Patty Johnson's Schoolgirl Diary - Part 5 : Jul 1959 to Dec 1959

 

Wednesday 1st July, 1959

No free periods today – how ghastly is Wednesday in that respect! Margaret Richardson was away today – I hope she is alright. The bad child had the punctuality chart at home with her so I couldn’t mark it. Next time she does it I’ll write that reason right down the column for Pauline (Maria Ave capt.) to see. A photographer came today to take individual pictures of the girls – and boys I suppose. He’s been at school for a few days but hasn’t come to us yet. He’s taken two photos of each girl – then if you like them when they’re developed you buy them – for 7/ - I think it is. I came home with Jane Boland in the bus. I don’t know what to think about her – she seems quite grown up in some respects but she gave me a terribly childish wave when she got off the bus – perhaps it was an English one – I don’t know. The back axle broke on the Jaguar today, and we’re going to Moondai for the weekend – or at least we’ve arranged to, and some other people are coming, too – hope it is fixed by Friday.

 

Thursday 2nd July, 1959

Went to school in the bus this morning with Julie Christensen. More expense! Sr. Attracta announced today that the exam fees for theory and music are £3.3.0! The photographer took our photos today in the lunch room. I think he was a German or Pole – something like that. That used up a whole period. I haven’t replied to Mrs Henry’s invitation, so I must do so quickly. Some estate agent came to look over the house today. When I came into the bedroom I noticed all the improvements Mum had made for the inspection. There were flowers on the altar, the skirt around the dressing table had been fixed, the lamp-shade had been replaced, and the floor had hardly a speck on it. I’m looking at all these things now – this is a lovely bedroom – especially looking at it from my bed.

 

Friday 3rd July, 1959

This morning Mum came in with us to ‘drop in’ on some of the Myer’s Friday morning bargains. I heard when I came home that she had put a couple of things on the lay-by, and had seen some terrific car-coats and duffle-coats for £4, £5! The day before they were £8, £10 – tomorrow probably that again.

 

Saturday 4th July, 1959

Sr. Attracta said there’d be no theory so I didn’t go to school. It was First Saturday, so after Mass we said the Rosary aloud. Oh, my knees!

 

Monday 6th July, 1959

I signed the music exam form today and so did Mary Rose – hope I did the right thing; it’s going to be tough getting honours in both music and theory, somehow I think I’ll have to settle for credit. Sr. Attracta says I won’t pass – just trying to put a scare into me? She said today: ‘I’ll let you go, Pat Johnson, and let you fail, do you good, get rid of some of your pride.’ At 4 pm she dismissed me – and my pride, so I packed as soon as I could, and went. I caught the 6.44 pm bus around to Keys St then ran up to the Kindergarten, leapt over the gate and went in. One of the younger pupils – I had thought – was wearing bright purple stockings – another, black stockings. I’ve got some but it’ll be a while before I wear them out anywhere. I took Miss Grant some homework – for the first time! There’s just a chance I might be in her ‘good books’ now. Afterwards, Robin Dixon, Gay Scott Rogers … and I walked home to the bus stop. Eventually the bus was ready to go and Robin and I left them. There was a new girl there tonight.

 

Saturday 11th, July 1959

I took to theory with me two paintings for the Sandringham Art Show, which I left at the Sand. St. After theory I caught the green bus at … New St and went into the city. I managed to buy some things for Mum and a present for Lyn Henry, just before the bell rang at 12 noon. Dashing out of Myers I ran up Elizabeth St and went into Mass at 12.10. I went to Communion and Confession – two Masses, left at 1.15 pm. I cut up to the Gallery through a little narrow street. We have been studying at school some Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings so during the two or three hours I spent walking around the gallery I met most of them – the ones Australia has bought – Cézanne’s, Sisley’s, Pissarro’s, Manet’s, Monet’s, and van Gogh. I rang Mum at Flinder’s St. Station saying I would be home in about two hours. At Sandringham St. I picked up the paintings and took them up to Sacred Heart, where much to my consternation and indignation I met a group of nuns – amongst them Sr. Mary Annette. I talked to her for a while and left the paintings with her. Then I walked home to Beaumaris – my high heels slightly the worse for wear.

 

Sunday 12th July, 1959

Went to 8 am Mass with Mum and Grandma.

 

Monday 13th July, 1959

Well! I don’t know what I shall do about the Kilbreda Ball. I haven’t a thing that’s new to wear. I’ll have to work on Dad I think – for the shoes – Mum for the dress, Grandma for the etcs.

 

Thursday 16th July, 1959

Well! Today’s the day – or rather tonight’s the night! I wonder how it will go. A couple of girls at school knew I was going – especially those who know Newton. I wore my pink blue-grey-white satin ballerina with my new white mohair stole. There were about four hundred there, nearly all from Kilbreda and St Bede’s – with one or two odd exceptions. Many a time was the question asked – ‘You don’t go to Kilbreda, do you?’ Nearly every time I simply said ‘No’, and changed the conversation. There were dozens of girls I knew, and boys, too – many who had been at ‘Sacred Heart’ at the same time as I was. The dances were terribly long and all of them the usual, Barn Dance, Pride of Erin, Palmer Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha Cha and Modern Waltz – most of which required continual changing of partners. I noticed there were brothers posted in all the corners. I had the Mexican Hat dance with John … (slight suggestion of irony). The band was quite good and I think everyone enjoyed themselves – I did for sure.

 

Friday 17th July, 1959

A Sun photographer was at the ball last night and took a picture of many of us, in a group towards the front of the hall – it appeared in the Sun this morning, a huge photograph about which to my consternation I wasn’t the only girl in the class who knew of its existence and – oh! did it go the rounds. In it I could pick out quite a few I knew, especially Ray Blackham – with glasses gleaming. On the Assembly line before we went over to the Mass (Forty Hours Adoration at St James) Sr. M. Raymond called me over and told me that I had won 1st place in the under sixteen art section at Sandringham. I couldn’t, for the life of me decide, which it could have been – if it could have been any. The Mass was sung, a Missa cantata, by the senior choir. Later in the day we were allowed to go over to the church for a few minutes. Two items of interest came up today – the picture of the ball group, the picture at Sandringham. Being both similar objects it was terribly confusing at times. Went to dancing class; John, David, Paul not there.

 

Sunday 19th July, 1959

It was a beautiful day, so when the Cuffley’s arrived we had a barbecued lunch outside. At 2 pm we set off in Uncle Bill’s car for the Art Show at Sacred Heart School, Sandringham. Peter and I had a few pieces hanging and Brian had one there too, in the under 12 section. Peter and I entered the under 16 section – which to my amazement was won by my ‘Bonfire’. For its win I received a beautiful book: ‘The Mary Book’. I’ll better hurry and read it for it’s likely to do the rounds at school – not amongst the girls – unfortunately – but amongst the nuns. A lot of the afternoon I talked to Sr. M. Annette, an old music teacher of mine. I also had a talk to Sr. M. Maguire who is a great friend of Sr. M. Attracta and just as Irish, who gave me a few words of warning and of advice concerning the Beaumaris Art Group.

 

Sunday 26th July, 1959

Today was Ordination Sunday. I’d love to go to an ordination ceremony. Next year I think I might go in by myself and try to have a look at proceedings. ‘Star of the Sea’s’ first past pupil was ordained to-day. His name now is Fr. Michael Parer. Helen Brown, a friend at school has a brother studying for the priesthood but he has a couple of years to go yet.

 

Monday 27th July, 1959

Fr. Michael Parer, ‘Star of the Sea’s’ first past-pupil to be ordained offered his first Mass as a priest in St James Parish Church this morning. It was a beautiful morning and the sunlight glowed through the high lead-light windows in huge beams falling upon the congregation and young Fr. Parer, the hero, on the stage of the altar, highlighting the magnificent drama taking place there. The special choir sung the Mass and added ‘Psalm’ and St Francis’s ‘Blessing’; which they sang beautifully. There were several altar-boys attending but Fr. Hennessy kept close by the younger priest – finding his place in the missal and hymnal and handing him all he needed. Many of his relations and friends were seated in the front of the church and a few scattered amongst the student congregation. It must have been a very wonderful hour for Fr. Parer and especially for his parents.

 

Friday 7th August, 1959

Tonight we saw the last of our dancing classes. It was held in the same place as usual – the last room of the church-school hall. Everyone thought it would be rather small because we had been asked to invite a friend. I asked Margaret Richardson but unfortunately she could not come. However, there were only about forty altogether so there was quite enough room. One new face to many I suppose was Kerry Wilson. No-one seemed to have invited him. I think he just came along. The Johnny Rogers Trio, Mont Russell drums, Michael Barbour piano and John on sax and clarinet, came along to play for us – for a small fee, no doubt. We danced most of the time and Mr Lawson ran a couple of games. One was a parcel game. Silly Tony Hall gave it to me for some good point of my appearance – I looked like – or most like a film actress – thrill for ‘us’. For that I won a biro. We all had a terrific time I’m sure. Mr Lawson called on a couple of us to present a few gifts to John Clifford – our pianist, Joan Horrigan and Diane Morrison – instructresses. Afterwards we drove Walkers home, and also Ray Blackam.

 

Saturday 8th August, 1959

Well! I woke up looking rather like a partly white-washed Hottentot – my face did anyway. There’s a gale raging in Beaumaris at the moment, the wind’s blowing like a hurricane. Last night …

 

Tuesday 11th August, 1959

I went to Sr. Mary Eymard’s mother’s requiem in Mrs Fumpston’s car with Sue and Mary Rose. It was at the new Ashburton church – which is very beautiful. There were crowds of people there including some of last year’s prefects. We arrived back at school to hear the end of another requiem for Mrs Mener, Fr. Mener’s mother. Both were very beautiful ceremonies. The latter was sung by a lay choir of Franciscan Friars. The first period we had was at six to twelve. At lunch time Mary Rose, Clare and I sold all of the magazines – ‘Book of Revelations’. It was Sr. Mary Attracta’s feast day today. We took up a collection for her and had a Mass said. Also she was presented with a copy of the ‘mag’. The board in her room was covered with ’Cead Mile Failte’ written at the top.

 

Thursday 27th August, 1959

Break up day! At last! I feel like sleeping for the whole two weeks’ vacation, but I guess I could hardly do that. At 1.30 we had a general assembly in the hall and Mon. M. Laurence spoke to us, and told us to have a ‘good’ holiday and to ever be unselfish. At 2 o’clock we were dismissed and allowed to go home. As usual I had to do something to keep me occupied long after 2 o’clock. In fact I left school at five to six, after writing across the board the usual decoration – this time the aspiration was: HELP ME DEAR LORD, TO GIVE MY FULL ATTENTION TO THIS LESSON – written in green and yellow chalk with some autumnal leaves at each end. I’m sure some of the girls will object – they won’t be able to waste time without feeling guilty with that glaring down at them. After that I spent a couple of hours painting a U.N. greeting card for a competition. I think I was last day scholar to leave. There were three or four boarders left.

 

Friday 28th August, 1959

I asked Dad this morning about getting a job for the Christmas Holidays. It seemed rather early to me but the girls and school said this was the time – so – With his direction I rode down to Mentone and asked a Mr Tidd – in Payne’s – about work for the holidays. He seemed interested and took my name, address and phone number. After wandering around the shopping centre for a while, meeting Jan Clapperton and then Jennifer Lonigan, I rode over to St Patrick’s. The new church is progressing rapidly. Now it has most of the walls up and windows in. The inside of the old church is looking terribly dilapidated and it’s high time we had a new place. I spent most of the afternoon in bed trying to rid myself of this terrible cold – which is nearly driving me crazy. After dinner we watched ’77 Sunset Strip’. ‘Man– Dig that crazy movie. It’s the most, Dad.’

 

Thursday 10th September, 1959

Today we had a visit from Aunt Dorothy and six of her companions – five Josephite nuns and a parish priest, Fr. O’Kallagan – all of Brunswick.

 

Friday 11th September, 1959

Well, I seem to be over the flu!

 

Saturday 12th September, 1959

I arose about 7.20 and arrived at Stella Maris by 8 am. I don’t think Father was late this morning. The usual people were there – as well as a few new faces. If I had known that my bicycle tyre would not blow up because I hadn’t undone the little screw sufficiently I wouldn’t have had to walk – but I suppose the exercise is good for me. Julie C. came down in the afternoon to borrow a little condensed milk – I think she told me she was going to the ‘Strut’ with Allison Warmsley – she had actually been talked into it at last! She has been before – but very reluctantly. We arranged that I would be at her place at 8.15. At 8.15 Geoffrey and Malcolm drove me there, we picked up Julie and turned round to St Michael’s – I talked Geoff and Malcolm into coming – they got a surprise I’m sure when they arrived – for they stayed. I had quite a good time till about 11.30 when he said they would drive me home – so they would be free. However, Ross Filshie was watching and immediately came home, picked me up and took me back. The second part of the night was better than the first. After the ‘Strut’ he drove up to Hampton coffee lounge and then home.

 

Sunday 13th September, 1959

Rose early and went to 8 am Mass. The car gave us a little bother but with a little shaking and pushing she started. It was Holy Name Sunday and the men’s choir sung beautifully. After Mass I walked home with Lynette Henry. I still don’t see her parents coming to Mass, but her father works quite openly … in the front garden. Malcolm is still with us – I think he’ll stay till tomorrow morning and drive Mum and I to Mentone St. The boys were going to Rob Roy today – but at 2.30 they gave up that idea. At 4 pm I rode up to Stella Maris. Father Coakley is looking very ill although he has just come back from a holiday at Coolangatta. After two decades of the Rosary he excused himself and returned with a chair to sit on while he continued. We had no organist – I should really get hold of the hymn music and learn it. I walked home afterwards with Mr and Mrs Beechey who told me about Avila’s operation. Then I went on ’round to the O’Phelan’s, and heard the rest of the story. They have a new piano – a very good one it seems to me. Avila should come home on Saturday.

 

Monday 14th September, 1959

Russians hit moon today! This is an historical event. This evening’s paper was headlined with the news of it. We still do not know how they did it – firing it from such a distance. The guidance of this missile is quite unknown to American and British scientists. Mum and I went into the city today to do some shopping. Mum put £2 down – as well as a whole lot of information on a £7.9 fur cape. It is a beautiful thing – but I don’t fancy it will suit me – mink marmot I think it is. We also went to the theatre to see ‘This is Cinerama.’ It was marvellous. With my eyes to the future I can see that it is as yet still a bit wobbly, but nevertheless we enjoyed it very much. The scenery it followed was beautiful – from the flowered swamps of Florida to the starkness of the Grand Canyon, and from glorious Venice on a sunny regatta day to La Scala – Milan – to see the triumphal scene of Aïda. Another thrill was a ride on the big dipper – similar to the one at Luna Park. On the way home in the car we stopped by Brightway Auto yards and Geoffrey finished his transactions there – buying his first car – a Fiat.

 

Tuesday 15th September, 1959

Back to school! It’s Heather’s birthday of course, today. I bought her a necklace in the city yesterday. It’s lovely and she seemed pleased when I gave it to her. Gold chain, gold surroundings, flowers worked in tapestry. This afternoon Mrs Stevenson from the Beaumaris Art Group called and asked Mummy if I would like still to put something into the Art Show, as I’d not been at the Monday Night class and given them in. It was my third chance of doing it so this evening I walked ’round to her home with the paintings – ‘Through the Ti-Tree’, ‘Rocky Scene’, ‘Cliff from Sea’, ‘Hydrangeas and Tecoma’ and a few others. Nothing special! Just before we left Kingsley Parks and Roger Edmonds came to see Geoffrey who was not yet home from the ‘Shop’. But they waited until he came. We ended up, Mum and I, calling on Mrs Stevenson at 9.30, or perhaps a little later. In Keys St this afternoon I met Jan Olver who still hasn’t met Geoff – or not for about 5 years and she tells me she’s just dying to see what he looks like. By the way they’ve both been trying diverse means to meet each other – oh!

 

Saturday 19th September, 1959

That black mascara certainly took some getting off. When I saw John later today he still looked a little yellow. Last night Ross asked me to do the Esquire with him, and Mum agreed to it. I’d never been to Esquire, opposite the Glen Iris Station, before, so it was quite an experience. Unfortunately it was teaming with rain both going and coming home but the car is fairly waterproof so we didn’t mind it really. There must have been a crack or hole somewhere near my feet, because every time we went through a rut, full of water, a bit sprayed in on my feet. Esquire’s quite a nice set up. One enters the main dance hall on the second floor, almost from off the street. Beneath this is another rather large room with a small counter, cloakroom and in the main it is a T.V. lounge. The steep slope down from the road enables the lay out to be as it is. We met Kay Miller and David Young – apparently enjoying themselves. Afterwards Ross took me for coffee in Mentone; we met the ‘band’ boys and then drove home. Paul Marco sang at Esquire – terrific. The actual crowd wasn’t much.

 

Sunday 20th September, 1959

Today I went for a walk on the beach with John, and Ray Blackam. I don’t think that I shall ever forget it – in fact, I know I won’t. It was one of those breath-taking days. Geoffrey was going over to Loretta’s so he gave me a lift around to Cromer Rd. I went into Walker’s to return and thank them for the kimono they had loaned to me. John said he would come with me if I was going to the beach again. Mr Walker drove us down to Keefer’s then we went and got Ray. The sea was rough – I’ve never seen it so rough before. There’s a small curved sea wall opposite Sparks St. Here the huge tumultuous waves gushed in clashing with the waves surging back from the wall would force each other high into the air. Dumpers, John called them. When we were thoroughly soaked we went home to Walker’s and John changed. Then we went to our place and I did the same. Ray was wearing a rubber suit so he didn’t altogether mind the water. I wore my grey cords, socks, old school shoes, raincoat and a band around my hair. John wore some old jeans, huge rubber boots – which didn’t prove to be huge enough – Dad’s Army great coat and his balaclava – thank goodness John could not take his camera. Once, as I ran down a cliff path and onto a small piece of wet sand I saw Ray looking at me amazedly. I eyed him viciously – I wasn’t worried what I looked like. He said: ‘Crikey, you look a bit different to how you looked on Friday night.’ I was fully aware of that small fact. John was very chivalrous and took my hand most of the time. I was thankful for that especially when we were forced to take a very narrow ledge or part ledge with gaps in it, about as wide as our feet – the ledge. Up on Table Rock they were leaning over the cliff into the wind – it was so strong they couldn’t fall forward. We made three attempts at walking to the end of the aforementioned wall and finally made it. I’ve never heard John laugh so satisfyingly before, as soon after an immense wave splashed up and nearly knocked us off. Needless to say I held on tight.

 

Monday 21st September, 1959

If I got out of the right side of the bed yesterday I got out of the wrong side today!

 

Friday 25th September, 1959

Ross took me to Cambridge tonight. When we arrived we met Les Kempson and Barry Watkins. I haven’t been for a while but it looked just the same – a little less crowded earlier but it soon filled up. Les’s cousin Pam was there also with John Dodd. The band was really marvellous; they played a little modern jazz – not properly, says Ross. The dress is still the same – very ‘beaty’ in general. I wore my red straight skirt, my white jumper, and Mum’s green, white and gold beads – the genuine ‘Cairo’ touch. We saw quite a bit of Pam and John and considerately little of Les and Barry. We decided to go about 11.30pm but John looked at us longingly and Pam looked at John longingly so with ‘Just the next one and then we’ll come’ given to us a few times we decided to go and wait in the car for them. We waited – and waited – but for some reason, strangely enough – we missed them … However, coming into the Bird Cage we spied them afar off and joined them for coffee etc. Ross didn’t have his car tonight but his father’s so it was caution all the way – for the Holden’s sake – and for dear Ross’s.

 

Saturday 10th October, 1959

I thought I finished with school on Saturday mornings but Sr. M. Eymond has decided that we will do our October Tests, trial exams, on Saturdays. We do one per week, which takes 2 hours. I’d far rather do it after school one night. Well, I rode my bicycle up to ‘Star’, for it costs 5/ by bus, tram. 16 miles for 2 hours – it’s disgusting. Next week we’re going to the Gallery – so that’ll be interesting. I had to push into a strong north wind all the way this morning, couldn’t – anywhere near – coast down a hill, even a steep one, so I’ll sleep well tonight, even the possums won’t bother me. Oh! We’re at Moondai – we arrived about 4.30 this afternoon. It was raining soon after we came. I put on the leather coat – Daddy’s, Geoffrey’s big ‘cowboy hat’, and a pair of huge gumboots – commercial I think – and went flower scavenging – and came back with a good haul, too. We had dinner by candle-light – as the petrol lamp had lost both its mantles; at least one was gone and the other severely damaged – unfortunately they don’t repair. I found a very interesting magazine; it was Life – special issue on Christianity – contains fine paintings.

 

Sunday 11th October, 1959

We, Mum and I, went to Mass 10.30 am, at Belgrave. After, we met May Beck with Anita, Rosalind and Roger, (Gus is in Japan) and went up to Moondai together. It was still raining. Rosalind had been away to Rochester and had a real summer tan. They’ve both had their hair cut very short, it looks nice but I liked Ros’s a little longer. Although it rained much of the time we were able to play table-tennis on the veranda. At about 11.50 Ramp’s arrived. We all had lunch down at the barbecue. The food was delicious – French salads, potato salad – and, of course, the chops – which Trougot barbecued – were scrumptious. Herta had a gorgeous fruit pie, full of dried fruit and berries. After that, there was an abundance of cakes and soft drinks. You are quite free to have a complete meal and eat nothing of your own – other people’s cooking always has a special charm. After dinner we cleaned up and while the elders played table tennis we lounged in front of the fire, read some magazines and listened to the radio.

 

Tuesday 13th October, 1959

Ross’s Birthday. Didn’t even see him.

 

Sunday 18th October, 1959

Went to 8 am Mass. Didn’t see John. Never see John. It was ‘Children of Mary’ Sunday but we couldn’t have a meeting for Diane Morison wasn’t there and Masses go continually from 8 to 11 am. Pat Thompson rang soon before lunch and Mum invited them down for a barbecued lunch. Mr & Mrs, and Newton arrived about ½ an hour later. The smoke apparently attracted Baxters who came over soon after. Ross went to Hamilton this weekend for another athletic meeting. He told me on Thursday night he’d drive home Sunday morning but I waited for him in vain. Thompson’s and Baxters – Geoffrey and Joel, too, stayed for tea – which Pat, Chris and Mum made together. It was an Italian meal – spaghetti etc. etc. Afterwards they had a sing song party in the lounge. About 7.30 pm Ross appeared on the scene closely followed by some of his friends. I invited them in – all of them. Peculiar persons all! Ian and Peter came in for espresso coffee – my special. About an hour later they all came in and we had a second round of coffee.

 

Friday 6th November, 1959

I hope these Oct. tests are giving me an accurate idea of the Term Exams. We had one on English Literature today and also Miss Nightingale’s Art of Speech exam – written. One question was: write down 10 words ending in ‘rate’. I had that in the bag! Ooh … I hadn’t thought I would be going out anywhere tonight but I was wrong. As soon as I arrived home I changed and went out to finish selling the raffle tickets – £2 worth. I saved the last one for John Walker – it was a bit of a struggle selling it to him but eventually I won and he bought it. I saw Ross a few times as I went in and out of the houses. On the way home he went straight past me and I found out later that he’d just been around to our place for the third time and even then was out looking for me, poor boy, I’m sure he couldn’t have any rear-vision mirror. We thought we’d go to a turn at Marcia’s but Ross made it Cambridge. There we met Monty and Anne. Marcia’s was in darkness when we came home.

 

Saturday 7th November, 1959

BEAUMARIS BONFIRE, BARBECUE

It was a most beautiful day and the beach was crowded with people. I went to a quiet part I know and read – ‘The Anatomy of a Crime’ – not bad either, although I haven’t finished yet. About 5 o’clock I met Julie C. and her girlfriend Elizabeth Creber when I went round to the unquiet part of the beach. We walked up to see the beginnings of the barbecue celebrations – quite exciting. Thompson’s came for tea. Ross called at about 7.30 pm, and at ten to eight we had parked the car and were beginning to trek around. Soon we met Barry and Les and saw a lot more of them. John Rogers, Monty and Anne and Peter Russell were around also. We saw Jo Boland win the ‘Miss Barbecue’ title which was a thrill! The fireworks display we watched from the old wall – the display – we also had a few private ones, one of which went off in Ross’s hand and almost deafened me – a great whistle rang through my head. I didn’t meet half of the people I thought I would although they were all there, however we had a good time. Ross bought me a huge black life-like spider – they were quite popular. After walking around for long enough we drove down to the Mentone P.E.A. dance. Ross’s foot isn’t too bad now. After a terrible lot of driving people home and looking at crashes we finally arrived home – I did. We talked for a while she said -? goodnight!

 

Sunday 8th November, 1959

I thought we’d all be swimming today – for sure but the weather changed overnight and it just wasn’t a ‘beach day’. The fleet arrived about 2 pm. We – Rob Goode, Ian, Sue, Ross and I piled into two cars – us into Ross’s and started off for a cruise – it was a good day for cruising. After going for a terribly bumpy ride along the Sandringham Beach until we – in a Volkswagen – couldn’t go any further we turned round and headed in the general direction of home. However, we soon found ourselves having strawberry spiders – that’s a change! In Frankston, and, later we reached Mt Eliza, or Mornington. We came back by Wells Rd. I hadn’t been in the V.W. before and Ross showed me how well she could take it.

 

Friday 20th November, 1959

After all these years of hearing about Luna Park I finally had a look and feel of it myself. I’m beginning to think Ross’s a little extravagant; still he’s working in the M.S.D for a few weeks so I suppose he thinks he can afford to be. I think we must have gone on nearly everything. I told him he was taking me on the Big Dipper at his own risk, but he didn’t waver at my protestations and it proved to be quite enjoyable I thought – the second time round anyway. I’m sure if we hadn’t left it then I wouldn’t have wanted to for a long while. Just as we were going we met Rob Goode, Ian Clapperton and Sue & Carol Reynolds. We could have gone along with them but it was getting later and later so we didn‘t. I rang Mum just outside to tell her we were coming home. I still don’t think I’m quite un-giddied after it all. We then flung up the boot and cruised home. (Sketch of Ross).

 

Saturday 21st November, 1959

They say it is the hottest November in years and I can believe that, without persuasion. I rose early and went into the city. At Sandringham I met Anna Szabo, so we went in together. I bought rather a nice new skirt – permanently pleated, green. I went down to the M.S.D. to see if Ross was still there but he’d left. Soon after dinner I went over onto the beach and sat down on the sand with Jean Oliver and two of her girlfriends, Jenny and Donna. (OT’s) She didn’t know any more about Avila than I already know myself. Later Ross came down and we went for a swim. Today was the final day of the Canada Cup so we raced up to the Royal Melbourne to see the finish. When we arrived we saw that Australia had won but we saw Peter Thompson and Sam Snead and a few other ‘big names’ play off for the individual score. I also saw Mr Menzies and Sir … for the first time. It seemed too hot to go to dance so Clap and Carol came with us to the Frankston drive-in. We saw ‘Ring of Fury’ typically third rate American – full of expressionless painted blondes, lacking in just about everything else.

 

Friday 27th November, 1959

What a day! Hot and grey. It’s not that I don’t like this kind of weather so much as the laziness everywhere. There was a History exam for the girls who do History of Australasia and the Pacific, at nine o’clock and the Musical Appreciation in the afternoon. As I don’t do either subject it was just study, study and more study most of the day. Sr. M. Joseph and Sr. Stephen were kind enough to give us a lesson but they were the only breaks besides the lunch hour – or rather fifty minutes. After school I went for a swim with Julie C. Ross came down at about 8 o’clock and said if I’d like it he’d be back in three-quarters of an hour – when he’d put the gear box back in – then we’d go for a swim. I needed that ¾ of an hour for I still had my bathers on and was wet and salty. After going this way and then going that way we finally reached his house where I met Twig his little pek who is absolutely gorgeous and had a look through his Vaulting scrap book – pages of pictures and write-ups taken from different Australian papers all about himself with one or two exceptions. Later we went to Luna Park.

 

Saturday 28th November, 1959

The days are still very hot and grey. This morning I slept in until about 11 am – for the first time in months! And I needed it, too. Later I rode up to the supermarket and met Bill Beasley on the way. After dinner I went down to the ‘quiet’ side of the beach to study but soon after I arrived Sue Porter came along and we just talked. Later we went around to the right for she was going to teach me to paddle the surf board – John Wilkes’s. However, I met Ross and she went to talk to someone else. After a good swim, going up the ramp, Ross said: ‘Are you free tonight?’ I said no but later when he came round, for another try, I’d done a bit of study and felt like a run. We went over to Ormond R.S.L. It was terribly hot inside so we spent most of the time inside talking to an athletic friend of Ross’s. This bearded quantity – and what a quantity – in the capacity of a runner. Lindsay Coplin played. We left around 11 pm. Ross looked fantastic in his new fawn sweater.

 

Saturday 12th December, 1959

Poor Ross is carless! Luckily he has some friends who don’t mind driving him around. Geoff Bergin seems to have taken on the job of chauffeur-in-chief and called in with Ross at about two o’clock. I soon learnt that he was just on his way home from work. Apparently he’d called in to tell me not to go away because he’d be back later on. They returned about an hour later. I’d like to know who pays for the petrol for the car. (Which, incidentally he had owned for no more than two short hours.) The boy looked very fine today – he must have had a ‘buy up’ – new jumper, new strides, new desert boots – light fawn skin tone. We talked in the lounge for a while and then went for a walk along the beach and out to that marker, and back. After a strawberry malted at the wine café – he had a double – we walked home.

 

Sunday 13th December, 1959

Ross didn’t enjoy the ‘turn’ which turned out to be a school social. Geoffrey rose early and went to 8 am Mass for he was going to Philip Is. for the car races, but Mum & I went to 10 o’clock. Before the sermon one of the notices Father read out was about a Christmas Party & Dance to be held at the church by the Youth Club. I saw John but he didn’t seem to be interested in seeing me. I did not see Avila. Mrs Tudor stayed for lunch & was called for about 2.30 by her husband, both of whom just missed out on meeting Ross, who walked in the door just a few minutes later. After watching Len Lukey win the Gold Star for 1959 on Television, we tasted the air over on the cliff & then decided to return inside. (Geoff Bergin had driven him around) We sat upstairs in the sunroom and ‘cooked’ in the afternoon sun streaming in the windows and listened to the radio and did a certain amount of talking which we are rather good at.

 

Monday 14th December, 1959

It looks like we’re in for a good hot week. Well – there’s no harm in being optimistic, and it certainly was hot today. I rose at 11.5 am, made my own breakfast and then lay on the back lawn to let the sun go to work on my pale winterish skin. Although I stuck at it for several hours there doesn’t seem to be much of an improvement or rather any tonal changes, but I give it a week and if there’s no improvement I’ll just have to cancel this summer’s arrangements by the sea. Later I went down to the beach for a while but the wind changed and became cold & gusty so I came up. I changed into some decent clothes & went off on the bus to a five o’clock dentist’s appointment. Arriving home about an hour later I was just in time to meet a little boy who lives further along Beach Rd, who’d brought some cakes from his mother for Grandma. His name is Neville Carter.

 

Saturday 19th December, 1959

I was still worried about the party tonight so I went down to Mentone to wait for Les outside Hattam’s, where she’s working.

 

Monday 21 December, 1959

This evening – beginning at about 8.30 I made up for a rather wasted morning & afternoon. Ross came. In the ‘Singer’! I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw it – let alone drive in it. His side is still a little battered about and swings in the breeze but the passenger’s side is fine. We sat in the lounge for quite a while before he asked me to see it in its semi-repaired condition. Thinking that his ‘pals’ might still be at ‘Companionship’ we drove up to St Michael’s – however they were gone. But we did meet Rob Goode down at Mentone. He told us that he’d been ‘booked’ by a ‘copper’ on Saturday night, after Lesley’s party – while he was still dressed in his short white pants & Geoff’s blazer & cap. Worse than that, when they asked where he’d been he, very casually, without thinking (he was more concerned by the fine) said that he’d been to a dance! When we had arrived home & I was getting out of the car Ross said: ‘Oh, I’ve made a small addition to the Christmas tree. I hope you like it.’ I tossed him a few of the more usual remarks & asked him to wait while I sought it. I opened it in the car – they were gorgeous – beautiful black-rimmed POLAROIDS! I could have dropped. (St Anthony, please guard them for me!) I thanked him & I’m dying to buy him something nice. But what!

 

Friday 25th December, 1959

Christmas Day! Although the weather looked rather threatening I rode over to St Patrick’s in Mentone to Mass. (10 am) After Mass, I walked over to the cinder-track to see Ross.

Diary ends.