Themes

Being a Chum is fun
That is why I'm one
Always happy always gay, chummy at work and chummy at play
Laugh away your troubles
Don't be sad or glum
And everyone will know that you're a chum, chum, chum

Memo to self

Happy Show; Magic Circle Club; Bozo the Clown & Norman Swain (and Penthouse Club)

School Yard Humour

I think that I've already mentioned that I attended St. Cecilia's South Camberwell during the time that it was run by the Sisters of St Joseph (who were pretty good actually).

I used to occasionally wander up to Sister Irene or Sister Jean and say (but never Miss McPartland or the young Prep teacher whose name escapes me (Miss Cullen?) but who I had a crush on (and used to visit her at her home and say "Sorry, Miss. I can see your petticoat!") 'cos it wasn't fair to lay this on the lay teachers) "Tickle your arse with a feather" and then they'd say "What did you say young man" and I'd say what I said and they'd say what they said for about as long as I thought I could milk this for and then I'd say "I'm sorry Sister, I said "Particularly nasty weather".
Heck, it amused me from grades 4 through 6.

Telly

My Mum and Dad got a telly soon after it came out in Melbourne. I was born in 1958 and there'd been a telly around for as long as I can remember.

Tellys were a novelty back then and my parents, who by the time I'd met them didn't seem to like other people that much, decided it'd be better if they were not so up-front with others that they owned on of these new entertainment devices.

Accordingly, they had the aerial hidden in the ceiling cavity which, whilst not offering the best reception, meant that they didn't have a tell-tale aerial on the roof for all and sundry to see. So, they used to watch telly in the loungeroom (which for some reason I still don't fathom Mum called the Music Room). It was fantastic except for the fact that the Loungeroom/Music Room had floor to ceiling windows which looked out onto the street where folks driving past had a fantastic view of the telly.

Satan

My old mum always said that if I took food or drink into the toilet with me I would be "feeding the devil". When I was young I believed her, when I got a bit older I just wondered what the heck that she meant. I now wonder where she got this from... (unless maybe her old mum told her and she believed her and then got older and .... don't worry about it.

Shops

Shops used to close on Sundays. At some stage Hamer (or someone) allowed neccessities to be sold on Sundays. Pretty much, bread and milk only I remember. As part of this legislation all other goods in the shop had to be physically restrained to stop folks from buying them.

Mr's Hardy just put a huge cage in the shop to restrain non-milk'n'bread buyers.

Church

I was born, educated and raised Roman Catholic. We went to Church every Sunday (up until Vatican 2 introduced the Sat'day night thing at least).

Our local was St. Cecilia's South Camberwell up in Hillside Parade. I think we were all baptised there. Mum and Dad had some kind of falling out with Father O'Conner (Bernard O'Conner. I think my big brothers called him BOC (not to be confused with Chuck O'Conner from "The Rifleman" which my big brother broke me up once by saying "Chuck O'Conner as far as you can!!!)) that I don't know what it was -- I guess it happened before I was born or something. As a result we all went to school there (except for Gavin where my Mum or the school buggered up so he had to do preps at Glen Iris primary (in Glen Iris Road, not the Peate Ave. one (which was South Camberwell I guess anyway)

I was the only one I remember that went to St. C's on a regular basis. I used to take up the envelope for the sacrificial offering as well. I sometimes stole the money for smokes I seem to remember. For whatever reason my Mum went to Our Lady of Victories in Camberwell, just up from the junction. It was the same Church where Kitty Sullivan got married and Crawford Productions paid a pretty "rights" penny to shoot the wedding there. That was how they funded the renovation during the 70's. Mum always went to the 11:30 Sunday service. She wanted her funeral there when she died. Dad had her funeral at St. Michaels in Ashburton.
Our Lady of Victories is one of Australia's few Basilicas these days -- I guess we have Kitty to thank for that.

Dad was a bit of a fickle church goer. He never liked BOC and would (as it appeared to me when I was young) randomly go to St M's (where he ultimately had his own funeral), St Benedicts Burwood, St Dominics Camberwell and that was about it I guess.

Coming Soon

BX1234
SE6
My First Telly

The Bus Depot was run by Driver Bros. Darryl and Gary. Eric was the father and his brother had died a few years back. They'd owned the bus company for a while. Eric (I think) insisted that the boys did their time before they inherited the businiess. They did a great job. More about St. Cecelias(sp) soon.

Mrs Hardy ran the local Milk Bar. It was in Glen Iris Road, Next To the Bus Depot. My old mum used to give me a note. A loaf of white Tip Top, a pint of milk, some cheddar and then the special note. A packet of Cambridge ( I needed a note because I was too young to buy smokes). I had to walk across Ferndale Park as it was a shortcut. My old mum used to say "If you walk across the park you'll get your shoes wet. Put these bread bags on your shoes--I never did. I got into trouble.