’t study there.

1955 04 28 Thursday – I missed hockey practice because I had to put up the hem of my uniform. Miss Dunn wasn’t very pleased. Staff match today and I’m kind of scared.

In bookkeeping, Mr Braunsthall had to go somewhere and everyone was discussing the social, plus throwing things round the room. At recess time we were practicing dancing steps for the social tonight. In Geography, West got sent up to Jenkin’s Office.

It was the social tonight and I had a wonderful time. I forget who I had the first dance with but it was the King’s Waltz. The second was a game, Musical hearts and I had Bob Oertel for that and it was great fun. We didn’t get put out for a really long time. Throughout the whole evening practically, my partners were good dancers and it was marvelous fun. They had another game, Musical Laps. The girls stood at the sides of the room and the boys marched round the chairs. When the music stopped the boys all grabbed a girl and sat down on the chairs with her on their laps.

At one time two boys caught hold of my wrists and both of them dragged me out. It was fun. They had a Mystery Parcel too. Michael Bradley one of the teachers had been given the parcel for having a lot of brains. He read his note and it was, “This is to the girl who is ever so bad because she makes eyes at every lad.” Poor Michael didn’t know who to give it to so Mr Boundy called him over and gave him directions as to who to give it to. Michael walked around the room very slowly, looking at each of the girls. Then Mr Boundy told him to go a little to the right, then a little to the left and then he said “right” and Michael gave the parcel to me!

I gave Boundy a dirty look and went out into the middle of the room and read mine. It was to the boy who had a perm and had very wavy hair. I gave it to Ian Kelly. The next dance I had with Bob Battersby and as we were going round we passed Michael Bradley. He looked at me then down at the floor and smothered a grin and when I was sitting down again, I found myself opposite him. I gave him another dirty look and he grinned and shrugged his shoulders as if to say it wasn’t his fault.

Next dance Bob Oertel made a bee line to me, but Bob Battersby got in first. He asked me if he could take me home and I agreed. Peter Yeatman was playing the drums and as we passed him, Bob looked over his shoulder and in a high whisper said “I’m taking her home, I’m taking her home!” Very flattering.

19550429 Friday – Everyone was talking about last night’s social and news or gossip of the latest romances was prevalent. The students were all going around with staring eyes (tired eyes) and making sheep’s eyes at their latest beaus and belles. Joan Oldfield asked me if I liked Bob Battersby. I told her I though he was “all right” but that we hadn’t particularly taken to each other. She then told me that I would have to look out if I did like him because Athalie Terry was on the war path with her claws well out and was determined to catch Bob.

I decided right then and then determined that I’d give her a good run for her money. Opera Practice. I’m pretty sure Bob Oertel likes me. He looks at me in just that way although he tries to hide it, but it won’t be hid. Hockey Practice. Gunta’s pretty disappointed because she is not in the team. I’m sorry for her but it can’t be helped. I wrote to Judith McKinlay the girl who is going to stay with me when the Melbourne girls come over. Ted Spongberg was with us for dinner tonight and he talked with me about some of my thoughts and problems for my future life. He helped me a lot. He’s a wonderful man. His ex-wife is a famous opera singer. Well, I’m dog-tired so it’s bed for me.

1955 04 30 Saturday – This morning I got up fairly early because I didn’t want to miss anything Ted had to say. He is a very wise person and he has everybody hanging on every word he says. Before he went he reminded me not to forget the things we had talked about last night. As if I ever could.

This afternoon I went with Wendy and her parents to see Norwood play West Torrens. It was a draw. It was Wendy’s parents Wedding Anniversary and they were celebrating it. Coming home my bicycle wheel was a bit shaky and I had to nurse it all the way home. Some bike! I went to bed early and read a book for a fair time and then went to sleep.

1955 05 01 Sunday – I read for a fair while this morning and then did the dishes and prepared the dinner while the others were at the meeting. Mum stayed home today, I don’t know why. Averil Smith came in crying her heart out and told Mum that she couldn’t stand life at home much longer. She said her father was driving her crazy. Poor girl. How can a man be such a vile beast as he is? Miss Porter helped us with out Sunday School questions today because they were rather hard. I told her about Judith McKinlay and she said she thinks she is a relative to Miss Minny. Marlene Gross came to dinner this evening and we played Softball for a while and went down into Graham’s darkroom while he printed some films

This evening we went to Cumberland to hear Ted Spongberg speak. His subject was “The influence of the Papacy in Politics today.” It was one of the most marvellous talks I have ever heard a man give. Perce speaks with such a gift too. The hour seemed to fly in a few minutes and every second of the time was charged with truth and earnestness. I think his lecture should have been recorded. It is a shame that such words have to be lost.

We took Marlene to the station but her father wasn’t there so she went to wait for a train and we started for home. We had just turned into King William Street when Graham said that Marlene might have to wait for a train for ages, so we turned back and Graham went to wait with her and then we came home.

1955 05 02 Monday – Softball practice this morning was dreadful. We’ll never beat Melbourne, they’ll run rings around us. I am getting a cold too worst luck. At dinner time there was a softball practice and a meeting of the hostesses. We got our lists telling us the timetable and various forms of advice. Some good and some bad. We had a hockey match against PGC. It was a beaut match.

In the first quarter, I didn’t play too well, but I made up for it later on in the game. One of the forwards broke through the lines once and came on by herself. I came on her as fast as possible and kicked the ball just as her stick met the ball. I went into the splits and my stick I was holding across in front of me struck her on the arm and sent her stick flying to land a dozen yards away. Poor girl, I bet she’s got some beautiful bruises. I got my pocket today with the crossed softball bats on it, but not the crossed hockey sticks, darn them! Oh well.

Jim the Transport driver is back again and Dad, Graham and the transport driver and I went to Hollamby’s to hear Ted Spongberg. When we eventually started for home Graham called him, “Volcano Sponbergo” and after that the name stuck. Ted has a strange effect on me but I suppose not so very strange. Usually after a meeting I am just itching to get home to bed but with him I could sit listening to him for hours and as a result I get home at about midnight. To think that he was a Catholic and now is a most ardent Christadelphian. His knowledge is tremendous and his power of expression as great. He is an orator all right. He is quite interested. Jim and I think he will follow it up. I hope so. Ted was a Catholic for many years and now he hates everything Catholicism stands for. I love Ted’s face too. His expression is always of interest, enthusiasm, sincerity, and truth. He is one of the strongest men in the Truth I have ever met.

1955 05 03 Tuesday – We played PGC in Softball and beat them hollow today. The score was 16 – 4. This evening I went into the station to see the Unley High boys off to Melbourne for the exchange between University High Melbourne and Unley High School for the Sports competitions. Graham drove me in the car and we arrived at about a quarter to seven. When I went onto the platform, all the girls looked at Graham and wondered who he was. I said “Hello” to Bob Battersby and while I was talking to him, Jimmy Luke came up. He’s a beaut kid, always speaks to me.

Bob Oertel came up to say “Hello” to me or more likely, “Goodbye.” I hadn’t been at the station long before it was time for them to go. I stood by the window of Bob’s carriage so that I could say goodbye to him. I was just standing there looking in, when Bob leaned out and said, “Hey, don’t look so glum,” and I said “Hey, you don’t look so happy yourself,” upon which he sat back in the seat and grinned and everyone laughed at him. I wanted Bob to write to me but didn’t think it would be exactly right to ask him to, so I asked Bob Burgess to write to me instead, he asked me what he should write to me for and I told him to tell me the news.

There was silence for a minute and then Bob Oertel said, “What’s your address?” He won’t write though worst luck. He might though, he wouldn’t have asked for my address otherwise, would he? Oh, he won’t write! Then the train started to move and everyone started waving and shouting and I felt sure it was me Bob was waving to. O well, we’ll see. Tomorrow the Melbourne girls will be coming. I wonder what my girl will be like.

1955 05 04 Wednesday – We met the girls at the station at 9 am this morning and there was an awful noise! War cries, shouts etc. My girl and I met without any mishap and she seems quite nice. After we had been sorted out and luggage collected, Graham and I and our billet, Judy McKinlay started out for home. We had a cup of tea plus general introductions when we got there and Judy and I went back into town to have a walk around. We eventually went down to the Torrens (better than their muddy little gutter called the Yarra) and saw some of the girls rowing on the river so following their example.

We hired a boat and went for a row. We had a great time although we received a few blisters on our hands because none of us had done any rowing for a while. Graham took us to the Vogue theatre for the assembly in the afternoon and in the foyer, I introduced Judy to a number of the girls form our school and she introduced me to the girls from University High. The girls from University High were asked to stand on the platform and then the welcome began. After the assembly which didn’t last too long, thank goodness, we went to have a look at the school and I collected my gear for the match tomorrow. In the evening we went to Mount Osmond to show Judy the lights.

1955 05 05 Thursday – This morning we woke up late as usual and had to go to school in the Baker’s van and arrived at the Unley oval just in time. I changed into my sports uniform, togged up with my hockey pads, and dashed out on the oval about 2 or 3 minutes before the match started. It was a fantastic match, except University High won, which was not good for Unley High. The only thing wrong with our team was that they all needed glasses! They had dozens of opportunities for a goal but missed them each time.

The only good thing for me was that it meant the play was mostly down at our goal and at least I saved them a worse beating. We lost 5-2. After the match, we went along to the school and got ready for the Softball match. Once again, it was a great match, but we lost again!!! But, I didn’t put any fingers out which has to be a plus though I’ve got dozens of bruises on my leg, one about the size of an egg (a very small egg though). I also had a terrific thump on the head from a foul tip. Phew! And it’s the banquet tonight, however, I don’t think it will interfere with my appetite.

After the match, we went to the Unley Town hall where the banquet and the debate were to be held. Unley won the debate, wonder of wonders. We had a good time and the food was plentiful and delicious and we made sure we got the best positions so that we could enjoy it all.

1955 05 06 Friday – Tennis – Today the tennis was supposed to be played but it was washed out so we all went to town. We wandered around for ages and every now and then we would bump into a green and blue uniform. In the afternoon, the basketball was played intermittently, depending on whether it was raining or not. Next to me was a girl who everyone called Sparks. She was funny. She kept yelling out Uni in a cracked voice. Unley was stouched thoroughly. They just weren’t in the running. So much for Unley High being the “Best school for a sports school in Adelaide.”

Something is wrong with my memory. I can’t remember what we did in the evening. I know we went somewhere but where I do not know. I don’t know how I am going to pass my Leaving with a memory like this. These lucky people who have photographic memories. Later I asked Jill Black what we had done and she told me it was the picture evening! I remember now. I sat next to the Music master, Duncan McKie and his wife further up was Mike Bradley. It was a rotten picture. Dad picked us up afterward. Mr Potter, Unley High School’s headmaster is going to retire and I believe we are getting someone called Mr Carthew. So that’s the second new headmaster in a pretty short time.

1955 05 07 Saturday – This morning Judy and I went to the Botanical Gardens and the Museum and also the Torrens but this time we couldn’t row because the boatman wasn’t there. In the afternoon we went to see Sturt play South. Sturt won but it was a lousy match, the Uni girls called it aerial ping pong. Joy Eunson doesn’t like the girl she is staying with and doesn’t seem to be having a very good time. Oh well, can’t do anything about it. It can be a lottery who you get to stay with you. This evening we went to The temple to hear Ted Spongberg speak. He was extremely good but then he always is. Judy liked him too and said he was about the best speaker she had heard. We didn’t stay long that night because Dad was tired and wanted to get to bed. When I got home I found I had a letter from Bob O. He wrote!

1955 05 08 Sunday – This morning we went to the meeting and then went to Lil Minny’s placed. Gee she is good at art and she had some beaut drawings and paintings and sculptures there. In the afternoon we went to Sunday School where I introduced Judy to most of the Young Folk. In the evening before the meeting, we had a party at our place and about 50 of the young people attended and guess what Judy fell for Des! Doesn’t everyone? After a great dinner, we went (at least one of us went) to Collinswood. Heard Ted speak again and as usual he was terrific. Glennis Lawry seems to think so too. We are going to write to him we think.

1955 05 09 Monday – Today was the bus trip to show the Uni girls around Adelaide and surrounds. There were 6 buses which shows there was quite a crowd of us. We all assembled at school and left at about half past 10. We sang and we sang and we sang with zeal and loyalty! The bus driver didn’t seem to like our singing because he kept interrupting us by telling us where we were as if we didn’t know where we were. He loved the sound of his own voice. Once he turned the wireless on full blast to drown us out but he had to turn it off because we just sang louder and drowned him out.

We stopped at Meadows for lunch and I had two pasties and a pie. My poor waistline. After dinner, we got back on the bus and went on to Mount Barker. Towards the end of our trip, our singing lapsed and every one of us fell asleep. It had been a great day but we were all so tired that none of us felt much like having a social in the evening. The social wasn’t too bad considering there were no boys but then again it wasn’t too good either. Some day someone’s going to do away with Miss Grosvenor and it may just be me! The only bright part of the evening was a sketch that the Prefects put on and Uni school sang a song with different humorous words put to the music.

1955 05 10 Tuesday – This morning Judy and I rolled up late for the Parliament and we walked in in just as the Hon Member for ? Dunnage was speaking. Sir Robert someone or other and Jeffrey Clarke bored us all for about 2 hrs and was I glad to get out of there. While we were at the Parliament the Tennis was being played and once again we lost, Oh well!

We went rowing again in the time left of the morning and had a great time although my hands are even more blistered now than they were after the last time we went rowing. Joy Eunson, Judy McKinlay and I had a boat each. While we were rowing along we heard a horn blow and along came “Pop Eye”. Judy and I rowed to the side of the stream to get out of its way but Joy Eunson just stood up in the middle of her boat and started shrieking and didn’t even try to move her boat out of the way. She sat down eventually and tried to row but only succeeded in gong round in circles. The inevitable happened! “Pop Eye” rammed her and Judy and I couldn’t do anything except laugh and laugh. It was so funny seeing poor Joy crouched down in the bottom of the boat just screaming and staring up at “Pop Eye” as it pushed her out of the way. We were glad we didn’t have to dive in and save her and so no harm was done.

The Melbourne girls went home tonight and there were tons of people to see them off. I promised to write to four people. Phew! Was there a racket when the train started to leave. War cries galore. Am I looking forward to when the boys come back tomorrow. And I am looking forward to seeing Bob O. again.

1955 05 11 Wednesday – At school this morning everyone was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the boys from the Sports teams who had gone to Melbourne. Poor Wendy was saying sadly that Doug had probably taken girls galore home from the Social etc. When he eventually did come I quite expected her to come out with a rolling pin and hit him over the head for all the things he might have done. Wendy thought I was awfully cold-hearted the way I received Bob’s letter and she reckoned that if she had received a letter from Doug ending with “An Admirer” she would have taken it in an entirely different way. She doesn’t know that I have made up my mind never to show how I feel about a person or for that matter, even to feel for a person as I used to do. You get hurt too much if you do. Des taught me that. The least said (or thought or felt) soonest mended is my motto these days.

When Bob eventually arrived, I waited for a while before I went out to see him, just so he didn’t think I was chasing him. When I did go out, Bob pushed his way out of the crowd he was talking to and came over and talked to me. We talked for quite a long time and then the bugle went and we had to go to our classes. After the first lesson, all the Economics classes went to see GMH so I didn’t see Bob any more that day. On the bus, on the way to GMH, I was sitting in the back of the bus with Colleen Robjohns and some other girls and some of the boys. On the way back, I was sitting next to Al Kalnins and Colleen, so now the order was Al, Istvan, Fay, Colleen, Kirk. Kirk didn’t like this order, so I changed places with Colleen so she was sitting next to Istvan and then Al changed places and sat next to me, Result. Istvan, Colleen, Al, Fay, Kirk, and then Kirk was satisfied.

They are certainly a mad crowd. Later Colleen and Istvan got off together because they live near each other and that left me with Al and Kirk. I felt a fool. In the evening I went to see Maynard off. I will miss them all. Rosalie almost arrived too late to catch the train. One day she’ll be early, but that day is a long way off. She will be late for her wedding and probably her funeral too. Today I got a letter from Judy McKinlay. She lives at 29 Sutton Street North Balwyn Melbourne.

1955 05 12 Thursday – Last day of term – What a day. I arrived early of course and mucked around for an hour or two. I walked around and chatted to all the other students. We got our magazines early today and after I had just finished putting my name in my magazine, I looked up and click, someone had taken my photograph. I grinned at them and picked up my magazine and walked to the door. Immediately I was surrounded by hoards of first and second year boys and Bob Oertel and about a dozen more of the Leaving boys stood at the door of their cloak room and laughed at me.

I moved a couple of yards and that was where I stayed for the next half hour. Autographs! I’ve never signed so many before. The space in my book was practically filled up before a quarter of an hour had passed. I was saved eventually by the bugle and then we went over to the Vogue for the assembly and Mr Potter’s farewell. Before it started, I handed my book to the boys and they signed it and passed it on. You should have seen it when I got it back. Bob Battersby had signed his name in a huge square plus his address and “Bugs” Hollamby had added his plus a few kisses etc.

After the assembly we went back to school and the autographs started again. I signed and signed and signed and when Graham Duckett came to get my autograph I asked him where Bob Oertel was and he asked me if I wanted him to get him for me and I said no, not yet at any rate, but in a few minutes, Bob Oertel came up and got my autograph. When for a minute or so there was a lapse in signing autographs I talked to Bob for a while and as I was talking Bob suddenly said “Don’t look now but your being invaded” and then they were on me and I was signing more autographs. Bob asked me why I was so popular which made me blush.

Dougy Coulter has jilted Wendy Swain poor girl. She probably nagged him about what girls he went out with in Melbourne. I wish she wouldn’t put so much into a boyfriend. When she likes a person she really likes him and she is so easily hurt. She cried her eyes out on my shoulder. She’ll never learn. I warned her and warned her not to build up about things because she’ll only be let down but it doesn’t make any difference.

After we had broke up for the term I somehow found I had missed Bob so I rode home by myself. In the afternoon as I was feeling lonely I went round to Roger Grigg’s place and spent about two hours talking to him. I asked him Bob Oertel’s address. So he knows I’m interested in him. On the way home from his place I met Bob West and talked to him for about an hour.

Somehow our talk got around to letter writing and I said I loved writing letters but always wrote a lot of nonsense and then he said he hoped his letter had come up to standard because he had spent ages on it. He said he couldn’t keep his mind on it when he was writing it because he was thinking of other things. I said very indignantly, “Well I like that!” and he hurriedly told me that he had been thinking of me and that’s why he couldn’t concentrate on writing a letter. Bob is going to coach me in Arithmetic because I am hopeless at it. I hope he will because I won’t pass otherwise.

1955 05 13 Friday – Today has certainly been some day. I rang up Bob Oertel and asked him if he would like to come and keep me company while I looked after the Black Smith’s shop. He came at about 2 o ‘clock and we sat and talked for about three-quarters of an hour. Gradually it came out that he had liked me for about 2 years but hadn’t had the nerve to let me know.

Wendy rang up and asked me to go out with her tomorrow and I agreed and then I gave the phone to Bob and he asked Wendy to guess who it was. She had two guesses and then said “Bob O.” When Wendy was speaking to me she was amazed that he was here, I bet she’ll be asking some questions tomorrow. After Wendy hung up and Bob and I had been chatting again for a few minutes, in walked Roger Griggs.

I didn’t ask him what he had come for because I knew he had just come to see me. When Dad came home we went in and had some afternoon tea then went into the lounge and while Roger played the piano Bob and I sat and talked. After Roger left we talked some more and I found that Bob is completely different to the boy I thought he was. There seems to be something behind him that drives him to excel at things.

That must be what’s wrong with me, I am just not competitive at all. I really don’t care if someone is better at things than me. I like playing sport in teams rather than “winning” against just one person, so he is very different to me. It seemed to me that he was telling me things he had never told anyone before. Things just seemed to flood out of him and he seemed unable to stop. I just can’t make him out, really. He’s a strange lad.

1955 05 14 Saturday – This morning I couldn’t decide whether to go to the Manser’s or Roger Griggs’ place. At last, I decided to go to the Manser’s, because I hadn’t been there for ages. When I arrived I found Mrs Manser in two minds about whether to go to town or not. She evidently didn’t want to go very much because as soon as she saw me she decided against going to town. As usual, when I go to the Manser’s we seem to talk and talk and talk. I don’t know why but the Manser’s always have the effect of loosening my tongue. I guess I just feel relaxed around them.

We talked about the meeting and our beliefs plus a few things about school. Mrs Manser is such a muddler, and her house is always in a thorough muddle, but it is not surprising with all those young children. I think it is part of why I am so comfortable there and she never says things like “I’m sorry my house is in such a mess” which would make me feel I shouldn’t be there. Instead, she is just so very welcoming.

In the afternoon when the Manser’s eventually allowed me to go, I went to Wendy Swain’s place and played “Scrabble” with Wendy for most of the afternoon. I gave her some advice about how I thought she should handle Dougy. I wish that I had given her my advice sooner because she was quite angry at me for not telling her what I thought sooner.

This evening Bob called for me at 7 and we went in the car with Dad and Jim who dropped us at the Majestic where we were going to see “Military Policemen” (that is Bob and I were, not Dad and Jim). We went in the theatre and sat down and talked. One thing, I am never at a loss for words when speaking with Bob. About two minutes before the film started, in walked Ian Kelly and John Champress and both sat down beside me. About halfway through the second film, Bob took my hand. Strange, I didn’t mind at all. Usually, I hate being touched and normally I would just pull my hand away because just the feel of a boy holding my hand or putting his arm around me makes me all tense. I don’t usually accept it, but I found it was different with Bob.

After the movie was over and we went outside, Bob put his arm around me and I didn’t mind that either. What is even more strange to my way of thinking is that I’m not really keen on Bob, just friendly, and yet I don’t mind him holding my hand or putting his arm around me. I think he likes me a lot however, because I didn’t even know him a year ago and yet he told me that he wanted to ask me to the school picture evening second term last year but couldn’t get up enough courage to talk to me. Second term last year? That was when Peter Leak asked me to go with him to the picture evening but I turned him down. Bob reckoned he was furious with himself when he saw me there without a boy.

We went home in Ian Kelly’s car and Bob and I got inside at about half past eleven. We had some supper and then went into the lounge. We chatted for a while and then Bob wanted to know about my church so I told him a bit about it. Bob is a very intelligent deep-thinking type of lad and certainly seems to think more deeply about things than most boys his age. We were still talking at one in the morning and Mum came in and told me off for staying up so late and said that Bob had to go home. We went out onto the veranda where we talked for another half an hour before I could eventually gt Bob to go. He just didn’t want to go and if I hadn’t said he must, I think he would have stayed there until 2.00. Bob is coming out again on Monday.

19550514 I wrote a letter to Ian Wurfel in Pinnaroo.

1955 05 15 Sunday – This morning I did my Sunday School questions sitting up in bed and by the time I had finished them the family was home for dinner. That is Mum and Dad and Jim. After dinner, I went to Sunday School which was awfully bare and quiet because so many of the YF were at the Conference. After Sunday School I went to a Young Folks meeting in the rear hall where we were asked to distribute pamphlets on Saturday. I then walked up to the tram stop with Glennis Lawrey and some others and then caught a bus home myself. I had dinner a bath and now I am going to bed. How quiet it is of a Sunday without the boys and the Young Folks.

1955 05 16 Monday – This morning I read for about an hour and consequently it was about 9.00 am when I got up. Bob Oertel rang up and asked what time he was to come around today and as I had to get some books from school, we eventually decided to go there for the morning. When I arrived there, Bob was already in the office talking to Dianna. We had a look at some magazines, some VG cards etc. And then Pam Hissey came in. That of course explains everything!

There never has been such a mad girl in this whole wide world. She has so brightened up my year at Unley High. Dianne dared me to ring up Peter Jessop so I did and Pam spent the rest of the morning talking to him. Well, almost. Bob Oertel and I left at about twelve and he is coming down after he has had dinner. I can’t make up my mind about him. He’s all right I suppose. I like him as a friend but nothing more.

When Bob came this afternoon we spent a short time in Charlie’s room where Bob tried to teach me some arithmetic but it didn’t work. I’m hopeless at it. We began talking and as usual, we couldn’t seem to stop. He told me that there are lots of rumors that have gone around the school about me, some of which were true and most untrue. I don’t like the way he tells me these sorts of things really. I’d rather not know what people are saying about me, and besides, how do I know he is reporting accurately what people say? I sometimes think he is trying to turn me against certain people to stop me from liking them hoping I will like him more.

1955 05 17 Tuesday – This morning Mum gave me breakfast in bed and I eventually got up and helped her with the dishes. At about ten o’clock I went around to Roger Grigg’s place and listened to records for a with him and then I rode home in the rain. It was pouring! Just before I got near the school it was raining cats and dogs as I went in and I thought I would talk to the girls for a while. I didn’t think that for long though because Pinhead Giles was in the office, so I turned tail and got out of there quickly.

I arrived home saturated and had to spend some time drying off before I could get the dinner. After dinner was over and the dishes washed, I went down to the Blacksmith Shop and spent 2 hours rolling cray pot hoops. I’d hate to do that for a living. When that was done I had a lovely leisurely bath and washed my hair and now I am sitting by the fire doing some Bible study. What a life. It will be awful to grow up because life is wonderful. In my diary, I had a drawing of Miss Tomlinson on this page.

1955 05 18 Wednesday – This morning I went to the office as I had nothing else to do. Pam and Di were sitting doing nothing, as usual, so we were three of a kind. I spent the whole morning there and for dinner, we had toasted crumpets, sardines, lettuce, gherkin, pickled onion some chocolate and a coke, and fruit tingles. Phew! Some meal. We had been sitting eating for some time when the phone rang and Mom wanted to speak to me. If Mum wants me, she always rings the Office to see if I’m there! She told me she had some news for me but wouldn’t give me any idea of what it was about, so I left the office and went home.

When I arrived, she took me in the kitchen and told me that she had phoned Mrs Oertel and asked if it was all right for Bob to come to our Sunday School. She told Mrs Oertel that Bob had said he would like to come with us on Sundays. Mrs Oertel said that she didn’t want Bob doing something he might regret and so she told Mum that she didn’t want him to attend our Sunday School, but that she would to talk it over with Mr Oertel when he came home that night.

To start with Mum said Mrs Oertel was very cool and polite but by the time they had finished the phone call she had thawed out a lot. She told Mum she was very glad that Mum had phoned because she hadn’t known what kind of people we were or what we were trying to talk Bob into. When she finished, although she seemed to feel more kindly toward our religion she still didn’t think she would let Bob go any further with it, “because he was too young.”

I don’t know how Bob feels about this, so it remains to be seen whether they have talked him into giving up all idea of coming to the Christadelphian Sunday School or not. If Bob doesn’t come and explain things to me before school starts, I will come to the conclusion that he has given it up and I will know what to do then. I will go back to the same way we used to be before I went out with him, just very friendly etc.

But that will be as far as it goes. I have a feeling he won’t take going back to the old way now that he has known me as something more than just a friend. He’ll have to understand that with me goes my religion and he has to take that or nothing. He might not decide to do as his parents say or he might be able to talk them around but that remains to be seen. I have done my best and the rest is up to him.

1955 05 20 Friday – This morning Bob Oertel rang up and after hedging for some time, by talking about Ian Kelly, he eventually came to the point and spoke about his “parent trouble.” He said that his parents didn’t want him to get serious about anything when he was so young but said he was still as keen about our religion as he had been before he had spoken to his parents who are trying their hardest to talk him out of it. This afternoon he is coming around to talk things over.

When Bob came this afternoon we sat and talked about nothing in particular for a fair while and then Mum came in and asked Bob a few questions about things. He told her that he couldn’t go against his parents but that wouldn’t stop him from still being interested in Christadelphian beliefs. “It might mean,” he said,” Waiting until I am 21 before I do anything about it,” which means most probably that he will do nothing at all. Well, that is that I guess. It cannot be helped and nothing more can be done about it. Maybe it will turn out all right sometime later.

Bob left at about half past five and I have told him that unfortunately for him, with me goes my beliefs, so I guess from here we will just be friends. I think I would be more upset if I really liked Bob, but I don’t think that I do REALLY like him or I would be more upset with what has happened.

1955 05 21 Saturday – I read a book most of the morning and didn’t get up until about half past twelve. Disgusting! But it was beaut. I’m lucky to have a mother who lets me spend a few mornings in bed during the holidays. At about ten past one, I went into town to meet the Young Folk who were going pamphlet distributing. At two o’clock, Glennis Lawry, Isa Wigzell and I left for Collinswood in Max Lund’s car. When we arrived at the Druid’s hall where the Collinswood Christadelphians have their meeting we were given some pamphlets and told the areas where we were to distribute them. Glennis Lawrey, John Broadbridge, Glennis Lawry and Max went together and John Broadbridge and I went together.

We finished our area early so we went back to the hall and got some more pamphlets. Betty Pitt and Dean Pitt were there with two children. I didn’t know that Betty had two children. I told her I was slightly behind the times and she agreed that I must be. Dean Pitt came with us on our second trip and we walked together most of the day. He’s a nice lad, rather quiet. There was “young folks” in the evening which went off well. Afterwards, I spent some time talking to Jimmy Luke.

1955 05 23 Monday – I went into town this morning to buy myself a new fountain pen for shorthand. I bought a Wyvern and it’s not a bad little pen. It is green and not very long. Here’s hoping the boys don’t break this one. My old fountain pen has never flowed properly and I don’t think it is just the nib. I thought that I would like two fountain pens so I bought a new nib for my old pen which cost me fifteen shillings. Probably even with a new nib the pen won’t run properly and for only five shillings more I could have bought a new pen.

When I got home Mum told me that Bob had rung up and had asked me to ring back. I rang him and and he told me that Mum’s phone call had not had any bad results and then he told me that there were some more rumors going around about me. These rumors he keeps telling me about. More and more I find I am questioning Bob’s motives in telling me all this stuff. He doesn’t seem to believe me when I tell him I really don’t care what people are saying about me.

This afternoon I went to the school to get a preview of the new headmaster. He doesn’t look too choice. Almost as ancient as Muff, bigger (not taller) and broader. He has a beak and a bald pate. Jenkins was there. He didn’t say anything about my presence there. He must make allowances for his “star” English student. I wish he was going to be headmaster instead of Carthew.

1955 05 24 Tuesday – Start of Second Term

In spite of all my valiant efforts last night to get everything ready for school, I was there at about ten to nine. Luck was with me, however, because there was a staff meeting which went on until half past nine, so I wasn’t late. Lessons went pretty well and I actually worked in every lesson. I hope I can keep it up, I do hope so because I must pass this year or Dad won’t let me go back. I have found out that at the end of this year I can sit for my Leaving Honors Economics. I think I will do that if I can because then I would only have to do three subjects (If I got it) and would be able to keep up shorthand.

In the dinner hour, I saw Bob Oertel and asked him what he was going to say over the phone but didn’t. At first he hesitated and wouldn’t tell me, probably giving me my own back I suppose, but then he said he would tell me, but just then Giles came along and told us to part company, darn him.

Opera practice on Saturday, and I am looking forward to it. I did my homework tonight every bit of it, Wonder of wonders, so it looks like I am getting off to a good start this term.

1955 05 25 Wednesday – A rather uneventful day, one of many to come I’m afraid. The winter has started. I hate the winter, it always depresses me. Dad took me to school in the car today and on the way we picked up some girl or other and gave her a ride to school. There was mixed choir today and there was the usual mad scramble for seats. Mr McKie announced the Saturday afternoon practices for opera. I’m glad Opera preparations have started, it means hockey muck around before and after practices. Wonderful!

Pam almost hooked me in for minding the switchboard but I got out of it by palming it off onto Nell Teakins. She doesn’t mind, in fact she likes doing it. The school picture evening is in three weeks’ time. I wonder if I’ll go with Bob if he asks me? I don’t know, I must be a heartless creature, I no sooner get a boy to dote over me than I don’t want him. It’s a dreadful way to be.

I asked Mr Jenkins if I can drop Geography and he’s going to do whatever he can do about it. He won’t mind I don’t think because that will mean all the more time I can put into English and get his beloved Credit. Mr Braunsthall won’t mind because I can then give more time to Arithmetic and Pedro most certainly wouldn’t mind, I would be one less person to plague him. I hate Geography.

1955 05 26 Thursday – It was “Ridiciulous Destruction” this morning which was a lucky thing because I was late. My bike is falling to bits, literally. The mudguard flaps in the breeze, the seat is broken, and the chain slips all the time. I forgot to take my raincoat to school today and so I got wet. I was dreading speaking to Bob all day because the picture evening was coming soon and I felt sure he would ask me to go with him. At dinner time Bob told me he wanted to speak to me sometime that afternoon. Gulp!! All afternoon I was trying to think of an excuse but couldn’t find one.

After school just before I was going to speak to Bob, Roger Griggs came up to talk to me. I told him I couldn’t make up my mind whether to go with Bob Oertel or not. I tell Roger things because he keeps them secret. He doesn’t usually tell me what the boys say, but this time he did because he thought I ought to know.He said that Bob had said to a crowd of boys (boasting) that he “had me on a string.”

Well that settled it for me. Bob is the only boy at school who has been able to get me to go out with him and so now he seems to be proud of it. Later in the afternoon, Bob asked me if I would go to the picture evening with him, and I refused. He wanted to know why and I told him that I had changed my mind about him and didn’t feel the same way anymore. He wouldn’t take “No” for an answer however and told me to think about it so I said I’d think about it and left it at that.

There was a basketball practice tonight and Wendy went to it. After I had told Bob I wouldn’t go with him I went round to Roger’s place to see if he had been telling the whole truth. I was beginning to wonder whether Roger had a hidden agenda too. When I got there, I found he wasn’t home yet so I came back to school. Eventually I found him and asked him the details which he duly told me. It sounded like he was telling the truth, but I still had a sneaking feeling that he might have been jealous of Bob and wanting to break us up. Boyfriend and girlfriend relationships are so complicated.

I rode part of the way home with Wendy and we talked about “the boys in our lives.” We both agreed that maybe I would not have been so quick to believe Roger and refuse to go to the picture evening with Bob if I had liked him more in the first place.

1955 05 27 Friday – Empire Day – Things began to happen about half past twelve today. It is Empire Day and as usual, we had the Empire Day ceremony. It was funny, Mr Carthew took it. After the usual talk, he said “School begins!” That was the signal for the commencement of the ceremony. After that was over he said, “Join in with the National Anthem.” Now the record that was used for the National Anthem at Unley High was not music to be sung to, it was just an orchestral thing.

Mr Carthew stood up on the dais singing his head off all by himself, because nobody else sang. He looked puzzled and hesitated and then started to sing all the louder. No one joined in. He began to get a bit embarrassed so he called out “I said join in.” Nobody joined in. By this time everyone was just about killing themselves laughing at him poor fellow. So much for all his efforts to make a good impression on his first assembly.

This afternoon I went up to Nell’s Teakin’s place and we went for a walk. We went all the way up to Browhill Creek. We passed a lot of new Aussies who as usual “wolf-whistled” at us. These New Australians make me sick. A girl can’t even walk up the street nowadays without being whistled at. They whistle at anything in a skirt (or shorts).

1955 05 28 Saturday – First Opera Practice – This morning I went to Mrs French for my first music lesson for the first term. Got a lecture for neglecting to practice. I had singing practice too. In the afternoon was the first opera practice for the year. It was great fun. To start with all the girls and boys belted a hockey ball all up and down the quadrangle, then had the Opera practice, and then after that we all belted the ball up and down again.

When it was time to go, I went straight away to avoid having to ride home with Bob. I rode most of the way with another girl but Bob was close on my heels. I do feel a bit guilty, but really, it is just bad luck for him. I don’t want to hurt him or anything but I just don’t like him anymore.

Didn’t do any homework. Went to the Library and changed my books. I got a beaut one called “The Valley of Sound” about a blind man. It was by Lewis Arnold.

1955 05 29 Sunday – I was going to go to meet Rosalie Foster this morning but I was simply too tired. Instead I stayed home and got dinner ready instead. Sorted out some photos too which was fun. At Sunday School this afternoon Rosalie gave us a description of the happenings at the Conference. Seems they had a great time. Half their luck. Rosalie came home to dinner and for some reason or other after they had gone (That is Rosalie, Mum and Dad), I felt awfully depressed. I don’t know why. So I have gone to bed to read a book and to try and cheer myself up.

1955 05 10 Monday – At lunch time today I found out a few things out about Bob. To start with, I was walking up the yard with Wendy when Bob passed and in a rather embarrassed fashion, he tried to strike up a conversation with us. He said something about being sick of school ( probably the first thing he would think to talk about) and then when I just agreed, but didn’t show any inclination to walk on with him, (I didn’t snub him or shut him off or anything, but I just didn’t encourage him) he walked on alone. I looked at Wendy and she looked at me and I said, “Hey Wendy, just tell me something, who’s got who on a string?” We grinned at each other and then just walked on.

Further up the street we met Val Uffendel. She asked me if I was going to the picture evening with Bob. I said, “No.” She asked me “Why not?” I told her that I wasn’t, in fact, going with Bob at all. She then said in a laughing tone (not knowing I didn’t know) that Bob had got into trouble the night he had stayed so late at my place!! Ha! And he told me he hadn’t got into trouble! Another deception.

Also, he told me that Jenny Capon, his previous girl friend, knew that I was going with Bob, but she has been in Melbourne and apparently he didn’t tell her about us. Again another deception! He must have realised that if I had known that he already had a girlfriend and that he hadn’t told her about me then I wouldn’t have gone with him in the first place. I am not into stealing other girls’ boyfriends. She has come back knowing not a thing about me. Well, that’s that. It is definitely over with Bob as far as I am concerned.

Wendy has got a new flame. I don’t think he knows about it yet. But it is Tony Wright. He is a beaut little kid. Hope he likes her. Wouldn’t mind going with him myself if he were only a few inches taller and broader. He had his photo in the paper a little while back. He and Brooking (Brooking is our school tennis champion) entered for the age tournaments doubles together and won it. Then they both played in the singles and had to meet each other in the final. Brooking beat Tony.

1955 05 31 Tuesday – Wendy is pretty certain that Tony Wright does like her now. I’m glad. I think he must because usually when he goes past us he only says, “Hello” to me, but now, he says “Hello” to hr and only to me as an afterthought. I’m glad because he is an extra nice lad. Hope Wendy has more sense in how she treats him that she did her last boy friend. No more “Jilted Wendies” please.

I think Bob has realised at long last that it is over with us because I have heard that he has asked Val Uffendel to go with him, but she has said “No.” I hope he asks Jenny Capon to go with him because she apparently really likes him, but I suppose that would hurt his pride after having told me he doesn’t like her for more than a friend.

Boy, have I been in hot water today. First of all I mucked around like anything in Geography today. I put a strap around Al Kalnin’s neck and pulled it tight and then at the start of the Shorthand lesson he did the same to me and then in walked Mrs Daymond and she did not seem to appreciate that we were just having fun.

At Dinner time I kicked a football out the door just as Mr Anderson walked by. Mr Giles was there and for a while it looked like detention for me but Mr English was also there and he saved me by telling me off so that Giles didn’t have to deal with me. That’s because I am Jenkin’s favorite English scholar.

1955 06 01 Wednesday – Wendy is quite taken with her Tony but I don’t know how long it will last because she never seems to stick to one boy for long, or no boy has ever stuck to her for long, whichever it is. Colleen wants me to go to Opera Practice tonight to keep her company. Also, I have lost my Economics Book. I can’t find it anywhere. I’ve looked and looked but for the life of me I can’t find it.

Opera practice tonight was great fun. Colleen and I spent most of the time doing Economics homework and singing in between times. I was going to go home with Ray Keatley (He’s the one who played the Emperor in last year’s opera and he is going to play the drunken Executioner this year) but I would have had to wait for ages after it was over so I went with Ian Kelly in his car. John Champion was in the front with Ian and I sat in the back with Bob Oertel. Seems he’s still liking me.

When we got to my place we stayed talking for a fair while and then Ian tried to teach me to drive. We went up Kenilworth Road stopping and starting and eventually arrived back at our place. It was such good fun. Ian Kelly is a lot nicer than I thought he was.

1955 06 02 Thursday – Wendy is “disappointed in love” again. It seems that Tony has been winking at her each time he passes her and she has taken that as a sign that he likes her, but she was speaking to someone or other and as usual, told them about Tony winking at her and they remarked that he had a beautiful wink and used it on practically everyone. Poor disillusioned Wendy!

This has proved true because I passed Tony and grinned at him and he winked at me. I said, “Well, really” and he winked again. All the rest of the day when I have passed him he has been winking at me. Never again will I consider that a boy likes me if he winks at me. It seems to be just a habitual way of greeting.

Continue Reading . . . Volume 1 – Chapter 16