Patty Johnson's Schoolgirl Diary

Patty Johnson's Schoolgirl Diary - Part 2 : Dec 1958 - Jan 1959

Friday 12th December, 1958

Break up Day! All morning till lunch time I and five other girls helped Sr. Margaret Mary in the lunchroom, cleaning windows – which cover most of two of the longest walls – a back-breaking occupation, cleaning and wiping light-shades – big white ones – eight of them, I think. To clean them one had first to climb up a ladder and balance – high above the ground with only the support of the very top part of it against one’s legs – and while doing this stretch up and rub a sticky, dirty shade which hung only on a ’small, stupid, crazy, mad’ hook at the end of a chain – swinging to and fro – it’s a wonder I was not sea sick as well as air sick and ‘height fright’ – or perhaps I was – my legs were certainly shaking when I got down onto the floor – after the first two. At morning tea time – approx. 11 am – Sr. ‘Mag’ left two chocolate biscuits for each of us in the kitchen – that’s 3 shillings she’s out of pocket. After this we continued to work – it’s a big lunchroom – and statues and vases take lots of cleaning – who knows we might have got some lunch. At lunchtime – anyhow Sr. gave us a Choc Wedge each – (6x6 = 3 shillings) now she’s 6 shillings out of pocket – or rather the till is. So much for that! I hadn’t yet given all my Christmas cards out – so at about 3 pm I did that. At 3.30 pm we were dismissed by Sr. Giuseppe – after a nice little speech – we weren’t broken up yet, that wasn’t till 10 pm. I went home by the special bus to Sandringham then caught the green one to Beaumaris. After tea, Dad, Mum and I returned to school for ‘Speech Night’. It proved to be quite a good success. Afterwards we stayed talking outside – saying goodbyes – to some girls for the last time – from school anyway. We said goodbye and thanked the nuns then left the Alma Mater for two months.

Saturday 13th December, 1958

I went to 8 am Mass then walked home with Mrs ….. she told me she used to work with Mrs ..gan – Marie’s mother. We talked also about futures? And I told her of ….. she thought it was quite a good idea. When I arrived home I had some breakfast and went with Mum and Dad to Hampton to do some shopping. Mummy bought some beautiful white shoes – for Muzzel’s party that night – I would like to go but I couldn’t – no invite! On Sat. afternoon rather late I went round to see if Avila had come home yet – she had; we talked for a long while – she told me John Walker had left there about ¾ hour before – how many times do I hear that – ‘Oh! He’s just gone.’ I left there and then stayed talking to Wendy Crossley – from the milk bar – 10 year’s complete description withheld – she’s rather plump – and is very lively and very English – and she has a very nice brother, same age as myself. Mum and Dad had gone so I had a bit of dinner then watched television with Grandma. Geoff and Joel Barter came over for a while. We saw an hour film showing all that scientists know about formation, cause etc. of cyclones, hurricanes – marvellous.

Sunday 14th December, 1958

I went to 8 am. Mass. John, Roger, Paul and Eugenie were there. I walked home with all but Paul. When we came to Bartlett’s house we stopped and talked for some time, and decided to play tennis down at the St Bede’s College tennis courts. We dispersed and reunited about 10.30. Leanne’s bicycle had a puncture so she had no transport. I tried to get Anne Marie on Jill’s but I couldn’t, so we decided to double dink on my bike. I took a turn at front then Leanne did. Unfortunately we steered into a bit of mud and came down together- crash! We were a bit dirty – especially me, of course – so the boys went down to St. Bede’s while we walked home again uncertain of what we would do next. I borrowed a skirt from Leanne and we started out again. As we went past Cromer Rd, I saw Walkers’ car coming down. We waited for it. However – no luck – Mr Walker and Anne Marie were going to Dalgetty Beach. I had another go at dinking Leanne – this time on an asphalt road. We were just getting to the top of Deauville St. – or one of those meeting Wells Rd and Mr Walker drove up behind us. Apparently he had imagined the pitiful sight of us and had come to the rescue. Jeanne got in with them and I rode my bike the rest of the way arriving soon after them. John and Roger were already playing and when they had finished their game we played doubles. Roger, Paddy, Jeanne, John, Roger and I won 6-4 – at least Roger won it with a little help from me. I don’t know how many times Roger hurt himself but it seemed that every stroke he made, his racquet came down on him and he’d let out a tremendous yelp!! Afterwards we had a milkshake each, at the shop near St. Bede’s, on Beach Road. Jeanne and I made our way home – walking, dinking and soon – with occasionally visits from Roger and John, as we went on our way. I went home quite elated, and found that Mummy and Dad and Grandma and Geoffrey had gone to Moondai. I didn’t do much – just moped around till 3.50 pm then went for a swim. It was beautiful in the water. I went for a walk to Table Rock – then came back and up to the house. It was then 4.20 pm. I got ready and was at Benediction at 4.35 pm – what a rush! John and Brendan served. Afterwards I stayed some time in the Church then rode towards home down Oak St. I got to Powys Drive & decided to go and see Cuffley’s. Just passing Tramway Parade I caught a glimpse of John Walker coming down from the Stella Maris side. I looked at him for a while and soon he came up at Cromer Rd. He said to come over to his house. Jan and Gordon Steele were there. I went over to Cuffley’s first. They weren’t home but it was so beautiful and warm in the back garden that I sat on the step and stayed there for at least half an hour. Then I decided I would go over to Walker’s, so over I went. Jan’s baby – three weeks old and nameless at the moment – was awake so I had a look at her. She is very pretty and has great grey/blue eyes. Of course Anne Marie just loves it – she just loves babies. She wants to be a nurse. I played cricket with Jan, John, Gordon and Anne Marie. It looks like I’m going to have to know how to play cricket if I’m to know John.

Monday 15th December 1958

I rose early and went to 7 am Mass. As there was no altar boy present I served. Avila was not there. Afterwards I walked down Oak St to Bodley St with Mrs Beeching. Then I rode down to Mentone – just for the fun of it. I went past Wardrop’s – where John is working temporarily – but I didn’t see him. The man in there said, ‘Would you like to come in. But I said ‘No thank you.’ I was just looking. I went to St Patrick’s to see the new church – it is very big but making good progress. I talked to some of the children for some time. I found out that it was their sports day – and they all had their runners. One little girl didn’t. Her name was Patricia Jones. I met her coming through the gate. I knew I had seen her somewhere before but it wasn’t until she mentioned Jill that I remembered she was a friend of Jill’s. She went home to get her sandshoes and I went into the shopping centre. I looked for a swimsuit but couldn’t find one I wanted. Directly after lunch I went to Sandringham, then to Hampton, then to Middle Brighton – they were a light aqua – which I like so I bought them. I went around to Keys St; just before tea. There I talked to Tony Crossley for at least a full hour – I don’t know – we just don’t seem to be able to stop. I like talking to him for there’s no strain – not a thought of trying to outwit each other – that’s the main thing – I think. We talked about friends, cars, bicycles, animals, brothers and sisters, and England – a subject I like. Then at last I went.

Tuesday 16th December, 1958

I went to 7 am. Mass. Afterwards I walked home with Avila. John and Brendan weren’t there. You see Jonathan has to be at work at 9 am – huh! I bet he gets up at 8.30, unless it takes him half an hour more … to have breakfast – and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. Avila and I talked at the gate for a while. Then I left. I met Tony – inevitably, and then I stayed for ages. Gay Scot-Rogers who had seen us the night before, came up after a while and stared – bewildered. ‘You’re not still here, talking to him are you?’ ‘No.’ I replied, ‘we did have a slight break in between.’ We made a date to go down to the beach – parents willing – at 10.30. I went over to the beach. Tony was there – he had already been for a dip. It really was the most beautiful day, or rather morning, for it changed later, that I have experienced for a long time. We lay on the almost deserted beach for some time, the clear blue sky, the warm sand and the low tones of our voices making it perfectly heavenly. At last he rose. ‘Coming!’ he said. We ran down to the blue water. The whole atmosphere was like that of some peaceful, beautiful, coral island. ‘They rolled over in the blue translucent water; the sun came shimmering through the ripples and made silvery lights upon the coral sand around them.’ (A Town like Alice) Surprisingly – but unavoidably – I became a little shivering so I went back to lie on the sand. Tony went out, with his snorkel, mask and flippers, over the reef. As I walked out of the water trying to dodge some of the sharp pebbles and shells, I saw Avila and Joseph along the beach. ‘Is it nice in?’ she asked. ‘Yes. It’s simply gorgeous!’ I replied. ‘What’s all the luggage- if I may ask?’ ’Oh, we’re having lunch down here – don’t you remember – I told you this morning?’ ‘Oh, yes. A bit later I’ll get something for me and bring it down; it should be lovely.’ Avila soon went for a swim, but I excused myself and watched her from the sand. Joseph doesn’t like swimming – that’s a pity – it would be very good for him, but he sat in the shade of a boathouse and read, a profitable pastime – but – there’s a time and place for everything and he just doesn‘t seem to think that his physical development is half as important as that of his brain. Tony left just before we had lunch – he said he was painting the house – otherwise he would come back soon. During our little picnic a cool breeze sprung up and the sky seemed to fill with clouds. Not twenty minutes later I had had my beach-coat tightly around me and we were preparing to leave. From the cliffs the sea looked dark, the clouds low and the wind cold and becoming quite wild. Such a contrast with the same place with such little time in between one does not see often. This contrast made the morning all the more memorable and its beauty all the more lasting in my mind. Avila and Joseph stayed at our place for some time then left for home. I had a practice at the hymns I was to play that night for the men’s choir. After tea Mummy drove me up to the Church. There I stayed till nine then Mr Cleal walked me down to Tony Barclay’s home – Scott St – for it was Tony’s party and I had been invited. I thanked Mr Cleal and he went back to Stella Maris. (On the way down he had given me a very helpful lesson in swimming. Apparently he is, or used to be very keen on swimming and probably teaching. He said he used to swim three miles down the Yarra River every day – I think that’s what he said anyway.) Tony Barclay, Jane Boland, Hillary Collinson, Patricia Lawson, Roger Sharr, John Harrison and a few others who frequent the St Michael’s social were there. The party was a bit of a mess at times but the dancing wasn’t bad. I was quite sunburnt so I can’t remember exactly what went on for that was on my mind all, or most of the time. I walked home with Roger Sharr and arrived there about 4.30 am.

Wednesday 17th December, 1958

I went to the Dentist for a 10.30 am appointment in Black Rock (Joseph Green). It was a bit of a rush but I managed to ride back to Stella Maris in time for 11am. Mass. I walked home from Mass with Mrs O’Phelan, Avila and Joseph. Avila and I talked at the gate for a while then I rode home. All day I washed. Yes – everything I have in the way of clothes – I washed all day at this from soon after Mass till about 10 pm. that night. Stan, Lou and Richard Garside came down to see us. They are old friends of Mummy’s and Daddy’s. They wanted a bicycle for Richard. They went at about 10.30 pm.

Thursday 18th December, 1958

I rose early and went to 7 am. Mass. As there was no altar boy present I served. Afterwards I fixed the sacristy – as usual – then walked home with Avila. Most of the washing of the day before was dry so I went to and ironed it. I stopped at 10.30 for I had to ride up to the Dentist by 11 am. Arriving home I resumed the ironing. At 3.30 I had an appointment with the hairdresser at Russell of London in Mentone. I burned down there at about 3.20 pm and had to wait for at least 15 minutes. After I had my hair cut I did some shopping. At a quarter to five I went to see John in Wardrop’s where he is temporarily working. I bought a 2/9 pence white handkerchief and as he was so indifferent I made some humiliating remark in front for his co- assistant – Bruce – and left. He is the most indifferent, mean, sarcastic, self-centred, bombastic, egotistical boy I have ever met. Directly upon leaving Wardrop’s – men and boys wear store, I went to see my friend Peter Gadd at Reg Ritchies – men and boys wear store. I could see that he was very tired but even so he was friendly and strove to keep interested. I bought a 2/9 pence handkerchief – now I had two the same. I went up to St Patrick’s and at five to six I rode home. At 7.00 pm Roger Sharr came down to ask me to the social – not allowed. We talked inside for a while then went out to the gate. At 8.20 pm John Harrison came along on his bicycle. Roger and I went over to the cliff side of the road and talked to John for a while; then they both left. When I returned inside I found Uncle Leigh, Mr Christensen, Roger Edmonds and Kingsley Parks all in the lounge room. The boys had come to see Geoffrey – but he had gone to a Newman College dance at the University. Soon the boys left.

Friday 19th December, 1958

I went to 7 am Mass. After that I tidied up my bedroom, the sun room and the laundry. Mary Brady rang up to say that the little party – or rather folk singing night was postponed until Sunday because her little sister Louise was not well.

Saturday 20th December, 1958

I went to 8 am. Mass. Mr Beeching served. It was a hot day – just like every day should be at this time of the year. I played tennis with Maxine and Julie C. I continued to tidy my room. In the afternoon Heather and Julie came down and we went for a swim at Table Rock and then a walk. They did not come in on the way home. Aunt Flo had arrived and was in with Grandma. Uncle Ken, Aunty Shirley, Anne and Malcolm had gone on to a Christmas at Rowley and Margaret Massey’s. Rowley is Aunty Shirley’s brother. Aunt gave me a round polished shadow box for Christmas – it’s beautiful. She gave Geoffrey a fine wallet with a place for almost everything in it. Mummy and Daddy have a very modern serviette rack. Just before tea Mummy left some fat in the pan on the stove. After a while it started to burn and smoke all the freshly painted kitchen walls. I took the pan to take it outside and before I knew what was happening I let out a great scream and all down the front of me poured the burning fat. I was wearing some rather tight legged slacks and I felt as though they were burning also. For the rest of the night I lay in front of the television all bandaged up with tea and white gauze. The Matchetts came to pick up Aunty at about 8.30 and stayed for half an hour. I watched one show after they had gone then went to bed.

Sunday 21st December 1958

Avila’s birthday! I went to 8 am Mass for it was Children of Mary Sunday. We had a singing practice afterwards and got on quite well. I arrived home at 11 am after going to see a Mrs Joy secretary of the Beaumaris Art Group. She wasn’t home but coming down Deauville St I met Gay Scot Rogers and her brother and walked home with them. She was going to help a road block to make money for the Beaumaris L.S.C. I still had a bit to do to finish the sunroom so I got on with that. In the afternoon, as there was no Benediction I went for a ride. On the way home – at about twenty to five I called to the O’Phelan’s. John was there – playing squares with Joseph. He said I was ‘stupid’ because I didn’t go to the St. Michael’s dance on Saturday night. I was cross about it too but I didn’t tell him that. It was the first time I hadn’t gone since one I missed a long time before because I was going somewhere else. Saturday night I wasn’t going anywhere – but as I had gone to a party on Tuesday night I decided I wouldn’t go – it was the first time John had gone at all and Tony Crossley also. At five o’clock I went to play cricket. I bowled John out once and Joseph also – once. I left at 6.30 pm for I had to be in Gardenvale by 7 pm. I wished Avila a happy birthday. ‘Is it your birthday today?’ said John in bewilderment. ‘I don’t know – is it Joseph?’ she replied. Then she laughed, ‘Well I don’t know when it is because it’s different on the Baptismal Certificate from the Birth Certificate, but I usually say it’s the 21st.’ ‘Oh well many happy returns of whenever it is.’ He replied.

Monday 22nd December, 1958

Went to 7 am Mass. Brendan was there but he left before I had come out. I went to the dentist at 11.30 am for my third and last appointment for some time then met Mummy in Sandringham at 12.30 approximately. From there we went into the city and wandered around for a while. We had lunch at Myers then went to see Heather. She said she was rather tired but that when the morning rush was over she didn’t have to work too hard in the afternoon. Before going home we went to Dean’s and Mummy bought me a couple of tubes of paint and brushes – then we left the city.

Tuesday 23rd December, 1958

Went to 7 am Mass. Mrs Beeching and Mrs Clem were there. When they are … together so rarely I have got to speak to either of them for Mrs Clem usually has the car and drives Mrs Beeching home – I have my bike. Most of the day I spent filing papers and cuttings and putting into boxes, drawers and cupboards all my bits and pieces. ‘Pure junk’ as Geoffrey calls it. In the afternoon I rode down to Mentone to buy some things for Mommy and myself, also a card for John. We were going to Ramp’s Christmas party, and had to meet Daddy in the city at 7.30, so we caught the 7 pm. bus then a train and arrived in the city at about ten to eight. Daddy was just pulling up so we timed it nicely. This year I seemed to know most of the people at the party. (Trougot, Heather, Suzanne, Adrian, Mr & Mrs Muzzel, Madeleine, C. Marcel and Helene (just returned from running away from home) Steiert, Hildegarde and Heinz Camphausen, Mr & Mrs Beck (Mitchum) Gus, Mary Beck, Herta’s sister Francesca and her husband Sam, daughter Elizabeth (20) and son Alexander (Bill) (18) Ken, Pat, Newton Thompson. Mrs Beck’s daughter and her husband with moustache and a few others whose names escape me, and what names – probably German – even being told them and know what they are would certainly take great puzzling over their spelling. It was a wonderful night and I enjoyed every minute of it. Suzanne had had a cold and her voice had almost gone. However, she could just manage to speak – it was rather effective really – it had that Eartha Kitt touch. We had, as usual, the most weird and wonderful things to eat and drink. Bill, Sue’s cousin, made me something – a drink – which he called a cocktail. I didn’t know what was in it – but from surveying the table on which he made it directly after – all that was there was pineapple punch, beer, sherry and some ice cubes. As it didn’t taste exactly like pure pineapple punch – which is pineapple, lemonade and brandy, mint etc. – I was rather dubious as to whether I had done the right thing in drinking it – afterwards I was rather sleepy – but I’ll attribute that to singing so much or trying to. At about 1 am I went into the kitchen and helped Mary Beck and Francesca to wash and dry up – that didn’t take long. Gradually different people made a move to go and at about 1.30 am we left. I was asked to go in the Thompson’s car – company for Newton. I didn’t mind whose car I went in so I accepted. At the end of Vincent St Sandringham I changed to the Jag as Thompson’s were turning off there. We arrived home soon after, and I was in bed by twenty five to three.

Wednesday 24th December, 1958

As far as I know, there was no Mass at Stella Maris on Wednesday. Before lunch Mummy and Grandma went shopping in the car to Hampton. I stayed home to practise the Christmas hymns, for I wasn’t too sure of them. This I did and the Kyrie Eleison was positively ringing in my ears by about four o’clock. As Mummy had forgotten to reclaim my coat from the dry-cleaners I had to go on the bus to Black Rock and do so myself. When I returned, I practised some more. After tea at about 9.15 pm Aunty Kate, Uncle Clive and Jo (Jolanda) came round, as they did last year. They had a drink with Mummy and Dad and Jo and I had a talk. Soon after they left to go to see Billy and Eric Adams and John, Mummy, Geoffrey and I went to Midnight Mass. The choir was good – but I don’t know about the organist. We had five of the most popular carols first then the Mass. (Mass IX, Credo I and three or four other communion hymns etc.) Then afterwards the Salve Regina – the official Parish Hymn. (‘Angels we have heard on high’.) In the verse it says ‘see him in the manger lying’. Father had come down the aisle and placed the baby in the crib. It was lovely. Afterwards we drove Mrs Walker, John and Anne Marie home. John had some new red slippers. Mrs Walker had a cold and had almost lost her voice.

Thursday 25th Christmas Day 1958

I went to 7 am Mass for I wasn’t sure whether I had to play for the choir again or not. I didn’t however. Cuffleys were there – I sat with them. Afterwards Jill, Sharon and Nanette told me all about their presents – they got a terrific lot – but as always – every year just as excited about it. I went home and worked about the house until dinner time – 2 pm. Grandma came in. It was a beautiful dinner and the poultry was gorgeous. As usual, I succeeded in finding three pence in the pudding. I don’t know how much I swallowed. Geoffrey found a shilling. It used to be normal practice of Geoffrey – when being handed his pudding – to proceed cutting it with his spoon into small pieces – making a horrible mess of it – and the plum pudding sauce. On finding what was there to be found Geoffrey would then reach for a nut or a sweet having finished completely with the other! Just as we were finishing, Jill and Sharon brought across their new bikes to show us. Sharon’s bike is Jill’s older one ‘done up’ – very beautifully, too – it’s blue and white a wheel. Jill’s is second hand – I think. It’s red and yellow, a wheel. Outside Jill said, ‘When Sharon and I got up this morning we saw the three pillowcases. Nanette’s was as big as anything but ours were smaller – so we knew there must have been big things waiting for us downstairs – and we were right.’ Soon after they had gone I went up to Christensen’s and there I stayed until tea time then came home. After tea I washed up and went to bed.

Friday 26th December 1958

Went to Mass at 7 am at Stella Maris. I rode home. After breakfast Julie came down for a swim. She walked in and I went over to the beach with her. We had two swims and lay on the sand. It was a beautiful beach day – just perfect. After our second swim Julie and I went over to the house to have a drink and see if Heather and Robert were coming. At the shops we met Mr & Mrs Walker and Anne Marie who were going to have lunch down there – Goodness knows where John was. Shortly after, Matchetts arrived. We had our drink and as Heather and Robert weren’t coming we went back to the beach. As we returned down the ramp we met John, Carroll and John Walker. ‘Have you been for a swim?’ I asked. ‘No, but we’re coming down later’, replied John Walker. We went back to where we had been before, by the wall and lay down to sunbathe for a while – soon Heather and Robert and Neil appeared. I went for another swim with them but Julie stayed on the sand. After we had come out, the others couldn’t stay long for they were expected for dinner at Aunt Margaret Dent’s. When they had gone I went and sat with Matchetts and Dad who were by this time down there. As they were having lunch down there Dad told me to go and get some for us. I was soon back with – a stack of chicken sandwiches, a stack of tongue sandwiches, some lettuce, a big bag of nuts and a cracker, some Christmas cake, one bottle of beer, one bottle of Coca Cola and two glasses – and a teapot for Aunty Shirley – and the portable for me. As no-one came to interrupt me I lay – all afternoon on the sand by the low wall, with my head between the portable and the wall and a towel over all three and I listened, and listened and listened – and I think I must have slept, for when at one stage I did remove the towel and look up I felt as though I hadn’t been on that beach for hours and hours. Returning to the house in the late afternoon I found Neil there and we went for a ride around to Crossley’s to buy some milk and cream. On arriving home we found that Matchetts had come over also. I said goodbye to Neil then went inside and had afternoon tea with those inside. When they had left Julie returned. We went for a walk up to Rickett’s Point. She asked if I would like to come up for tea. I said that I’d love to and promised her that she might come down to our place often, for a meal. Parents willing, I went. Julie played their new record ‘My Fair Lady’, and some others of Heather’s and her own. ‘My Fair Lady’ is simply beautiful. We had a lovely tea. ‘This is a beautiful chicken, Mrs Christensen, but if I have any more but for a good while yet, for sure I start flying!’ Mr Christensen drove me home and he and Julie stayed for a while. Lying in bed that night I could feel my legs glowing with the heat of all those hours of sun.

Saturday 27th December, 1958

Went to 8 am Mass at Stella Maris. The morning was rather cool and windy but it was getting warmer all the time. Just before lunch Cuffleys came down from Ferntree Gully – Uncle Bill, Aunty Cath, Peter and Brian. We had been waiting for them ever since Christmas Day, so we were very happy to see them. We all had lunch together – all but Geoffrey who had gone to Lorne for a while – to stay where twenty-five boys live together in one £30 per week house where it’s tradition to have a party every night. Peter, Brian and myself went down to the beach, but as we could not then go swimming – on account of the recent meal – we went for a walk to Table Rock. It was very pretty along there as always. Returning we lay on the beach in the sun. The weather was beautiful; the wind had dropped and the sun shone freely from the almost cloudless sky. When we were well and truly warmed up we went in for a ‘dip’. I met Elizabeth Disney and we talked for a while – I can always rely on her to keep me talking! We stayed in the water for a long while then as I got quite cold we went out. At about five o’clock we went home intending to go directly around to Crossley’s and (get) a drink each. This we did. Tony was in the shop but Wendy served us. Avila appeared at this stage, and I introduced her to Peter and Brian. She had asked me to come with them to Mt Donna Buang on the following Wednesday; I asked her for more details but she couldn’t help me, so we decided to meet again. After spending our remaining eight pence on potato chips – and getting a good shilling’s worth – we were walking down Keys St when I noticed John Walker’s bicycle outside another milk bar. I saw him inside and went to the door, looked inside, and said: ‘Hello, John.’ He put his hand up. ’I suppose that to mean ‘Just a minute and I’ll be out there.’ He came out and offered us a drink but we explained where we had just been. ‘Are you going on Wednesday to Mt Donna Buang?’ I asked him. ‘Oh, I might as well’, he replied lethargically. (This attitude he later told me, when I reprimanded him for his indifference, was because he had been there before, and hadn’t enjoyed himself.) After a little more converse I made a move to go and said, ‘See you later’ and so on, and we went our ways. When he had almost reached the corner at Beach Road I turned abruptly: ‘Oh, John’, He turned. I pointed to my companions: ‘These are my cousins Peter – and Brian!’ ‘Oh, thank you’, he replied: ‘Hello Peter, Hello Brian.’ The latter quantities laughed. ‘Also, John’, they replied and finished the chips. And so we went our ways again. Arriving home we found the rest of the company having afternoon tea upstairs in the sunroom. Shortly after, they left – promising to come again soon.

Sunday 28th December, 1958

Went to 10.30 am Mass at St Patrick’s in Mentone. We were going to 10 am at Stella Maris, but that great battle-ship – our motorcar just wouldn’t go! However, it started in time for me to go to Mass at 10.30 am. The new St Patrick’s church is just being built – it’s progressing remarkably – it should be really marvellous when it is finished. After I had succeeded in procuring a little ‘brunch’ it was well after noon. Alexander … and his friend whom I hadn’t met, Peter … were coming down in Alex’s car. Alex … or Bill, and I had made the arrangement at Ramp’s party at about quarter to two – I know I’d said Sunday – but just what Sunday I hadn‘t remembered. I decided to stay home until 4 pm and then if they hadn’t come I would go to Devotions. 4 pm came – so off I went – up to the church. I went in – knew it was early but even after at least a quarter of an hour no one alas had come, so I decided it wasn’t on – I found out later that Father Coakley had announced that Devotions would be at 7.30 during the summer months. There was an Advocate lying on the seat so I picked it up and read it – or quite a lot of it. By and by I heard the door open slowly – close slowly and quietly. Then I heard the feet of a child patter across the front of the church, hesitate to ‘bob’ in front of the Blessed Sacrament and continue on to the Nativity scene. I looked up – it was Anne Marie. I must say from the preceding sounds it didn’t seem like Anne Marie with banging doors, stamping feet and noisy genuflections. However, it was her. After some time she went out. I finished reading the article I was reading then I went out also. She was still in the veranda and she was with Margaret Shore, a little girl I had known when she went to ‘Star of the Sea.’ Rover was there jumping about her. ‘Hello Anne Marie, hello Margaret’, I said closing the door behind me; ‘Hi Rover.’ After a little more chatter Anne Marie said ‘John’s in bed.’ ‘What’s the matter with him?’ I asked. ‘Got a cold, I think. I don’t really know.’ ‘Do you think I could go in and see him?’ ‘Oh, yes, he might like that.’ ‘If I go riding down Cromer Rd in its present state, he’d better,’ I said to myself. ‘Alright, I’ll go on my way home, goodbye Margaret.’

Mr and Mrs Walker were sitting in the kitchen. I sat with them for a while. ‘You may go in to him, if you like to risk it,’ said Mrs Walker. ‘Thanks, since I’ve come, I think I’ll do that,’ I replied. We got up and started for his bedroom. Passing the lounge door, Mrs Walker hearing the T.V. opened it, and there was his lordship laying in his pyjamas, on the couch watching T.V. ‘Sh-h-h-h!’ he exclaimed. ‘Come in,’ we passed the couch. I walked over and sat down. He was now looking at the T.V. ‘What’s this on now?’ I asked. ‘Ray Milland Show’ he replied. ‘Is that Peg?’ ‘Yes.’ I could see it was no good saying anymore until the show was over so I didn’t. It concluded about two or three minutes later. Then Mrs Walker came in. ‘What would you like – tea or orange cordial?’ The mention of food made John sit up. ‘Coffee!’ said he. They argued for a while on that point, then with a hopeless look at me she disappeared into the kitchen returning shortly with a plate of Christmas cake and two glasses of orange cordial. We talked for a time then after the next show he went and dressed himself – put on his best jumper and combed his hair. On T.V. we watched ‘Jet Jackson’ – well! It was about a lumber camp – the trees were interesting – but the rest of the story was a complete one act farce. They, Jet Jackson and his off-sider were on a mission to discover the cause of an earthquake thought to be man-made. They got out of their small, streamlined plane – it looked more like a jet, and upon discovering the villains were lumber jacks, at once were dressed in lumber jacks dress – exactly. I’m sure they couldn’t have carried a whole wardrobe of costumes – so that point made it seem thoroughly comical. After introducing themselves to one of the distinct villains he was asked, as a trial, to chop a log in two. He succeeded in chopping it through in 7 strokes – less than the experienced lumber jack himself and therefore was accepted. At length when the episode ended, we found that this brave man had succeeded in breaking up secret bomb developments by a German scientist in the heart of a deep forest. Another show was ‘The Great Gildersleeve’ which was a comedy. At 5.30 pm I said I must go so I got up and went to the door. Mrs Walker had been painting – it looks very nice – quite a bit of the place is done in ‘lilac’. I said goodbye to the others and John came out to the gate with me. I kept telling him to go inside for his cold would become worse. However, it was still at least half an hour later and we had come to the end of the fence – and the lawn immediately by the fence was literally covered with rose petals which John had pulled off the bushes and thrown there – that he finally went inside.

Little did I know – as I rode home – what was waiting there! Outside the house was a small black Prefect, and, up in the sunroom were the boys – Alexander and his friend Peter! They had been waiting an hour for me to come home – apparently they’d arrived at about 4.30 pm. Of course I was sorry I’d been away – but they said they’d stay for a while yet. They’d had more afternoon tea just before I came. I suggested that we go down to the beach – this we did. It was very windy – but not too cold – exhilarating! We went up to Table Rock. The sea below was very blustery and the waves big and cumbersome. I noticed that we’d lost Peter; later I found out that he had returned to the car for a spell. After a while Bill and I, deciding not to stay on the rock – for fear of being blown off, returned to the beach – walked to Dalgetty, then up the ramp and over to the car. Peter was with us once more. ‘Come for a spin?’ asked Bill. I looked at Peter. ‘It’s dangerous’, he laughed. ‘I can believe that!’ I replied. ‘But for all its dangerous, which almost persuades me to come, could we leave the ‘spin’ ‘till next time, ‘cause it’s getting a bit dark now. ‘You will come again, won’t you?’ ‘Oh, yes, we’ll let you know before we come.’ Bill came back to say goodbye to Mummy then he went, and they drove off – back to North Balwyn.

Monday 29th December, 1958

Went to 7 am Mass at Stella Maris. At about 11.30 am Daddy, Mum and I drove to Hampton. It wasn’t particularly exciting – in fact it wasn’t exciting at all! On the way home we stopped at Mrs. Hopkins because a light in her lounge room had fallen from the ceiling and she wanted it, typical tenant style – but I suppose quite naturally – to be replaced – put back. The next call was to Mr and Mrs Lynn who rent ‘The Shack’ – a couple of doors from Mrs Hopkin’s house. As I wasn’t exactly anticipating with joy the thought of having to listen to the exaggerated English accent of Mr and Mrs Lynn, I decided to take a walk. I went down the road, Red Bluff St, the old street, to Tudors. ‘That’s not Patty Johnson?’ said Mrs Tudor when she saw me come in the door. ‘That’s right. Hello Mrs Tudor’, I replied. Pat was on the phone, she looked up. ‘Good Day’, she said. ‘I’ll have to go now’, she continued, ‘my mother’s best friend has just come to see us.’ She hung up. We talked away for a while, then Mrs Tudor took me to see Binnie’s little Labrador puppies – they’re beautiful! She has nine, four blondes and five black ones. As I hadn’t had any lunch and Pat was just having hers, she gave me a great, Tudor style, tomato and pickled onion sandwich. Later I went up to the Shack and stayed longer than I would have had I been alone – I wouldn’t even have gone on my own. All afternoon I cleaned and painted old frames.

Tuesday 30th December, 1958

Went to 7 am Mass. Geoffrey had the offer of coming up to Melbourne from Lorne where he was staying in a house rented by fifteen boys, and where it is tradition to have a party every night in the season in an AC – the only and best by far sports car in Lorne – Victoria – Australia. He said when he stopped in Melbourne, that there was a great crowd gathered around it in no time – some car! As we had been invited down to the orchard – Christensen’s – he decided to come and bring Loretta – nothing like an orchard! We picked the girl up at Mentone Station at 1 am. From there we went to Frankston to see Malcolm Edge, for he had given us the Christmas poultry and we hadn’t seen him to pay him. He, generous boy, wouldn’t take anything for them. ‘Christmas presents, Mrs Johnson’, he said. We talked there for a while, then the bus, which was taking him back to Frankston Beach, came along, so he said goodbye and ran to catch it. We all had a double mixed strawberry and vanilla ice cream at Somerville. We arrived at the orchard before Christensens – but by the time I had shown Geoffrey and Loretta the lake – a dam – and returned to the car they had come – Mr & Mrs Christensen, Julie and Neil. Heather was not there as she was holidaying at Sale with a school-friend named Gill Lehman. We had had lunch before we had gone down so the programme was – talk, walk, eat green apples, till afternoon tea time. Julie and I went for a walk to the very end of the orchard. The property, 35 acres, is rather narrow – for its size – but very long. The apples at that time of the year were hard, small, green and – although interesting to nibble at – very bitter. The only blossom to be seen was that of the blackberry brambles growing beneath the tall fir trees around the boundaries of the property. We made our way back to the lake – a dam, as I said before – and sat down on a log there. Julie was making a mat with grass. I was trying to do the same thing with very thin grass stalk. (Includes sketch of them sitting) Soon we had afternoon tea. Invariably when we were standing around happily – enjoying it, out came the movie camera. Buzzzz – it went. The stars of the show were a dog and a cat – a little Australian terrier named Scottie, and a three-weeks-old kitten without a name. These animals belonged to the Camerons who live at the orchard and work it. Besides Mr and Mrs Cameron – who has eyes something like Mary Beck, there is a girl, of about fifteen whose name is Ruth, and she had two younger brothers, Ian, about eleven, and Neil about six. After we – Julie, Ruth and I – had a few cakes, biscuits and so on, and a couple of glasses of cider, we returned to the car to listen to the tennis. It was the Davis Cup – won by the USA. Some of the players were Ashley Cooper, Malcolm Anderson, for Australia, Barry MacKay, Alex Olmedo for America. Mr and Mrs Froomes from opposite Christensen’s in Bluff Rd were there also. We came home on the road that brings you out on the highway at Edithvale Rd. Loretta came to tea. I went to sleep before she left.

Wednesday 31 December 1958

Went to Mass at St Pat’s at 7 am. Mr O’Phelan, Mr Sing. Went to O’Phelan’s at 10.am. Drove to Arthur’s Seat. Had barbecue. Went up to amusement ground. Went up tower. Drove to Portsea – back beach. Ran down sand dunes into ocean – beautiful! John tried to take snaps – no go! Drove to Mornington pier. Wandered about there for a while. Drove home to Beaumaris. Thanked O’Phelan’s. Goodbye. New Mercedes nice to ride in. It’s done 8 hundred and more miles in 7 days! They have really run it in! Went home. Had tea. Went to bed – turned out light - listened to radio. Went to sleep.

Thursday 1st Jan. 1959

New Year’s Day! Went to 10 am Mass at Stella Maris. I spoke to Avila after Mass. When I arrived home I changed into my blue jeans and one of dad’s old white shirts – ready for a day of painting. I completed, temporarily framed and hung one piece, before about five o’clock in the afternoon. Christensens, who had been down at Bolton’s, at the orchard, all day, came down for tea; – all but Heather – who is still away. We had the most delicious ham I have ever tasted. Mrs Christensen brought down a big bowl of raspberries with her, so we had them with ice cream afterwards. I helped Mummy and Mrs Christensen. Julie and I watched among other things a replay film of the Davis Cup on T.V. until about 11.15 pm. Then Mrs Christensen came to get us – and then they left.

Friday 2nd January 1959

Went to Mass. Mummy and Dad and Grandma went out to Keilor for a picnic just before lunch. I was looking forward to cleaning and painting some old frames from the garage – and even anticipated framing some of the paintings I prefer – in other words the ones everyone dislikes – to a great extent anyway. Jack Murray? An old friend of the family, from Yallourn, called but didn’t stay – Mummy and Daddy weren’t home. I had a good day and accomplished quite a lot.

Saturday 3rd, 1959

Went to 8 am Mass. After Mass I went with Mum and Daddy to Mentone. At ten to twelve Daddy and I were rushing in and out of shops looking for some lemon toreador pants. Not finding any, we got in the car, left Mum, and drove to the new shopping area in … along past the theatre. The second shop I tried had exactly what I wanted; after testing them first Daddy bought them. After picking up Mum in Mentone we drove home. It was a very hot day and not the day at all to go visiting to Kew – miles from the sea – but that’s what we did. First we drove to Ahmar Stewarts. They weren’t home. We left a tennis racquet that Dad had for Marcel. Next we went to Camphausens. They weren’t home. Mtar told me that her parents were in Adelaide and that herself and brothers and sisters were staying home with Grandma. Next we went to Anne Heartuettons. They weren’t home. Despairing we drove over to Becks in Daracombe Ave. We knew they were staying at Rosebud but Dad said ‘If we went down to see them there I’d wager anything that we’d find they had come to Melbourne for the weekend.’ From there we went to Bill Shades – the Florist Shop. Bill and Eric were not home but we stayed talking to Lorna for a good while hearing all about Jock. Soon Diana came in from the pictures with her small cousin Lynette and I hardly recognised her for she had grown so. Eric had become a great cricketer they say – and Sam Foxton had hopes he’ll play test cricket yet but that he pulled a muscle in his leg bowling to Eric at a practice. Coming home through Brighton we decided to buy some tea then go to see Les and Allie Smith. We did this and arrived at their place at about 7 pm. They had an enormous Christmas tree and the pine-scent from this was beautiful. Their apartment is lovely and I think they enjoy living there very much. We left at about 8.30 pm.

Sunday 4th January 1959

Went to 8 am Mass. Saw John and Brendan afterwards and asked them both if they’d like to come down to the Point Leo surf carnival with us. They both said they’d like to so we arranged that they be at our house at a certain time. Avila was not at 8 am Mass and when I went down to ask her if she could come I found all the windows curtained and a general attitude of ‘late sleeping’ everywhere. However, when I knocked on the door, Joseph opened it. ‘Oh, hello Pat’, he said. ‘Good morning Joseph. May I come in for a moment?’ I went in. ‘Avila, Pat’s here.’ To me, ‘Go in.’ I went in to Avila’s bedroom. She was just making her bed. ‘Good morning. You are rather early aren’t you?’ ‘Well it doesn’t seem so to me I’ve been up and about for ages.’ I asked her if she would like to come with us down to Point Leo, but I’m afraid I was a little late – she had already arranged to go to a New Year affair at Malvern. I told her how disappointed I was, said good morning to Mrs O’Phelan, wished them a ‘nice time’ at their party, and left. At about 10.30 John and Brendan came around. I wore my yellow pants and delft blue over-blouse. John had his hat on, with the peak at the front. Brendan looked sensible – sensibly dressed. Soon the car was packed up and we were packed in and we set off for Gadds and after a short stop there continued on to Pt. Leo. Apparently the carnival had been more publicised this year than the other years for there were many more cars going in that direction. When we arrived we parked the cars in the same place as last time, and covered the area between them with a large tarpaulin strung across the roofs of the cars. After, Brendan, John and I sat on the beach until lunch time. Racing back across the sand, for it was so very hot, we found that ‘little John’ Adams wasn’t there – so back we had to go and search for him. I found him in the crowd watching an event of the carnival. We returned to the car and, the three of us, had lunch in the car with the portable, listening to the top forty hits. (Fever, Young, Dance, and Wonderful, When, Gigi, Dance, You Need Rain, Why don’t they Understand, Everybody Loves a Lover, Beep – Beep.) After the meal, we returned to the beach and lo and behold whom did I meet but Clare Walters. They were coming down on the point in a caravan with some friends – Chandlers, from Black Rock. At that moment it was heralded over the public address system that the famous Sabrina was coming down onto the beach. Clare and I found Brendan and John and went out of curiosity to see Britain’s Beautiful Blonde. We could see her quite easily. She wore a plain flared white frock. Her skin was very fair, her hair, very, very fair and she wore long black eye lashes – I’m sure they must have been extremely heavy. She read a few words – not forgetting to mention how handsome Australian men are – and when the little show was over we walked back together to a spot on the beach where we all put our things together. Mark, whom we had found by this time, had a long rubber float he could manage it quite well – but I’m afraid I couldn’t – although I did have few tries. Later I met Mr and Mrs Walters and Chandlers, and Mrs Walters came in for a swim. During our swim, the water became more ‘surfier’ as the day went on. Clare retold to me a story she had just read by Edgar Wallace, about men with frogs tattooed on their arms – quite intriguing but rather gruesome in the end. Being a rather thirsty day we decided to go over to the kiosk for a drink. They only had cordial there and that was hardly flavoured at all so we pushed on to the store. Clare warned us that it was quite a distance and when we finally arrived there we agreed with her. John bought us all a chocolate wedge then and we ate them on the way home. Clare and Mark came back to our car to collect their rubber float. They stayed talking for a while but then the rest of our party returned so they said goodbye and went off towards their caravan. Soon being ready we started for home. Inevitably, on the longer stretches of road, Uncle Clive and Dad started racing. Gadds would pass us then we would gather terrific speed and overtake them – of course the Jag proved itself the better car as it always does. John and Bren enjoyed it, so did I – I suppose, certainly all except perhaps Aunty Kate, in Gadds car, and especially Lynette – a friend of Jo who had come with them. We took the back road across the peninsula which took us into Mordiallac. On the way home we stopped at Gadds but didn’t go in – we just waited for them to say goodbye while they took Lynette home. Brendan and John came back to our place for they had left their bicycles there. John had brought a soft ball bat but said he couldn’t take it back on the bike. ‘I’ll come round again and get it’, he said. Then they left.

Monday 5th January 1959

Went to 7am Mass at Stella Maris. Avila and John were there also. Apparently John had thought it was his week to serve – however it wasn’t. After Mass we walked home together to Avila’s house, and went home from there. Just before lunch as the sun shone very hot I went over to the beach for a swim, going down the cliff path quite a way from the main, crowded bay. I saw Brendan and John diving from the rocks for it was rocky just there, but I went past, no reason why they’d want to see me. I walked around to the swimming beach where I stayed in the water for about half an hour. Returning to the rocks I found Brendan and John just about to leave. They said they would return shortly with their tennis racquets, and would have a few games on the cliff court. I accepted their invitation to go too. It was literally ‘boiling hot’ on the asphalt and although it is lined with tall trees there was little or no shade there. I partnered Brendan and the boy with the talent for tennis took the other end by himself. When we had had enough of that, and were almost on the verge of sunstroke we gathered our belongings together and went back to Avalon. Julie and Neil were there, they had stopped on their way down to the beach. After a few introductions I opened a few coca colas and a bottle of lemonade and when we had finished them went outside to the footpath. As Julie had come in to go down to the beach with me, and as I needed a ‘cool down’ after the tennis, I decided to go for a swim with her. As we were saying goodbye to the boys at the gate I turned around to John.’ Look here- does it seem terribly impolite of me to go off like this, when I just came home from being with you two?’ ‘Yes, very’, replied John immediately. ‘Didn’t expect that – did you?’ he laughed. ‘Knowing you I’ve learned not to expect – but to wait on your answer and then plan the attitude of my reply.’ He continued: ‘I think I’ll go home and sulk.’ Julie, Neil and I stayed quite late on the beach for the sunset was beautiful.

Tuesday 6th January 1959

Went to 7 am Mass. Painted.

Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th, Friday 9th

Went to 7am Mass.

Saturday 10th January, 1959

Went to 8 am Mass at Stella Maris. Finding that I had no suitable shoes for the party that night I decided to go up to Hampton and buy some. As I was standing on the cliff staring out to sea, Pam Kennedy rode up on her bicycle. She told me that she was going to Ian Clapperton’s party, too. I asked her what she was going to wear. She said she would wear a skirt and blouse and ‘little’ heeled shoes and begged me to do the same. I agreed with her wishes and decided that now I didn’t want the shoes and I didn’t need the shoes so I said ‘See you tonight’ and went inside. However, I found I hadn‘t a blouse so that took me down to Mentone before lunch. I bought a white one with little knots on the shoulders. In Payne’s I met Peter Russell who was taking me to the party. His brother, Monty, was taking Pam. Peter told me he would call at about 8 pm. After lunch Julie came down and we went for a swim. She told me that her father had left for the orchard at about 4 or 5 am that morning. (Heather is having a terrific time at McRae. Robert is staying down there also.)

Down on the beach we met Ray Blackman and Tony Crossley. At first I didn’t recognise Ray for he didn’t have his glasses on. ‘What do you mean?’ he retorted. ‘I don’t wear glasses.’ He wears great tournament spectacles. We went home about 6 pm. From then I got ready for the party. Mum had just finished making a skirt for me so I wore that and the blouse I had bought in Mentone. At about 8 pm Peter came for me. He said, ‘Monty has just gone up to get Pam so if it’s alright with you we’ll start walking along Beach Rd. until they come along. This we did. Monty’s car – a bomb – is a little Singer; it’s got two horns and the headlights look ‘like two little candles in the distance.’ I knew quite a few of the boys and girls at the party besides Pam so it was terrific. Marcia came with Barry Watkins. Besides dancing and a few farcical games, we had a scavenger hunt, in which Peter and I came second. We had to find a match box, a live ant, a beer bottle and top, a piece of seaweed, a 1951 penny, and the number of street lights between 161 and 233 Beach Rd. The hardest to find was the 1951 penny as all the shops around there were closed, but with the aid of the cars we secured them. First we ran to Monty’s car but they just managed to speed off before we could get in. However, we made a dash for Barry Watkins and piled in the back just as he took off – a dangerous game this! Getting out of the car at ‘the Hamburger Shop’ in Mentone we bought a shilling block of chocolate and asked for the penny. The proprietor spread a handful of pennies on the counter. I grabbed one with the desired year on it and we ran out, leaving the pennies spread everywhere, and just got into the car as Barry took off again. Arriving back at Clapperton’s we piled out and ran up the stairs, beating Marcia and Barry, and got second! For that we won a handkerchief for me and a packet of steamrollers for Peter. We had a few more dances and Peter and I went out into the hall where he tried to teach me how to do the cakewalk; I could do five at a time but that was all, however I promised him I would practise it. Soon we went in again. Most of the girls were to be home by twelve so at that hour we prepared to leave, thanked Mrs. Clapperton and Jan and Pam, Monty, Peter and I piled back into the Singer. Monty dropped us outside our place and Peter and I went in. I locked up all the back of the house, left the front door open and went outside again with the boy to wait for Monty at the gate. Soon the little dim headlights appeared and the car came up and stopped. I thanked them both for the terrific time I had had and they drove off. I went inside, had a drink and went to bed.

Sunday 11th January 1959

Went to 8 am Mass. It was the feast of the Holy Family and also the Holy Name Sunday (and Sunday of the month). On this day we, the Children of Mary, had decided to have a singing practice from 9 am to 10 am as it is the Sunday before the Children of Mary, and therefore the best time for it. However, only three of us were there, Jeanie Bartlett, Pat Steed and myself, so we thought it useless to practice and decided to have a real ‘round up’ of all those who should have been there the next Sunday or sooner. I walked home with Jeannie and John. The boy had been down to San Remo the day before with piles of friends and relatives so I heard all about that – all about the speed boats, and about French Island which they went quite close to in their boat. We met Ray Blackman at Ray’s street. He had been to the same Mass as we had but had raced home to have a swim so he was in his bathers. ‘I left before the last prayers’, he said. ‘We didn’t have any last prayers’, said John and I simultaneously, for Father had forgotten them! ‘You see straight after the last Gospel he walked over to the microphone where he gave out a notice he had forgotten, and then ‘herbed off’ into the sacristy without giving any thought to the fact of whether he had finished the Mass or not.’ ‘Well,’ retorted Ray, ‘I left just before you should have said the last prayers!’ As he was riding around to Dalgetty Beach I said goodbye to Jeannie and John and rode home with Ray. Soon after I had had a little breakfast Dad and I went over to the beach for a swim. Going across the road we said hello to Mr Walker and Anne Marie who had been swimming and were just going home in the car. Anne Marie had been swimming for some time but I don’t think her father had. We had our swim and when we came out talked for a while with Mr Beeching who was down there with his little niece and nephew. Soon after we arrived home, Dad and Mummy went off to some affair a few streets away at Mr and Mrs Farhood’s, intending to be half an hour but in fact arrived home at least 2 or 3 hours later. Knowing this was likely to happen I had lunch a quarter of an hour after they left. That day I was supposed to be going away to stay with Grandma Cuffley, at Tecoma, but somehow that idea faded and the trip was postponed until the next day. Later on, about 3.30 pm I returned to the beach. The wind had changed a little but some in the L.S.C. group had put on jumpers and they all stayed out on the sand. I walked along the sand and sat down with Peter Russell, Monty Russell, Pam Kennedy, Marcia Scales, Barry Watkins, Pam Clapperton, Paul Lawson and a few of the others who had been to the party the night before. I left my towel and jumper there then went for a swim. I’d been in the water quite a while when I spotted a girl from school Pat Cross. I made my way over to her, and said hello. ‘Oh, gooday, Paddy’, she said. Then she introduced me to her girlfriend. ‘I’m down here with the people next door,’ she continued, ‘it’s beautiful isn’t it?’ I agreed about that, for the water was very warm and rougher than I had swum in all summer. They had been in for two hours or more so they soon went out and I followed them. They went to where their friends were and I went and sat in the aforementioned circle where we stayed talking and listening to the transistor radio until six, then most of us left. That night I watched Television, the Caltex Theatre Play starring Humphrey Bogart, then slept in the sunroom as I had done for a few weeks now.

Monday 12th January, 1959

Went to 7 am Mass. I arrived at the church at about a quarter to seven so I had rather a long wait until the church was opened. However, John came along at five minutes to seven. He was almost awake but I could see, not quite. He was still in this condition after Mass. We rode to Keys St and stopped there. On the Mentone Theatre notice board were stuck some film titles and illustrations showing what would be on that week. ‘The One that Got Away’ was on that night. John said he would like to see it and asked me if I’d go with him. He said he would come ‘round later then I rode home. Arriving home I found that I didn’t know just how much ‘later’ he meant. And when he hadn’t come by the time we left for Tecoma I told Geoffrey to tell him that I couldn’t wait any longer and that I was sorry I couldn’t go to the pictures. Soon, Grandma being aboard, we were on our way. We arrived at Tecoma after one stop in Upwey – for a ‘Choc Wedge’ at about 3.30 pm. Dad and Grandma went to Moondai. Gran was very pleased to see us and it wasn’t until Dad had returned from Moondai that she found I was going to stay. I hope that pleased her! Not long after Mum, Dad and Grandma left Nan and I had tea. Between the leaving and tea I worked in the garden clearing around the wilderness of vegetation from beneath the lemon tree by the house. That night it was hot so we didn’t get much sleep.

Wednesday 13th January 1959

There was no Mass in the parish church at all during weekdays so consequently I couldn’t attend any. It was a beautiful warm morning and promised, I thought, a hot day. By the time I awoke, about 7 am, the huge earth conveying machines and tractors had started roaring past and making the red dust rise feet in the air. These machines worked from 7 am – the engines of them started at first to warm up – till 7 in the evening. And by the house, as there is a rise in the road level, they change gears and this operation nearly breaks one’s eardrums. When they told us that the electric tram was going through to Belgrave little did we expect this huge change in the landscape, for the whole scene from the gate of ‘The Nest’ has changed almost beyond recognition. The valley which was formerly grown with huge straight gums is now bare and trees lie on the ground like great long matches and because of this clearance it seems smaller than it did before. The little track no longer winds through heavily timbered bush-land but instead very ordinarily over a bumpy bare valley. At about 10 am, shortly after we had had breakfast, there was a knock at the door and in walked Peter and Brian – all smiles as usual. They came into the kitchen and there sat down with Nan and I. They told us that Dad and Mum had called in to see them on the way home. This I knew for it had been arranged at Tecoma, and I had given Mum a list of paints to give to Uncle Bill for as he goes to the city every day I thought he might go to Dean’s for me. The boys were on their way to the Belgrave Swimming Pool, and they asked me if I would go along with them.‘We usually go about 10 am and stay most of the day there, having a light lunch on the ground. We bring that from home – Mum makes it.’ I said that I would like to go very much so while I was changing into my swim-suit Nan made me some lunch to take along. We started out down Gum’s Ave and cutting through the bush of this road we came after some time to McNicol Rd and followed that till we came to our destination. As soon as possible we were in the water; luckily there it was not crowded. If one wanted to swim from one side of the pool to the other then one would start and finish without any interruption – something that would be quite impossible among the crowds of a Saturday or of a Sunday. At one stage as I was standing on the edge at about the eight ft. level a long streak of a boy came along and before I knew what was happening he had pushed me straight off the edge and into the water. As I broke the surface I heard peals of laughter ring from the diving board, apparently this boy’s associates on the afore-mentioned diving board had dared the long and narrow unknown quantity – whom I later found out from Peter to have quite a reputation for pushing poor unfortunate females headlong into the water – had dared him to give me a vital hurl, which was, in the eyes of most of the persons thereabouts, the majority of which were boys, extremely laughable and entertaining. At noon we decided to have lunch however one member of the party had strangely vanished, and that was Brian. I said to Peter that we couldn’t very well start without him so alone I searched and searched and searched but nowhere could I find him. He wasn’t in the pool nor was he in the grounds surrounding it. Therefore I concluded he must have gone outside the gate, so I returned to Peter who had, quite unconcerned about his brother’s whereabouts, started eating his dinner.‘Look here – don’t you worry about Brian,’ he said. ‘He’s alright; more than likely he’ll come back in about twenty minutes time and exclaim, ‘Ay, Peter, where have you been?’ Knowing that was quite possible I sat down on the grass and ate and shared out both the packs. Sometime later, the wanderer returned – he had been outside with his friend – Paul Sheepstra (Dutch) to ring Paul’s mother, for some unknown reason, in a booth out there. Apparently it was quite necessary that Paul accompany him for Paul is quite a little deaf and a friend is needed to help him with the call. However, the boy was soon on the grass and partaking of the light meal. Afterwards, as we could not swim for an hour, Peter and I lay front down on our towels and he said to me in true Goon Show accent many of the hair brain schemes such characters as Neddie Seagoon, Moriaty, Major Bloodlock, Minnie and Eccles undertake in the stories that make up the show. On one notable occasion Peter retailed, one of the characters decided to climb a tremendously high mountain. Finding that Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, had already been climbed he decided to build one in Hyde Park. One crack put his foot on it and, his boots having been dosed with ‘Toots’ the boot explodes and blew up the whole mountain. Then they decided that as there were mountains on the land, there must be equally high mountains beneath the sea. So down they went into the ocean. Coming to a huge shell Neddie went up and knocked on the outside. ‘Hello is Pearl home?’ called he. The door opened and he was confronted with an elderly fish. ‘Ah, you must be the mother of Pearl!’ he exclaimed. In a later show they climbed Mt. Everest from the inside, by means of installing a lift down through the centre. Brian was helping Peter and between them they put on quite a show. Time passed and we went into the water again. This time I went off the diving board and it became much easier every time. Shortly Aunty Cath and her sister Ellie with her family drove up to the fence in Ellie’s car. We all stayed at the pool ‘till about 5 pm. then packed into the car and when we came to Rockleigh Ave. Alice stopped the car and I said goodbye to her, Aunty Cath and the children and walked down to ‘The Nest’.

Saturday January 24th 1959

I rose at 7 am and walked up along the old train line to Belgrave where I attended Holy Mass at 8 am. There were not many people there – I’d say about a dozen – at that. After Mass I went home along the Main Road to the Tecoma shopping centre where I bought some butter at the dairy. Then I walked very slowly home. I was very weak and languid that morning, the result of a vein draining nose bleed, or at least three bleeds in the latter three days. I had a little breakfast when I arrived home then I sat in the front sleep-out and stared critically at my two paintings, the Beaumaris Bonfire and the flowers Hydrangeas and Tecoma. Just before lunch Nan decided that we would go shopping in the township, and as we were coming to the front gate we heard a car. It was Uncle Bill! Just in time to save Nan, or rather, both of us the trek up hill to the shops. We got into the car and after Uncle had disposed of the ice, which he had brought for me, we drove to the Main Street. It was rather busy but Aunty Cath said that Belgrave was just as crowded with hurrying people and their cars. After purchasing the desired articles we needed including a huge tin of pineapple circles, which Uncle Bill bought, we drove home. After lunch we set off for Kew. It was a lovely drive down for we passed through Balwyn and Wattle Park and some other beautiful suburbs out that way. Coming to our destination we drove up a long avenue of huge old Morton Bay fig trees. It was not the first time I had gone along there but it was some years since I had last. We parked in front of the main entrance to the building and Uncle Bill went to find Austin. Soon after we saw them both approaching, Uncle Aus all smiles as he always is. When they reached the car Grandma said: ‘Who’s this we’ve brought to see you, dear?’ He smiled at me: ‘It’s Patty’, he stammered. When we were all sitting in the car, Uncle Bill drove us down to the banks of the River Yarra; there we had some afternoon tea. Aunty Cath and Grandma had some novelties for Uncle Aus so he amused himself with these while Uncle Bill, Cath and I went down by the water and sat there watching the bathers swimming and splashing past us. The day was very hot, over the century anyhow, and we were quite envious of the people in the cool river water. Returning to the car there we sat for some time till it was quite late in the afternoon. Having driven back to Uncle Aus’ home, we said goodbye and Uncle Bill took him back through the entrance from which he had come. The heat was still raging as we drove home so at a little café nearing Ferntree Gully we stopped and had a Passiona drink. Arriving at ‘The Nest’ we found that Pete and Brian had returned from the swimming pool at Belgrave where they had been all day. They were very surprised to see us for they thought I had gone home the Sunday before. We all sat on the veranda for some time then Uncle Bill decided they had better leave as he wanted to reach home before dark. Soon after they had gone Nan and I had tea. After the meal we sat on the veranda with music from the wireless in the lounge coming through the door. How pleasant it was to lie back in a big sleepy hollow chair and watch the hungry mosquitoes buzzing about outside the wire screening and to know they couldn’t get in. Outside, the garden was black and the atmosphere still very warm. The full bright moon rose high over the garden and it was no use going to bed for I would only toss and turn for hours, so I stayed there in the quiet of the country night.

Sunday 25th January 1959

Thinking it possible that the family had come up on Saturday to Moondai for the long weekend, I went to 9 am Mass as that was the one Mum and Geoffrey would most likely attend. They were not at that Mass so I walked around Belgrave until the next, but in vain for they did not come even then. I walked home along the Main Road and down past Dunne’s to ‘The Nest’. It was another very hot day, that’s why Nan didn’t go to Mass with me, and that also meant that Dad wouldn’t be too happy leaving Beaumaris and the sea. I tidied the front sunroom, where I had been painting. Completed works, Beaumaris Bonfire, Tecoma and Hydrangeas, then I went out into the garden to finish some clearing I had started in the near wilderness by the side of the house furthest from the train-line. As I worked it started raining – the bureau had promised a change but this was positively queer – a burning hot day with warm rain. When the rain became heavier Nan called me in to dinner. After lunch I returned to the garden. It was still raining a little. It was very beautiful; I think that type of climate might suit me, warm and rainy, a tropical atmosphere. I hadn’t been out there long when I heard a car come and park at the fence in Gum Ave. I had a look up there – yes it was them, Mum, Dad and Geoffrey. I hurried into the house before they came down the path for I was wearing an old pink dress, long grey woollen socks, belonging to Uncle Bill I suppose, and a pair of old black men’s gardening shoes. However the suit I had put aside to wear needed ironing and as I took it into the kitchen they caught me!! We exchanged greetings, and all the rest of it then I returned to press the suit and put it on. As Nan was coming home to Beaumaris with us we had quite a bit of luggage to transfer to the car. At last everything was done and after Nan had told a neighbour she was going away and said goodbye we were on our way. At Mentone we stopped at the new shopping centre where there is a very modern arcade and a great huge super-market – bigger than any I had seen, and twice the size of the one in Beaumaris. Dad bought us an ice cream each, and as we sat in the car outside the shop Mrs McBeth, a lady we have known for a long while, the mother of a girl who had been right through school with me, went in. As we were coming to Dalgetty Rd I noticed that Uncle Leigh’s Hillman was parked over on the cliff. After the car had been put into the garage I hurried over to the beach to tell him that Nan had come down to stay for a while. Arriving down on the beach I found that the whole family were there. After talking to Uncle Leigh and Aunty Ina for a few minutes I went over onto the rocks where Jill, Sharon, Nanette and a friend of Jill’s Sheila Spencer were ‘fishing’. They had been there for some time but hadn’t caught anything. There were plenty of little catfish there but apparently they just weren’t biting. I got a good piece of bait for Sharon but she still had no luck. Knowing there was plenty of luggage to unpack I said goodbye and hurried back to the house. I took all my belongings into the sunroom for that is where I had been sleeping for a couple of months now. I usually sleep downstairs in summer for it’s much easier to get up and go to Mass without waking everyone else in the house up at six o’clock in the morning.

That night I reflected that there were only two more weeks left of the Christmas vacation. I also discovered that the holiday, going to Mass every morning, is a week longer in daytime than if I didn’t go to Mass. If I didn’t I would on an average have a fourteen hour day, going to Mass I have a seventeen hour day, over a period of 8 weeks these three hours every day … breaks off.