Thank you, Lexi, OUG is spot-on ;)

Yeah, I remember, when I was a kid and our mum was trying to keep one step ahead of our dad, we must have gone to a dozen schools, and all on our own, by public transport. When I was seven and my brother was five, we would catch the bus from Chullora to Strathfield railway station, get the train to Homebush, and get the bus from there to Homebush Infant School. And back again. Well, for a few weeks, until we had to move school again. To Gymea Bay. Then Chester Hill. Then Penrith.

And in those days, every single person we saw would have been European, usually Anglo. It's a different, and in many ways a better, world now. I don't live in that area now, so I really wouldn't know for sure. But every social change carries problems with it, and social differentiation may be far greater now than then.

But this is now, that was then. Different dynamics, different world, different issues.

Love and best wishes,

Joe

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

I remember Summer Sundays, starting out early with
the entire family by public transport to Circular Quay
and catching the Manly ferry and heading for the beach.
Spending all day at Manly and coming home late afternoon
burnt to a crisp - but every so proud sporting a different
colour on Monday morning to show off with. That was the life.
Spring-rolls for lunch was another highlight at Manly as
was the ferry-ride there and back.

Strathfield station I used to know like the palm of my hand.
I'd change trains there for Ashfield. My second job was at
Ashfield. I'd like to go back for a visit sometime in the
future and see how Parramatta and the entire surrounding area
has changed. People tell me I won't recognise it. But I'd
like to see for myself.

Again, Thanks Joe, for being a part of this discussion.

Take care.

Lexi
You forgot the Fun Pier and Aquarium at Manly wharf and Luna Park on the ocean beach side. My uncle was an Olympic swimmer and Captain of the North Steyne SLSC (same name as the ferry that took you there)and my grandmother was fiery red headed green eyed taskmaster who amassed a fortune letting pokey rooms in Redfern to drunks and derelicts for 10 shillings a week cash and build a mansion overlooking to ocean up on the hill where us kids could only go to be taught by her private tutors while the adults pissed up on the lawns.

Dear Chris,

Welcome back.

And, Thanks for sharing.

How could I have forgotten the Fun Pier, the Aquarium, and
Luna Park - Manly wharf holds so many happy memories for
me. Did you know that I'm green-eyed (although they do
change colour with my moods) and a red-head as well?
You must have had one heck of a childhood and your family
certainly sounds interesting. Manly ferries were such a joy.
I loved the trips there abd back - sun-tanned, windblown,
the incredible sights of the ocean, blue-skies - sheer
magic for a little kid. The beautiful harbourside homes
seemed like a different world - a great escape - if only
from a distance, but one could dream. And where would life
be without our dreams?

Once again, Thank You for contributing to this
discussion.

Lexi,
A little secret. When I was twelve my younger brother and I stole a Manly Ferry from the Blues Point Jetty. I was in the steering house and he was in the engine room (steam). He turned some wheel and the thing took off breaking the huge mooring ropes. Together we manager to turn the thing to head up the harbor towards the heads under the bridge.
The water police caught up with us, boarded and took control and we got the hiding of our lives. I lived above Luna Park and my bedroom window looked out over the Big Dipper. My girlfriends father was the caretaker of Luna Park so I always had rolls of ride tickets.
I used to train in the Olympic Pool (32 laps, a mile) every morning and afternoon usually with Jon and Ilsa Conrads, Judy Joy Davies and Dawn Frazer. I swam in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics but got knocked out in the heats. No drugs then.

Chris,

i was in love with Ilse Conrads, like most of the boys in my school, I'm sure. God, she was gorgeous. How's she doing ?

Joe