Introduction
This is the story of my life covering seventy five
remarkable years, growing up in the 30’s and 40’s it is hard
to believe that we have been around for as long as we have,
for me time has gone so fast.
Jan and I have just celebrated 50 years of marriage,
spending two days at the A.N.A. Hotel in the city, a gift
from our children, we had a great time. It was during our
stay at the ANA Hotel that Jan and I started reminiscing
about ,the highs the lows , the heartbreaks and the triumphs
that I have experienced in my life.
It has been a great adventure, an adventure that I wish to
share with you.
The Formative Years
It was the early 50’s that the Wetherall’s were able to buy
their first car, before then we either walked or rode in
trams. The depression years were tough for most families and
unemployment was very high. People did what they could to
earn a penny, some people found casual work for about five
shillings a day and the basic wage for a good tradesman was
around three to four pound a week. While the depression
years were tough it did have an upside with families and
friends all pitching in to help one another. A camaraderie
was formed, mateship's developed, and the good old Aussie
sense of humour and spirit flourished.
It was during these formative years that the foundations for
my work ethics and principles of my life were formed and
reinforced. It was also during these years that Australia
came of age and just 20 odd years earlier the Anzac Spirit
legend was born on the beaches of Gallipoli. This was also
the time that the Australian Soldiers were fighting the
Japanese on the Kokoda Trail. The battles on the Kokoda
Trail became known as the battles that saved Australia. The
young and inexperienced Militia soldiers were out numbered
and out gunned but showed remarkable resolve and guts to
slow the Japanese up before the arrival of the AIF. The
courage, sacrifice, mateship and endurance showed by our
soldiers on the Kokoda Trail has become a strong part of our
culture and lifestyle. This so called Kokoda Spirit has been
reproduced in our sporting teams and on the sports field all
over the world. This was the time of the larrikin Australian
soldier who demonstrated all the qualities and beliefs that
Australia was renowned for around the World. These qualities
and beliefs were courage, determination, mateship, loyalty a
witty sense of humour, a general dislike of authority
especially Pommy Generals and a ferocious fighting spirit
only equalled by his passion for beer, women, sport and
gambling.
A Simple Life
Living a simple life with my family, at an early age I
became aware that my mother was doing it tough. Murdoch's
was a large department store in the city, “which later
became Walton's”. Murdoch's became my mothers agony in a
way, yet at the same time enabled her to have some
necessities, for which she was never out of debt. Salesman
in those days were employed by Murdoch's to do door to door
selling which was very convenient and very tempting. My
birthday was always acknowledged by way of a birthday card,
a little gimmick by the store I suspect.
In 1942 on a Saturday night the family would quite often go
to the Vocalist picture theatre at Maroubra Junction.
Saturday night was the big night out and these were very
social nights, with groups of friends and families coming
together to enjoy each others company. Family and friends
would get dressed in their best outfits and walk into town
or around to friends places. Our family was part of this
Saturday night tradition and we would also get dressed in
our best out fits and depending on the time of year we would
all walk down to the theatre or jump on the local tram that
rattled down the middle of Anzac Parade. The trams ran all
over Sydney, our local line ran from La Perouse, Maroubra
Beach and Maroubra Junction into the city. The trams were
very much an essential part of the local areas
infrastructure.
I was always looking for a new way to add some excitement to
our families Saturday night outings. The picture theatre
would have their best seats in the house reserved for VIPs
or special guests. I was young and bold and came up with a
plan to add some excitement to the evening. I would go and
pay the nine pence for the privilege of sitting in the
reserved seats for ten minutes. I had become friends with
one of the Murdoch's salesmen who was also the usher on the
door of the theatre. He became a good ally of mine and would
hand me four pass out tickets which enabled my family to use
the reserved seatings to have a great night out all for nine
pence. It is hard to imagine how something like a free
ticket could hold such a vivid memory.
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