David Wilson

From the past

“I was the first to pubertise, but didn’t quite know what to do about it (and still don't)"

17/7/04 from David Wilson

Getting there and back

So much time of our school lives was spent travelling. Much has already been said about the notorious bus trip Gordon to West Pymble and the shenanigans in the back seat. I must admit that I too learned a little about the female anatomy. Not that it did me much good! It fact it horrified me. One of the drivers was Bluey. Another Harry? We would engulf the bus, much to the alarm of other passengers.  My guess is that the 1960 pioneers were drawn from the following areas: A few from Artarmon, Chatswood and southern rail stations. A lot from Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra (40%?). About 15% from the Normanhurst line. About 25% local (Hornsby, Asquith) and only a handful from the north (Mt Colah etc).  As we were so widespread, rail was the main form of transport. (Very few parents dropped their little darling at the school gates in their Landrovers). I can't remember many riding bikes to school.

Prefects were supposed to enforce the school discipline all the way to the home. Some were more officious than others. Some even were seen having a furtive puff or two. Believe me, it wasn't easy being a prefect, especially when one had a Marlboro urge. The AGHS girls were restricted to the front 4 carriages and the ABHS boys to the last 4.   There was a prefect "buffer".  Our school sport zone extended to Ashfield pool. (Or further?) To get to a water polo match we had to "leave early".

We had "Globite" school cases which cluttered up the bus and train aisles. (A very successful marketing manager in Globite!) This was strange to someone like me originally coming from Adelaide, as there only girls had "cases". Boys had "kitbags" like Alan Bruce (from Adelaide) kept bringing to school. The Globites were handy to sit on during boring assemblies. Or to throw at a tormentor. Or to squash Knox straw boaters.

Trains and buses always seemed to run on time in those days?

17/7/04 from David Wilson

From boyhood to manhood 

Compared to today, the mores in the early 60's were somewhat stiff!  Remember the "Fathers and Sons" nights?  I suspect they were put on by the Cof E.  Biology lessons were restricted to birds and bees and frogs. The most popular book in the Library was in the Reference section: the encyclopedia volume "R". The page with "Reproduction" with a larger than average penis diagram was so well worn that the librarian (who was it?)   actually had to laminate the page. Ironically most sexual activity occurred in the grounds of a Church Social. Ah ... bench seats in cars. Especially at the Drive-In. Kids today don't know what they are missing out on.  But not a shred of support structure for anyone coming to the realisation that they might be gay. (Which had a different meaning in those days).

18/7/04 from David Wilson

Speaking of church socials, I recall the first school dance, when the "ladies" were invited from AGHS, and a posse of teachers was conscripted to keep us apart outside the assembly hall, or to track down glowing cigarettes. (Does anyone recall any drug taking in them days?) We had some say in the choice of the "orchestra" (that's what Merv called it) - a three piece rock band modelled on The Atlantics - was it "The Huntsmen"?  Everything  had to finish at 11pm and the last dances were s-l-o-w (difficult for a rock band) and we all pashed madly. Parents waited outside to whisk away their virginal daughters. 

I met Dick Coates in Kenya in about 1983 as he was on leave from Mali. What did we tease him with in 1960? "Got a rubber on ya, Dick?"  Oh, how scintillating was our wit!

24/7/04 from David Wilson

Re Fashion

• Some reference was made to the "pegged" ties (I'm looking at the 5b photo and Warwick Werner seems to be wearing a shoelace). We also pegged our pants. Or our perplexed mother's did.

• So tight were the jeans. And there was only one brand/style - and three colours: blue, black or white. Some wore moleskins to socials.

• T-Shirts were underwear. Chesty Bond athletics came also in blue - but not very popular in the leafy North Shore. Bonds briefs, boxers, or the new raunchy jockettes - take your pick. (Some wore speedos as underpants). Not a Calvin Klein in sight. Patsy and Edwina would have been lost with the absence of labels "names, names, names..." I must admit I am lost today with all the labels!

• Our grey suits varied in colour according to the quality. Considerable variation indicated a range of parental incomes. Lapels widths, no of buttons, changed as fast as the different models of Holdens and Fords coming out every year. Then the green blazer was introduced. And the grey hat. Only Alex Wardrop wore a hat? And Peter Grey? Coming back from holidays was always a hoot - not only to see what clothes we'd convinced our parents to buy for us, but also to marvel how much we'd grown!

• Ian Alwill was always sartorial. He introduced us to the new "windsor knot". Always had shiny pointed shoes (we used to heat up the Kiwi polish to liquify it - it made a better shine!). How come I now clean my black shoes only monthly , when they needed to be cleaned daily when I was at school? And Ian dared to wear white shirts.

• There were knitted ties. Black was in. Especially socks. Yes.. who was the fluoro sock king? 3 pip pocket handkerchiefs sewn onto a piece of cardboard. Cardigans were out - except Johnny Machon didn't think so.

• String T-shirts. Jock straps. Bullworkers for those who perceived themselves as puny. (I had one).

• Peter Rigg would inspect our shoes, hands and fingernails. I think he was a frustrated marine sergeant in another life.

• Brothel creepers (shoes, please!) John Machon again? John used to comb his hair a lot. Duffel coats. Duffel bags.

• Looking at the old photos up until 1964, the hairstyles remained quite conservative despite the onset of the Beatles. Few wore hair oil (Brylcream or Californian Poppy) although guys a few years older than us often did. I don't think anyone wore deodorant, except Goldie. Aftershave, for those hirsute enough, was only Old Spice - and a lot of it!

• Allballs posted: "testosterone ++... and that's what probably drove some of us to be sure to have the evident ring of a condom showing through the leather of the wallet in the back pocket the other side of the bus pass pocket..... proof positive that we were ready and able...." So true. I recall when five of us were in an Bernie's brother's black FJ roaring to Bilgola baby (hey! Ward 'Pally' Austin) doing the "ton", everyone proudly produced such evidence of their virilty. Except me. When challenged I thought quick and said "I've used up all of mine!"

• Hitching to the beach was easy in those days. It was a necessity! Else you'd go to the Roseville baths or North Sydney Olympic Pool.

• A common birthday present was a 45rpm record costing 10 bob from Tarantella's at Gordon. Or an LP costing a guinea? Bill Whitting gave me Lonnie Dinnigan's "Does your chewing gum lose its flavour on the bedpost overnight?" Thanks, Bill.

• Now, who said "Hidy Hody evry Bode-y" (Bob Rogers?)

• Any large international act had to appear at the Stadium. Chequers. Les Girls. To have a late licence nightclubs were forced to provide food that no-one ate like spag-bol.

• Can anyone name a decent restaurant on the whole North Shore other than than the new Chinese joint that went up next to Farmers in Gordon? Pizza? What was that?

• The drinking schools at the Greengate. Shouting up to 20 others (not cheap!) and you can leave only after you had shouted (ie you had to buy your way out - to the taunts of "What are ya? Weak as piss!" Then trying to drive home along the narrow and windy Pacific Highway that had "silent cops" (for right angle turns) at every intersection.

Enough already.