Thanks foxy

Have a nice weekend

Dear Shadow Minister,

You too.

Take care.
Stay safe.

Dear Foxy,

For some of us, the topic of our fathers can be a bit touchy. I have only one memory of my father, from when I was maybe six. He really had a bastard of a life: from what I can piece together, his parents were rural workers from Gulgong who moved into Redfern around 1900; a baby sister fell into the copper and was scalded to death, and it seems his mother abandoned her kids after that. So did his father.

I think he might have been raised by his elderly Irish grandmother and her brother who got him a job in the NSW Railways. So from around 1925 up to 1954 or so, he was a fireman, a stoker. During the War, he was on the train transporting armaments from Sydney to Brisbane. I think he became an engine-driver around 1954. Of course, what with one thing and another, he was a heavy drinker. According to Ancestry.com, he died around 1994 at Laurieton.

That was about it. My step-father was very different, a very quiet, gentle bloke, never drank or smoked or even swore (except, when we were driving from NSW up to Darwin through Queensland buill-dust and the gear-box went, in between Cloncurry and Mt Isa, he did say under his breath, 'Bugger.' Fortunately, within minutes, a prospector appeared magically from over the hill and towed us into Mt Isa - of course, we didn't say anything to him in case he vanished.)

But our mum was the rock. I don't think she ever said that she loved us but we knew of course. Those were different times.

Fond regards,

Joe

Dear Joe,

Thank You so much for sharing your story.

I can't even begin to imagine the difficult times
of your early life and what you must have faced
as a child - or for that matter, the hardships that
your father faced as well as the demons. Yet look at you
today - and the wonderful human being you've turned out to
be. Your mother must have been a strong woman - for your
turning out so well.

I didn't realize that this was going to be a touchy subject.
But I do appreciate your willingness to share with us
despite that.

Thank You.

Take care.

Dear Joe,

Do you remember much about Parramatta growing up in
Sydney?

Did you ever happen to visit the old pub opposite
Parramatta railway station? I can't recall its
name but it's where my father used to play snooker
after work. I tried to get a hold of a picture -
but I think it's been demolished. Parramatta today
is totally different.

Dear Foxy,

It's strange but I don't recall ever going to Parramatta - Strathfield and Homebush, but mainly Bankstown in early childhood, especially to the pictures on Saturdays. In any case, I would have been a bit too young to play snooker ;)

Love,

Joe