The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Fay Berry 2013 © - Chapter 31 - 19570423 - Fay Berry

The Blacksmith’s Daughter – Chapter 31

After my wonderful weekend at Black Point and all the interaction with the “Black Point mob” as I called them from then on and the Weir boys, life went back to normal for a couple of months. The next exciting “event” in my life was to be the Southport Youth Conference in June 1957, but right now, I felt as though I was marking time, waiting for, or preparing for my first plane trip and my first Youth Conference.

I met Pauline Viney one day on the bus and seeing her brought back memories of how I had been so unkind to her at Primary School. It seems to me that whatever guilty pleasure I got out of someone else’s pain is just not worth it, because the guilt goes on and on and on. You are never really free of it.

Black Point had also revived my interest in Jeff Clift. When I had met him at the Royal Show, I had been so besotted with Ken Wurfel that I had not taken a lot of notice of Jeff and yet he had liked me and written to me once since then, and now, looking back, I realised what a nice boy he was and wished I had taken more notice of him at the time.

My bicycle has received much use since I bought it some time ago. It was in need of maintenance so I decided to give it “the works,” and so I put it into “Bullocks” to restore it back to its original “glory.” Mr Bogner came into my life during this period. He was the oddest man. He called himself “a journalist,” but really he just worked on advertising copy for various people. He must have been in his 60s and was a very peculiar-looking little man. We all found him fascinating and I am ashamed to say we patronised him shamefully. Even good-natured and kindly Bill Briton-Jones couldn’t resist making fun of him by showing him exaggerated attention.

The Deversons and David and Wendy Joseph had agreed to provide me with accommodation before and after the conference and so that took care of most of my arrangements for the Conference.

Bob W. was still there in the background all the time. I was working hard on “not liking him” because I felt so guilty about my interaction with him. He was engaged to be married and what was worse I had met his fiance and could tell that she was a lovely girl. I felt so guilty for deceiving her but the temptation was still there and Bob still took every opportunity to keep pursuing me and I began to feel like an absolute hypocrite, but could I stop myself? No.

Mum was doing lots of sewing for me and I had some really nice clothes that she had made as well as a fitted blue suit that I had bought with my own money and absolutely loved. One dress didn’t work though, it was a bright pink winter dress and Mum had trimmed it with some “fake” white fur. It finally went the way of all of my bad choices, into the “poor bag.” It was a big waste of expensive material, but everyone began to call me “Santa Claus” when I wore it.

All my efforts at matchmaking Lew had come to a sticky end. As a direct result of my intervention, Lew and Dawn began to be “an item” and it all went okay for a while. Dawn woke up one day and decided that she was “over Lew” and that was that, spit spot! Lew was brokenhearted. Although she had been the “keen” one at first, now he was the one who “loved most.” The “chemistry” between a boy and a girl is certainly an unpredictable thing.

The Tea Meeting came and went and Bill Golley nearly got the sack and was saved by his “soon-to-be hero,” me! It seemed I had more influence with Mr Barrow than I had suspected. One day Mr Barrow had an accident at work and after a long and complicated procedure he and I patched him up but our “First Aid” skills turned out not to be up to the job.

One of the most exciting things for me during this period was my correspondence with Merritta Spencer and her brother Barrie. Merritta lived in Fairfield, Sydney. I met Merritta at the “Messiah” weekend in Melbourne and we became good friends. She invited me to stay at her place before and after the conference. She had also introduced me to (by letter) her “very eligible” brother, Barry. She suggested I try to “hook up with” him. He worked in a Bank in a small country town in NSW and Merritta felt sure he would love to receive letters from me.

After Merritta’s first introduction, Barry and I kept up a pretty regular correspondence. I used to give him lectures about the Truth and I would chide him for not making an effort to get to a meeting, occasionally even though he lived quite a distance from a Christadelphian meeting. The outcome of all this letter writing was that he had decided to be baptised in the not-too-distant future and also we were to meet at the Youth Conference because we would both be attending. I was quite excited about the prospect.

We had a Tin Kettling for Marge and Norm Pitt which is I think an Adelaidean tradition because I haven’t heard of it being done elsewhere. At any rate, it was a lot of fun and a very good time was had by all, except maybe for Marge and Norm. when we first began to bang all the tins and “kettles” The noise was of such high decibels that it is a wonder they didn’t suffer heart attacks at the unexpected noise, however, being young and healthy, they were none the worse for the experience.

Harry Pillion gave us all a shock when he collapsed from what we all thought was a heart attack in the middle of singing “the Lord’s Prayer” at Daphne and Albert’s kitchen evening. The “Rose Park” class was a real event in each week for the Adelaidites and the Woodvillites. The Eakins family opened their beautiful home each week for HPM to lead a class in their garage. It was set out as a lecture room with rows and rows of chairs. After each class Sister Eakins provided us all with a beautiful supper and everyone just loved going there. The girls didn’t have to wear hats and it is a strange thing, but when girls don’t have to wear hats at meetings their tongues loosen and everyone, girls and boys feels free to speak and there was always a huge amount of interaction from everyone there.

Perce had a way of encouraging people to join in. He was never critical about anything anyone said, but if they were “off track” he would simply redirect the discussion back in the “right direction” but never make anyone regret that they had spoken by making them feel stupid or bad for speaking. Also, Perce encouraged people to try to “catch him out.” Any girl or boy who could prove him wrong on some Bible point would be cheered by everyone for having done so. It was also a good place for girls to meet boys and so it was very well frequented. When this class was eventually moved to the Enfield ecclesia, it was still called “The Rose Park” class for ages afterward.

Bob W. had to visit my Dad and Brother because they had taken out an advertisement in one of The News features and Bob had to help them with the copy for the ad. I wondered if Dad or Maynard connected him with the “boy” I had told them about at work?

Joan Schumacher had joined the “Ban the Bomb” movement and wanted us to join her in a protest. Bill Briton-Jones and I both refused to join but for very different reasons. I didn’t join because I did not believe in becoming involved in “politics.”Bill Briton-Jones didn’t join because he thought we needed a bigger bomb than the opposition. He said that was the only thing that would act as a deterrent and therefore was the best way to maintain “peace.” Joan was disgusted with us both.

I visited Pa Harris and told him I would soon be going to the Conference and promised to tell him all about the conference when I returned.

DIARY ENTRIES

19570423 Tuesday – My cold has just about cleared up at last. I had to catch a bus to work again today because my bike was still in dock. I met Pauline Viney on the bus and we talked away for most of the trip into town. She spent Easter at their shack at Port Willunga with a crowd of boys and girls. We are still good friends after all these years and I am beginning to lose my guilt complex about how I treated her in grade 7. I can still remember me getting high ideas and going around with Prudence Parker instead of Pauline and then seeing Pauline sitting all alone on a seat in the yard bereft of friends. I gloated then! What a horrible beast I must have been. She hardly even remembers it now, but I’ll never forget it. Fancy choosing a girl like Prudence Parker over Pauline. Prudence incidentally, is a painted, powdered peroxide blond now, with extremely loose morals and her lovely brown curls that I envied so much have now become an anemic mop of wispy hair.

Since I came back from Black Point, I can’t forget Jeff Clift. I keep remembering the mix-up in September 1955. I looked up my old diary last night and read it all over again. I certainly was a crazy mixed-up kid then. I wrote a letter to Jeff and sent it this morning. I wonder if he will answer it. David Stone walked into the office today and said “Hullo, Mr Barrell.” Neither Mr Barrow nor David realised that he had made a slip of the tongue, but I immediately had convulsions and they both wondered what had got into me. I walked to Bullocks after work and picked up my bike. The man there said that the mechanics had commented on the good condition that my bike was in. I received some more notices about the conference tonight.

19570424 Wednesday – Mr Briton Jones went to see Mr Bogner today and gave him my love! The devil. Wait till Mr Bogner comes back, he’ll probably fall all over me because of the interest he will think I have taken in him. I had to ring the hospital up to ask what ward he was in and when the girl came back to the phone she asked me if his first name was Ern. I said, “Yes.” Then she asked, “Is that the journalist?” Is Boggy putting on airs, claiming himself as a journalist now? I suppose his children’s children will say fondly that their great grandpapa was the star journalist for the News. Poor old Boggy, he has such an ego. I had a horrible feeling this afternoon. I remembered that it is the Tea meeting this Saturday and I’ve got nothing to wear. At least, nothing to suit the weather. I bought some furry stuff, to see if I can brighten up my brown frock. I wrote a letter to the Deversons and David and Peggy this afternoon, hope I remember to post them. Just as I was going this afternoon, Bob stopped me and said, “What’s the rush?” Then just as I was passing Mrs Brady’s room, he kissed my forehead. I didn’t go to the Abraham clss tonight, but stayed home to get on with the dress.

19570424 Letter to David and Peggy asking if can stay with them somewhere between 8th 15th. June

19570424 Letter to Bro & Sis Deverson.

Brisbane Youth Conference is on. Will leave for Conference on 25th May. The conference ends Monday, June 3. I intend to spend about three days in Brisbane. On the morning of June 6 a crowd of the Adelaide YF will be leaving by bus for Sydney and will arrive on the following day. That leaves me Saturday 8th June to 15th June in Sydney and I’d have to leave for home on the 10th. If it is convenient for you some time between 8th and 15th would suit me to stay with you. I could ring you when we arrive in Sydney and make arrangements then. I hear a new wing in your house is being built. Have heard that Anthony has been baptised.

19570425 Thursday – Mum and I went madly today, trying to get a dress made up for Saturday’s Tea Meeting. I think we might finish it because luckily the pattern fits well and there is no trouble there. It was a lovely day and I rather envied the other lucky creatures who were able to go to the tennis and football picnic at Belair. Still, if I want to go to the Tea Meeting… Mum wasn’t very well today. She has a bad cold still, coupled with indigestion. Beth and I got the dinner, rather a botched-up affair, but it tasted nice. Nothing much else to say except, sew, sew, sew.

19570426 Friday – Today was just an ordinary day, except that Bob waited until I had finished work this afternoon and walked out to the Block Room with me and in Mrs Brady’s Office, he put his arm around my waist, kissed me on the cheek, then kissed me properly. I got my bike and rode home. Bob doesn’t affect me now, well, not much, anyway, though I’m ashamed to say, I’m still not averse to his attentions. We sewed like mad tonight to finish my dress for tomorrow. Must remember to go into town and buy some shoes and fit a coat tomorrow.

19570426 Saturday – Mum and I went shopping for a coat. Picked up my plane tickets from he News. Talked to Joan Schumacher. Then to Bill Britton Jones. Stan Dixon offered me a ride home. His father was in the car. He looked me up and down and seemed to approve. It was the tea meeting this afternoon. I wore a pink frock with white fur trim. Des called me “Santa Claus.” I served table three with Avril Smith, Rhonda Thomas, Ruth and Marian Simpson. Jeff Berry served the tea on our table – the attraction Marion Simpson. Lots of singing this evening. I sat with Judith Mansfield. Marion Simpson’s mother sang a solo. Talked to Black Point Crowd. Dean Matthews, Brian Briggs, Ian Topham. Ron Hicks came to talk again. Lew and Dawn were talking. Later Lew told me it was off between them, wanted to talk so he took me home. Went to Fullarton playground and sat under the vines. He was soo miserable. Poor Lew.

19570427 Saturday – This morning I got off to a flying start. I got into my suit and Mum and I went into town looking for a coat and some shoes. We tired of looking for shoes after trying just about every shop. We started looking for a coat. I tried Jonnies, Birks, and then Miller Andersons. We were served there by a red-headed woman who went straight into the sales routine and tried to sell me a red coat that was miles to big for me and anyway, I had asked for a blue one. The result? I said I didn’t want it, turned round and walked out, and when she wasn’t looking walked back in and got someone who looked a bit more intelligent to serve me. I told her that I wanted a blue coat, the same colour as my suit and fitted. She told me that she had just sold it. She said it was exactly the same as my suit only with a full skirt. She’s going to get one in for me.

After we left there, Mum went home and I went to the News to get my plane tickets and some money I had left in my desk. I talked to Joan for a while, then to Mr Briton Jones, answered one phone, then went home. Oh, I forgot, Stan Dixon met me on the way in and offered me a lift home so I went with him and his father to my place. Mr Dixon looked me up and down and seemed to be favourably impressed and turned around in his seat so that he could see better and remained in that position until we arrived at my place. I got out, thanked Stan. I said goodbye to Mr Dixon who continued to stare after me as I went inside.

It was the tea meeting this afternoon and I dressed in my new pink frock with the white furry trimmings. I liked the dress, but I did not like the trimmings in fact I felt like Father Xmas. Sure enough, the first person who commented was Des Manser and he said “Hullo Santa Clause,” Grr!! I almost floored him only he moved too quickly. I was serving on table 3 with Avril Smith, Rhonda Thomas, Ruth and Marian Simpson. Naturally, Jeff Berry served the tea on our table, and the attraction? Marion Simpson. The tea meeting comprised tea and singing all the evening, except for two ¼ of an hour talks. I reckon they could give the evening a bit more variety. I sat down the front with Judith Mansfield and some of the others and we all took off our shoes because most of us were wearing new ones and they were hurting. Marion Simpson’s mother sang a solo and for her age, she did quite well, but my perverted sense of humor made me get the giggles. Or should I say I didn’t giggle openly but it just about killed me trying to restrain myself.

I talked to a number of the boys afterwards and each one made some remark about Father Xmas and the last poor unsuspecting male that made a remark was Dean Pitt and he found himself on the receiving end of a neatly placed kick in the shins. He looked a bit startled. I talked to the Black Point crowd, Deane Matthews, Brian Briggs and a few of the others including Ian Topham. While I was talking to them, Ron Hicks, as usual, “accidentally bumped into me” and an argument ensued, and ended on the usual note of friendly resignation, Dear old Ron. Lew and Dawn were in pretty close conversation for a while, though I thought that they both looked pretty serious. I was right, because Lew came up to me and asked me if he could take me home. I raised an eyebrow and he said “Please.” I said “and Dawn?” He replied, ”It’s off.” I said “What happened?” and he told me that was why he wanted to talk to me. So I went home with him.

He was pretty upset. Said that since he had been going with Dawn he had got pretty keen on her and now suddenly she had said she didn’t want to go with him and he couldn’t believe that she didn’t like him. It seemed a bit hard for me to believe too, though I’ve done that before, been very keen on a boy and then suddenly stopped being keen on him, without any apparent reason. He told me the facts as he knew them and the only advice I could give him was to ask for an explanation from her, to let him know why the sudden change. We went to the Fullarton playground and sat under the wisteria there for a while and then walked back to my place. I said goodnight and he thanked me for letting him pour out his troubles to me.

19570428 Sunday – Alan Dangerfield gave the exhort this morning giving a likeness between the times of the Acts of the Apostles and our own times. I helped wipe up the glasses afterward and spoke to Jeff about Fred Hackett and the Ides. He said that he didn’t know that Fred was going with Maralyn Ide.. Said he’d see if Fred could be interested in the Truth or not. Evidently it is only a matter of time before the Ides are baptised.

At Sunday School this afternoon we arrived on time for a change. There were not enough seats, so Keith Noble pulled up some more and sat next to me. Then Jeff Berry came in, leaned over the back of my chair and put his arm around my waist, and asked me if he could sit in the chair next to me. I guess that was the cue for me to get all fluttery. I said that he could sit next to me which he did. Rosalie turned around and saw me in between the two boys and said, “I can see that you have been following my teaching.” Uncle Perce was there and therefore we had an extremely good lesson. I will really miss him when he goes to England.

Jeff Berry got the resume as Bob Martin predicted and cheers went round the class. After class, Bob gave a pantomime of his court case and as usual, we couldn’t stop laughing. I walked over to Jan’s means of transport home, namely the Mansfield Mobile. Just after she had climbed in, Jeff Berry came up to me and asked me if I was catching a bus into town. I told him, “No, I am going home in the car with Charles and Beth.” He replied that if I had been going into town by bus he would have escorted me home. He knew I would then invite him to come home in the car with us and then invite him for dinner, which I did. He is adept at getting his own way.

I asked Charles if we could give Jeff a lift to town. He thought I meant take Jeff home to his place, and Charlie said that he couldn’t because he had to go to Collinswood. I was up in arms immediately, “And what if I don’t want to go to Collinswood?” Charlie is a bit good at dashing off somewhere after Sunday School and spending hours there when I have tons I want to do at home. If I had known, I would have gone home by bus. Anyway, at last I managed to get over to Charlie that I had invited Jeff to our place for dinner, so the outcome was that Jeff went with us to Collinswood where Charlie was seeing a man about some train track for the Joseph kids (toy ones).

Jeff and I stayed out the front and talked about a number of subjects in between playing with the dog at the house. We had been standing there for ages when a car pulled up in front of the next house and out stepped one of Jeff’s ex-girlfriends, a fairly tall blonde girl, rather a gushing type. Jeff said she had changed. I should say that he is the one who has changed. We arrived home for tea with about 5 minutes to eat it. Dad likes Jeff, in fact, afterward he seemed to be passing some very broad hints. He told me that the girl who catches Jeff will be very lucky. Fancy Dad saying that to me. He usually seems to think that no boy is good enough for his darling daughter.

Beth, Mum, and I did the dishes in a horrible hurry, threw on our coats and hats, and pronounced ourselves ready. I called out to Mum and Dad that I was going with Beth and Mum and Dad and left Jeff to Charles’ tender care. That was the last I saw of Jeff that night. John Martin’s lecture was good. Dawn Lawrie cornered me afterward and we went around the back and she told me the “Dawn” side of the “Dawn and Lew” story. Evidently, she is just not interested in Lew anymore. Later Lew came up and once again we went around the back. I told him what Dawn had told me. Poor Lew could not understand how a girl could be really keen on him one minute and then suddenly, not keen at all. I could understand it, but it was beyond Lew. Afterward, I talked to my cousin Graham Dangerfield for a while and then Brian Wigzell. I went home and went to bed and dreamed about Jeff Berry.

19570429 Monday – I was terribly late this morning and received rather an awful look from Mr Barrow. In my lunch hour, I was in John Martins and met Nancy King and spoke to her for a while. She tells me that Roy Munchenberg has been spending most of his evening at Lenore’s place (she was the other bridesmaid at Jenny Meyer’s wedding. Nancy was one too). It was singing practice for the conference tonight but not many turned up. Still, we battled on and I think I know my part now. Well, sort of. Fay Wigzell and I were sitting in the cloakroom before it started, eating our dinner, when Jan Randell came in. She asked me if Jeff Berry had eventually come to our place for dinner. I said “Yes, and she said that she knew he would. “I bet he made you think you had talked him into it, didn’t he.” “Yep, you’re right, he did,” I responded. Seems people are beginning to be awake to Jeff.

Then Fay Wigzell, with the name, Jeff, in her mind, suddenly burst out with “O, I’ve just remembered,” and then proceeded to tell me that on their way home from Black Point, Dean and she had stopped at the shop in Pine Point to get petrol, and while Dean got the petrol, she went into the shop to speak to Pat and she remembered as asking about Jeff Clift last time we were there, and Pat told Fay that the boy working in the shop right now was Jeff Clift and did she want an introduction? Fay said, “Yes,” and Pat introduced her. They talked for a while and Fay reminded him of his meeting me at the Royal Show in 1955. Fay Pitt said that he said he remembered me. He said that we should have come to his place at Pine Point and he would have seen that we had a good time. Pity we didn’t but we will next time. I think he’s got a motorboat, anyway, I hope so.

19570430 Tuesday – I arrived a quarter of an hour early today and when Bob Briton-Jones came in he stared at me and said, “Did you sleep here last night?” It’s not that rare for me to arrive on time, surely!

Bill Golly has got the sack and I had to tell him. The silly boy, if only he had worked a bit harder and if only he hadn’t cheeked Mrs. Milnes on Saturday. I managed to talk Mr Briton-Jones into letting the kid resign instead of receiving the sack and so Mr B.J got me to tell him. He looked awfully glum when I did, but at least he hasn’t got the black mark to his name of being fired. It was the Daniel class tonight, and as usual, Nancy King came to dinner. When we arrived, Nancy went in and took my Bible and hers to reserve seats for us. Lew Osborne, however, had put his bible in the seat next to the one I always sit in so that Nancy had to sit elsewhere. I felt a bit peeved, because I didn’t want people thinking that now that Dawn has ditched Lew, that he’s coming back to me.

I surreptitiously removed Lew’s books and then Brian Manser came to sit next to me. Then Lew came in and told him that it was his seat so Brian got up and moved to another chair. I was really peeved by this time and whispered to Lew, “Are you trying to start rumors or something?” Lew went red. Then I felt a bit peeved with myself for saying anything because I think I hurt his feelings quite a bit. We finished ‘Daniel’ tonight and in the next lesson, we are going to study subjects two and four out of the Conference notes. Ruth Eakins is leading those two studies at the Conference and Des Manser is leading four studies. They’re going to really have their work cut out to get ready for that! After the meeting, I went out to supper and spent most of the time talking to Brian Manser about marking his Bible. He invited me out to his place tomorrow night to work together on it.

I didn’t speak to Robin Mansfield tonight, rather an overthought on my part. We went home at last and Nancy and I sang “Cry Out and Shout” in parts. I read her the write-up of last Sunday’s diary. Beth came in and said “You’re privileged aren’t you, Nancy? Fay doesn’t let anyone else read her diary as a rule.” I received a letter from Jeff Clift today!

19570501 Wednesday – I rang Brian Manser this morning and invited him around to our place for dinner, instead of me going to his place, because I have to have spend some time with Mum having my new dress fitted. I made sure I was on time today because I had decided that today was the day I was going to ask Mr Barrow for a rise. Hope he is in a good mood and that his gout is not active today. Things haven’t been too bad so far, though Joan says he’s in a funny mood.

Anyway, I paid a bill today for him in the Bank of NSW building. The lift is automatic, but the fellow who was in the lift before me set it wrong and I went down to the basement, then up to the third before I eventually managed to get out at ground level. I asked Mr Barrow about my rise…! and he said he will look into it tomorrow. I think I will get it. I hope so anyway. Then perhaps I’ll have more chance of paying off my many debts. Brian came to tea tonight and after the dishes had been done Brian and I went into the lounge. We started first on how to use the green and black and red inks. We didn’t actually mark anything but I showed him from my Bible what I had done and then showed him Charlie’s Bible and how he had done it because our work is a little bit different. Then I started him off marking the Names and Titles of God using Strongs Concordance.

We started with “El,” first, meaning power or strength. He marked it in whilst I called out each instance as we came to it, using the Hebrew meaning of the word each time so that he could become familiar with it. We very soon finished “El,” and by that time we had to leave it to go in to supper. After supper for a bit of “light relief” we used HPM’s notes to go through the “Events subsequent to Christ’s Return.” We had a great time doing that. We tried to make mental pictures of it all. Then Brian went home and I fell into bed. I felt really drained and exhausted, as much as if I had been for a long bike ride.

19570502 letter from Irene Deverson

Irene Deverson wrote to me, congratulating me on my baptism and also saying that they would be happy to have me to stay with them in Sydney after the Conference. They said they would take a week off for a holiday so they could spend it with me as well. Unfortunately, Patricia and Anthony would not be able to take holidays so they wouldn’t be at the conference, and during the time that I was at their place they would only see me in the evenings after work. They said that Bruce and Elaine Philp would be having May Frederickson staying with them for a while as well, so I would probably be able to spend some time with her as well.

Irene said that Anthony thanked me for my congratulations for his baptism too and said that they had spent four days down at the South Coast at Bream Beach with Elaine and Bruce, Anne and Vick Shane and Grant Shane and Roma Little. They had a cabin to each family and it was a holiday place owned by the Society of Bold Fellows. While they were there, Irene said that Bruce took the opportunity fo put on a public lecture in a hall that was at the camp. The Title he spoke to was “The True Easter Message.” There were eleven visitors.

Irene went on to say that they were looking forward to Perce Mansfield’s visit to Sydney (my brother Charles was going with him) and that they were going to the Yagoona ecclesial anniversary at the Bankstown Town Hall where Perce was to be one of the speakers and they would also go to several other gatherings where HPM would be speaking. Irene said that she felt that I was fortunate to have Perce as my Sunday School teacher. She said she had had a lovely letter from my mother which she had not yet answered.

Irene also went on to say that they had had an addition to their family of a little wire-haired terrier, a stray which they had called “Sandy Deverson. He was found jumping the trains at St James Station and a young dog lover who lives up their road and works at the station, saved from his doom.

Irene said that Anthony was in bed trying to lose a nasty cold and Patricia was at Mary and John Hodgkinson’s place to help Mary who has been sick.

Irene said that she was expecting me any time between the 8th and 15th June..

19570502 Letter from Bruce Philp.

19570502 Thursday – Joan was away today! Thursday too, is the day when everything has to be done in a horrible hurry. The report has to be done. Ugh!! Mum rang up at lunchtime and told me to go into town and buy some Jersey, plus a lot of other bits and pieces for a dress for me. That took care of my lunch hour! I finished the report without mishap and I’m glad of that. I started writing up my Diary this evening. I was about 2 weeks behind in April. I worked the whole evening on it and finished it.

Graham was in the Lounge and was listening to the wireless and therefore I was on the receiving end of all the “pop” tunes, which, incidentally, I haven’t been listening to for the last year. One tune came on which was terribly monotonous (at least the other tunes couldn’t be called that) and Graham said that it was music for “The Creep.” Mum asked what that was and I got up and gave a demonstration. Then Graham said I had it wrong and then he got up and showed me the “correct” way to do it.

Then some fox trot music came on and Graham and I got together and began to dance. It is the first time I have danced for two years. Graham is a very, very good dancer! I could tell that he must have been going to dances or getting lessons or maybe his girlfriends are teaching him the steps, but his dancing has improved a great deal. I love to dance, but it is another one of those things which is discouraged by Christadelphians. Why is it that everything that is fun is not permitted to me?

So for these reasons, I don’t get to dance very often, but Graham doesn’t let the “shoulds” and “oughts” get in the way of anything he wants to do. I went to my bedroom in the end, feeling a bit “miffed” and did my readings and the reading was Ecc 11, 12, “Remember your creator in the days of your youth.” I guess it was just what I needed to read just then.

19570503 Friday – I arrived on time again. This must be a record for me! Almost a week without being late. Joan was here this morning though she went home after lunch. She still wasn’t well. Ian Foster came into my office and told me that he didn’t think Bill Golley was going to get the sack after all, because Mr Mayne had told him to teach Bill how to do a new job. I soon told him that although Bill wasn’t going to get “sacked” he was still expected to “resign.” Ian said that Bill has changed an awful lot in the last week and has been working extremely hard. I thought about what Ian had said and then I called Bill in and suggested to him that if he would keep on working hard, I would talk Mr Mayne and see if I could persuade him not to sack him. Bill thanked me and went out. I rang Mr Mayne and told him how things stood with Bill at present, how he was being allowed to “resign.” Then I asked him if he thought Bill was doing any better now and if he really felt that Bill had to resign. Mr Main said that he felt that Bill was not really suited to the job, that he lacked that bit of polish necessary. I asked Mr Mayne to at least think about it again and then make a decision.

The men took Mr Barrow out to lunch today because he leaves to go on holiday on Monday. I went to Miller Anderson’s to buy my coat today in my lunch hour, but when I tried it on I didn’t really like it because it lacked the fit of my suit. I think Kathlyn Heckler’s clothes have spoiled me for the general clothing that is available in the shops. I bought a beautiful summer frock there, though. Joan had gone home when I came back, and once again I became Mr Barrow’s secretary! He didn’t come back from lunch until half past two though, so I had a little respite.

Mr Barrow had a bit of an accident after lunch, he banged his knee against the table and opened up his leg again. Just as I was going over to the other building to get the bandages, I had an accident too, though of a slightly different nature. I was running down the stairs and took a jump down to the bottom…and broke my bra strap! I couldn’t fix it because I didn’t have time, so I had to go to the other building feeling slightly uncomfortable. When I went into the First Aid room the medico who should have been able to help was not there. Another member of the staff rang him up and he described over the phone the materials I would need. He was a bit long-winded though, and gave detailed explanations of each item. I got impatient and finally said rather sarcastically to him, “My boss has just died, so all you have to do now is just ring up the undertaker!!” There was silence for a minute and then he realised that I was joking. Then he said, “By the way, who is your boss,? And I said, “Mr Barrow, the Advertising Manager.” Then he said rather dryly, “Mr Barrow? Oh, then there’s no need to hurry.” That’s nice, I don’t think!

I then had to go to the store to get some Metho. To get to the store I had to go through the machine room and I felt a bit funny passing through all the men when I had a broken bra strap. I also felt a bit dubious about the wolf-whistles that followed me. I wondered what they were whistling at, me or my broken bra. When at last I arrived back, Mr Barrow was still very much alive. I helped him bandage his leg up and we finished it to his and my satisfaction. He said it was “just fine.” He got up and walked out to the sales office and then came back a few seconds later, pulled up his trouser leg, and there around his ankle was the bandage. He grinned at me and said, “We’re pretty good at first aid, you and I, aren’t we?”

At five o’clock my work still wasn’t finished and neither was his, so we were still at it when the others had gone. He had just finished telling me what a good job I had done when I took it into my head to speak to him about Bill Golley. I told him how Bill was pretty upset at having to leave and said that I was sure that if he was given another chance he’d do much better. We discussed it for a while and he said Bill could stay on. I was so glad. He said that the new boy that he had put on to take Bill’s place could stay on too. Yippee! Won’t Bill be pleased. Bob W told me today that he intends to give me for my birthday the same present that I gave him on his. Oh dear!

19570504 Saturday – I arrived this morning ¼ of an hour late! I knew my being on time just could not last. I was a bit worried about how Mr Briton-Jones would take it when I told him about Billy. When he came into the office, I asked him whether he had rung Mr Barrow and he said, “Yes.” I asked him whether Mr Barrow had said anything about Bill. He looked at me suspiciously and said, “Come on, what’s the story? What have you been up to this time?” Then I told him all about it. How that Mr Barrow had said that Bill could stay on as well as the new boy who starts on Monday. Mr Briton Jones gave me a dirty grin and said, “You’re a one aren’t you? You can manage to twist Mr Barrow right around your little finger.”

I couldn’t wait to tell Billy, so I called him into the office. First of all, Mr Briton Jones gave Billy a lecture and told him that he was being given a chance so he had better not let us all down. He told Billy that he had me to thank for Mr Barrow’s change of heart, “and,” he said, “You know what Mr Barrow is like don’t you?” Billy did! As Billy left, he said, “Thanks a lot, Fay,” and banged me on the shoulder leaving me with a numb shoulder and just about sending me through the floor. Mr Blundell came in a bit later and said, “I see you’ve saved Billy’s bacon, he’s going around with a grin from ear to ear.”

Billy wanted a detailed description of what I had said to Mr Barrow and then kept saying, “Gee, thanks, Fay,” I was pretty chuffed with it all and very satisfied with “my good deed,” and was glad he could stay on. At about 12.15 Mr Briton-Jones came back and told me that a man was locked in the Industrial Engravers’ rooms and would I go upstairs and find Mr Saint and ask him for the keys to get the man out. I went upstairs, found Mr Saint, and asked him for the keys. Mr Saint asked me why I hadn’t just kicked the door down! He then told me to go to Mr Blundell and tell him to get the fellow out himself and so I did. The trouble was we couldn’t see anyone in the Industrial Engravers, and there also seemed no way of finding where he was actually locked in. I got a brain wave and I went around to Watkins and Co’s room and I banged on the door there. The man who was locked in was able to hear me from there and I could hear him, so now at least we knew where he was.

After a long “rigmarole” we managed to get him out by going through the club rooms and opening the door from there. Poor man, he had been there for about 2 hours. I talked to Graham Clement for a fair while after that, and while I was there, Lenny came down but he didn’t try to make a nuisance of himself, and he’d better not, either. I washed my hair in the afternoon and got ready for the evening. It was Young Folks at Adelaide and also the Fraternal Evening at Enfield. I couldn’t make up my mind which of the two to go to at first, but then Charlie made up my mind for me by asking me to take some notices to the Adelaide meeting. I sat with Judith Mansfield at Young Folks. I looked around to see if Jeff Berry or Keith Noble were there and as I couldn’t see either of them, I presumed that they had gone to Enfield.

I couldn’t concentrate on the meeting at first and had to force myself to read every word of the Hymn and prayer and think of the meaning of the words. Then Rob Stokes announced that Jeff Berry was speaking on one of the three subjects. Suddenly, I regained my powers of concentration. I’ll have to stop this, I will not join his throng of female admirers. It infuriates me to see him holding court with a bunch of enthralled admirers, even if he does speak on the Truth all the time. I’m ashamed to say, that although I listened to what Jeff was saying, I spent the whole time he was speaking thinking such things as, “He’s got a Roman nose, and I HATE Roman noses,” and “I’m not going to change my likes and dislikes just for you Jeff Berry!!!” I thought how I’ve always disliked thin lips and he’s got terribly thin lips. His only redeeming feature is his eyes, they’re a deep almost royal blue, and combined with his black hair, well I think that’s what gets the girls in. But so far, I’ve remained immune and I’m going to remain that way!! I avoided him afterward and talked to anyone and everyone but him.

I happened to be talking to Des Manser however, just when for once Jeff was not surrounded by the usual pack of girls. He leaned back against the wall and surveyed the field with a smile on his lips and waited for the next lot of panting females to descend on him. He looked at me, smiled lazily, and, I’m imagining things I suppose, but he seemed to be smiling mockingly at me which made me madder and I was fuming again. I concentrated on Des and what he was saying and didn’t take any further notice of Jeff. I stayed fairly late and eventually left to walk to the bus stop with Judith and Robin Mansfield.

We met the Lawrie twins at the tram stop and we all stopped to talk for a while. They were discussing the kitchen evening they are putting on for Daphne Pollard and Albert what’shisname. We, of course, were giving suggestions. I said, “I vote that you have musical hearts as a lady’s choice so that I can choose Ron Hicks as my partner and tread on his toes, hard, every time the music stops” Of course, just as I was saying this we were joined at the corner by Ron Hicks. He and I began to back chat with each other and had a great time, laughing at each other’s bad jokes, then Ron walked to my bus stop with me. We talked about..the inevitable … Jeff Berry. I blithely said that I couldn’t understand the girls, how they could all go crazy over a baby-faced creature like Jeff Berry, not that I had anything against the boy of course…in fact I quite liked him…but he held no attraction for me. Keep at it, Fay, if you can’t persuade yourself, you’ll at least persuade others that Master Jeff, apart from being a very enthusiastic young brother in the Truth, holds no attraction whatsoever for you.

19570505 Sunday – I wore my beautiful suit again today. It looks so nice and I get lots of compliments when I wear it. Actually, some of the compliments are almost insults. Everyone said, “Fay, I didn’t recognize you in that suit. It looks super!” I liked the “It looks super” bit, but I wasn’t sure about the “I didn’t recognise you in it” bit. I went with Charles and Beth to the morning meeting at Enfield. Enfield is a fairly new ecclesia and this was its first meeting in their new hall. Bro Colquhoun was the speaker and he did a very good job. However, he inevitably made reference to the Methodist Church just across the way, as the “people who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.” Beth had been expecting him to say something like that and Beth almost burst out laughing. I managed to control myself, which was unusual for me. Christadelphians are really quite judgmental, I think.

Anyway, the new Enfield hall is a small neat little place whereas the Methodist Church is a large impressive building with tons of people inside, and it was obvious that Bro Colquhoun thought of Enfield as the “Bethel” of our day and the Methodist Church as the “Ai.” Bethel as the “house of God” and “Ai” as Ruin. Well, it’s not often that a Christadelphian ecclesia has a crowd of religiously minded people right next door to “convert” if they want to. Alan Cheek was at the Enfield meeting and I think he is going to meet there from now on. It’s not that long ago since he was baptised. Robin and Judy Mansield were there and I talked to Robin after the meeting.

When I arrived home, Mum told me that she had invited Jeff Berry home for lunch, but that he had declined the invitation. Ron and Val Russell were home for lunch so we still had some company for lunch. At Sunday School we had Frank Russell for our Sunday School teacher and he did an exceptionally good job. He has a good understanding of the Bible, but not as good a presentation or presence as Uncle Perce, but then who has?

After the meeting, Don McColl showed me his microscope and in it he had some stone or other and it showed up some beautiful colours. Afterwards, I was speaking to Rosalie Foster and Jeff Berry came up. I think he still has a crush on her because he always goes out of his way to speak to her. Then Charlie came and asked Jeff if he was going to either Enfield or Cumberland because if he was, he could come to dinner. He refused. Charlie pressed him further and I think if he had gone on a bit longer he would have “persuaded” him, but in the end, Jeff didn’t come. Just after he had said his final “No,” he looked around at me and I am sure he saw the disappointment in my face. It made me furious that he had seen it. I didn’t say a word all the way home but raged inside. He makes me so mad. Bother him anyway, next time if he’s going to Cumberland he can invite himself out, I’m not going to!

19570506 Letter I received a letter from Merritta Spencer.

“Two weeks on Thursday and I’ll be leaving home for the conference. I can hardly wait! I’m writing to you to let you know what the arrangements are going to be for after the conference. Mary Eakins and Judy Vinall aren’t staying with us after all, so there will be plenty of room for you to stay any time, and as long as you like after the conference. By the way, my brother Barrie has been impatiently waiting for a letter from you so you’d better hurry up and write it. I have to catch the 9.10 am plane for Brisbane on the 3rd because College opens for the second term and practice teaching starts straight away and then I have to go to Castlereagh for that. It is near Richmond about 50 miles from our place at Fairfield so I won’t be home for three whole weeks! But after I’m hoping that I will be able to get down to Granville for the meeting.

The first weekend is a holiday weekend and I may be able to come home. Lynette had been asked to be a group leader at the Conference and Bev Brown had been asked to be a “recorder.” Jimmy Green is giving the exhortation on the first Sunday. I’ve heard that Malcolm Kirkwood is going to the conference. I believe he has “settled down” a lot since Wyong where he was quite “wild. ” Everyone has heard about his reputation from there. Since Easter, I have become a “female hermit.” I’m not going to ask you whether you enjoyed Easter because I know that you would enjoy yourself anywhere.”

19570507 Tuesday – I’m going to get shot! I arrived at work late again today and to top it off Joan Schumacher arrived even later than I did. I was talking to Bill Golly today and I asked him a few questions about his family. He is evidently the eldest of four children and the only healthy one of them all. His little brother aged seven is in hospital with some pretty terrible complaints and is likely to stay there for one or two years. Bill goes to see him every Saturday and takes him about 10/- worth of things each time. That makes a large hole in his wages because the messenger boys don’t get much.

In the lunch hour I went for a ride and just before I left, I passed Bill Golley. I stopped to talk to him again for a while. I suggested that he hop on a bike and come for a ride with me, but he had a table booked for snooker. He said he’d come for a ride with me tomorrow. People will think I’m cradle snatching but I don’t care. I enjoy spending time with younger boys because they still give the boy’s outlook but without any of the complications that come with older boyfriends.

This evening is Daphne Pollard and Albert’s kitchen evening. I didn’t really intend to go, but as I had been told that they didn’t expect many to turn up and badly needed support, I decided to go. I wore the new frock I had bought and it looked super. My brother Graham came in and looked me over and approved of my new dress. Then he brushed my hair and said that he would now allow me to go to the kitchen evening with him. On the way, I very quickly became very angry with him however, because he started talking about things that I had done in the last week or so, things about going for a drive with a boy at work and It quickly became apparent to me that he had been reading my diary. I was not impressed at all and I was barely speaking to him by the time we arrived there. How dare he read my stuff!!

We arrived just after the kitchen evening had commenced and surprisingly the hall was full and there were tons of people. It’s funny, but when you are dressed nicely, it gives you confidence and I had plenty of that on this occasion. I sat next to the door at first and then got up and sat with all the rest of the YF. Jeff Berry and Keith Noble, Lew Osborne, and John Knowles were behind me, the Black Point mob to my right and Phyllis Matthews, Nancy King, and Rosalie Foster to my left. They had some really good games. Charlie Pollard was my first partner and I noticed some raised eyebrows around the room. It’s funny in a small ecclesia everyone watches everyone else and it’s almost impossible to keep things to oneself, especially when it’s about link-ups between boys and girls.

It’s funny how time changes things. A few years ago, in the days when we all used to go the Somerton Beach when it was hot, I really liked Charlie Pollard and would have been really happy if he had shown the interest in me then that he shows for me now, but I’m afraid he is chasing me in vain this evening because I’m simply not interested. It’s a shame though because I like him and he’s a nice boy. Master Jeff Berry was sitting behind me later in the evening with one hand resting on my shoulder, talking to Phyl and me. He annoys me. He keeps doing things like that that are supposed to make me go all weak at the knees, but I think I’ll have to show him a thing or two! There were no seats available after one of the games so I sat on Brian Wigzell’s lap. Mum stared, and so did Dad. I saw Jeff look, then look again. I smiled serenely at him. He didn’t look back, one up on him!

After the next game, there was only one seat available so we all moved up a half a seat and Jeff Berry and John Knowles sat next to me. John was sitting right next to me at first, then Jeff “accidentally” moved the chair and sent John flying then quickly moved up and sat next to me. He put his arm on the chair behind me. I will not swoon after him like all the other girls. Harry Pillion sang “Come back to Sorento” for us. He’s got a lovely voice, then he sang a few encores. Then there were one or two more games such as that thing where they have a basket suspended from a broom between two chairs and the “victim” has to sit on the broom, put his feet in the basket, and sit there without falling off. Of Course, Jeff was the only one who managed to do it. He thinks he’s terribly clever. After that game, Jeff resumed his former position next to me, again with his arm behind my chair.

Then Harry Pillion sang “The Lord’s Prayer.” I was looking down most of the time and listening so I could enjoy his singing without being distracted. He was singing it beautifully, then just as he was singing the “For ever and ever” bit, he clutched at his heart, staggered against the piano, and fell onto the stage and I just about died on the spot. The whole roomful of people sat there in dead silence. My heart was going nineteen to the dozen with shock. Jeff looked round at me and put his arm around me. Suddenly people started rushing to help Harry but in the end, we were told that it was nothing serious and that he would be all right. Then we moved into the next room for supper. I couldn’t eat anything. I had received such a shock. Jeff came up to me and said “How’s the nerves?” I replied, “Fine thanks, how are yours?” He just grinned at my rather snide remark and fuming inwardly I turned my back on him and grabbed a scone and tried to eat it. Charlie Pollard hung around afterwards, talking to me for a while and I spoke to Lew for a while as well.

19570508 – I told Bob W. that my brother Graham had been reading my diary and knew all about us. I went to the Abraham class in the evening. Eric Grogan led the class. Robin Mansfield was away with the flu and Perce and Peter were in Sydney and so was Charlie.

19570509 Thursday – This evening I went to the combined Elpis Israel Class at Cumberland. Jeff Berry was there. It was an interesting evening and Bro Ern Wilson spoke about some of his personal ideas on some of the prophecies and they received a battering from the brethren. But no feelings seemed to be hurt on either side. That is how an evening should be held. Everyone should be prepared to give and receive constructive criticism without getting themselves in a knot. Jeff ear-bashed Dawn Lawrie afterwards and I talked with Lily Lucinske about, of all things the Rosicrucian order. She knew a lot about it and wanted to lend me some books. I went home with Lew Osborne.

Only a short while now until the Conference.