John William Blythe

Story

I remember that as Dad preceded us, and as he was directly involved in the East Newborough development, he was able to ‘ear mark’ our house (21 Childers Street (and also acquire some basic furnishings in that three months). He also realised how necessary a refrigerator would be so we did not as other arrivals, have to make do with an ice chest, we had the luxury of a frig. I believe one had to order one in advance, no such things as buying such a basic virtually off the showroom floor! We also did not have to temporarily move into the camp-huts accommodation as others did. We were spoiled in that regard, but still felt like pioneers Ð no made roads or footpaths, no fences, and an outside dunny! Main drainage pipes had been delivered and rested on the roadside, one woke to hear the kangaroos coming down from their bush habitat, dodging the new obstacles. The water mains were being constantly disrupted, sometimes without warning, and when re connected pure mud came out of the taps! We very quickly learned to fill the bath in anticipation, allowing the water to settle as it was far from clear. I remember using two glass carboys (gallon jars) tied onto handlebars of a bike (?Dads) and getting them filled from a rainwater tank at the Gilchrist\’s place in Newborough. I also remember using that same bike (Dad had acquired a motor bike) to take his lunch to where he and Peter McDermott were building somebody\’s new house in Newborough, ours was on the backburner, our block on Shanahan Parade we were clearing in preparation. Building materials were in very short supply at that time, even the new house we had moved into was pre fabricated and imported from Sweden, I believe.

Our personal belongings were held up owing to dockside strikes, and as a result the only wardrobe we had were winter things. My own fairly new school uniform had to be worn (in spite of being bottle green instead of the local colour being navy blue) AND above knee length that was usual in England. I really felt marked out, when a school mate suggested giving my feet a party and inviting my skirts down.

Transport for school was erratic, semi articulated ‘cattle trucks\’ were on the school run, starting from Erica, stopping at various places on the way and then in Moe, Newborough and the last stop was ours, by which time there was little if any standing room left. Many times we walked over the hill to Yallourn, arriving at morning recess time, reporting (and complaining) to the Principal. The school population doubled in those two years I believe. The over crowding was only relieved by building the new High School in Moe. A lot of classes had to be held in demountables, disused army huts, even the RSL hall.

The local grocers (Purvis) used to call weekly for the order which was delivered the next day Ð a novelty after standing in queues and producing ration books! Milk was delivered to our door step where it was ladled out of large churns into our billy cans. Bread was delivered daily, as I believe was the norm, but it was certainly a change to us. It would have made the housewives\’ lot easier. Meat and vegetables had to be bought in Yallourn and brought home by bus, so was usually a weekly trip.

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