Australia was reborn post WWII, we had gone through our first 45 years of nationhood, more or less, as an appendage of Britain. We were "all" white, "all" male, "all" English and "all" to a man enjoyed a beer and the little woman's Sunday roast. There certainly were no social issues! Well if there were we did an excellent job of sweeping them under the carpet. Only a few minor hiccups over that period in the shape of WWI & II and The Great Depression to upset the apple cart, nothing too serious really (that one said tongue in cheek). Growing up pre war is very much in the hands of the historians now days, not too many remember, only a few remain who knew those times first hand.

Moving on, there are many who do remember what it was like in the new land of opportunity, post war Australia, with a landscape created by Victa lawn mowers and Hills hoists, but they were not in everyone's backyard. How was growing up in the New Australia of the 1950's and 60's or maybe earlier, or later, in your neighbourhood? The good, the bad and the ugly of those times, Here's a chance to tell others how it was (in your experience) growing up back in the day!

In 70s, Preston was a pretty rough area with a few areas that were especially tough, near Reservoir and Heidelberg.

Lot of tension between tech and high school, and some tension between anglo-celts and southern Europeans.

You either got involved in sport, or often hung around with the wrong crowd.

Unfortunately, I hung around the wrong crowd for excitement in early teens, at least until late 70s/early 80s when took up sport more seriously as a way of life.

Fun times, but a waste of time too

Hi Paul,

Thanks for this discussion.

My family came out to Australia in 1949.
As refugees. Displaced people who fled the
terror of the Soviet Regime.

Initially my father had to fulfill his two year work
contract. He worked wherever the government sent him.
From building roads, to cutting sugar-cane in
Queensland. They lived in camps and life was tough.
Language was a problem, especially for dad who spoke
several languages, English was not one of them.
However he learned quickly and learned to adapt and
fit in. Dad was liked at work. Hundreds turned up at
his funeral - he died of a massive coronary - at 52
years of age.

But they managed to work hard and eventually bought
a house. My grand-parents both died of illnesses.
They died in the DP camps. They never got to live in the
house that dad bought.

Dad believed in self-reliance. He worked two shifts in
a rubber factory to pay off the house. He also made sure that
his kids went on to higher education and got the job skills
necessary for their futures in this country. Our family life
was strong. And together we worked, studied hard and prospered.

growing up in the 60's and 70's in a Government house and without a family car for a long time was simple and yet satisfying. Many of my friends were 'wogs'. There was much bullying in schools and the only way to survive was to fight back or become good at sport. Unfortunately like today people who were different were often picked on. Italians and Greeks often had generations of people in their houses as they worked hard to get established. It was kind of good as a kid not having anything to do with politics. Personally I would not of known liberal from labour or conservative from 'progressive'. We were taught real history at school instead of the social engineering today with the gw myth and gender rubbish used to sexualise kids. I do however remember one Geography teacher who was convinced we were in for an ice age (as many did back then) and the hysterical nonsense with the ozone layer (groupthink of the day).

Shame was a big thing in those days. My father had been divorced and it was considered a terrible thing. Strange these days society is shameless. Sex with whomever and whatever, no value on wedding vows and the belief we are morally superior (virtue signallers) to others because we wear a blm badge. We left our homes open, cars unlocked (when we got one) and generally people were true to their word. Yeah overall Australia was a great place in the 60's 70's and 80's.

Foxy,

And look where you ended up: arguing with us on OLO.

runner,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but WE ARE STILL IN THE ICE AGE.

I think that's what your geography teacher was trying ti tell you.

You really do need to get out more often.