I am in Cowra.  My route from Canberra took me via Yass and Boorowa.  Boorowa is small town north of Canberra.  Being there reminded me of the wedding between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer back in July 1981.

In 1981, I was working in the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).   My Team’s major client was the Department of Defence.  We were located at the Defence offices in Campbell Park.  Given the size of Defence there was an ANAO Team working in the same building and we were collocated in the same area.  Albeit we worked in different area of the client the two ANAO interacted  and socialised a bit, over lunch and after work drinks etc.

One of the members of the other Team was a bloke from Adelaide.  He was a little different.  Longer term members  of my team had given him the nickname of ‘Frighteners’.  This was in the same vein as calling someone with red hair, ‘Bluey’.  Frighteners was a huge fan of the Royal Family. He was obsessed with the forthcoming wedding between Lady Di and Charles.

One of the members my Team was a bloke, Paul, who played Rugby League in the Group 8 competition.  Group 8 included teams  from Canberra and the surrounding country towns including Yass and Goulburn.  These country towns drew some of their players from smaller country towns such as Boorowa.

One feature of Australia country life is the annual Bachelor’s’ and Spinsters’ Balls (B&S Balls).  As the name implies these are for unmarried men and women.  In the 1970’s and 80’ these Balls were very popular.  Virtually every country town had an annual B&S Ball.  A really good one was the Cooma Ball.  I went to couple of those with the girl the unusual name that I mentioned in previous post.

The above mentioned bloke Paul was a great fan of the B&S Balls.  As a result of playing in the Group 8 competition, he had made a large number of contacts in the various country towns and was a regular at all the B&S’s in the district.

As   few readers may know that Lady Di’s mother Frances divorced her father when she was young.  She married a man by the name of Peter Shand Kydd who owned a property near Yass.

In the months leading up to the wedding rumours circulated Canberra that the young Diana Spencer was a regular visitor to the Yass district.

I can recall the impeding Royal Wedding was the subject of a fair amount of discussion among female members of the two ANAO teams at Defence.  The above mentioned Frighteners was also a keen participant in the discussions.

I can recall a particular conservation which discussed whether Lady Diana was virgin.  I can  recall ‘Frighteners’ made the comment along the lines that: “of course she was, she is pure and the Royal Family would have checked out her past”.

I remember Paul was half listening to the conversation without saying anything until the virginity issue was discussed.  He made the comment: I assume you are talking about the blonde Shelia that’s marrying Prince Charles.  Someone  said “yes”.  Paul then went on to say that that: “it was very unlikely she was a virgin.  She was at the Boorowa B&S a couple years ago.   She was ‘hit on’ by a bloke called Xxxxx (I can’t remember the name) who played for the Yass Magpies”.  Before the end of the Ball he took her into his Shagging Wagon”.  Shaggin Wagon was a Holden Panel Van with double mattress..

For most Australians, certain activities are assumed to take place in a Shagging Wagon, particularly during or after an event like a B&S Ball.

I note that the internet is not full of reference s to Diana Spencer being in Boorowa.  When I was in the Boorowa Pub I asked about the possibility of her  being at the B&S Ball.  The locals confirmed it was highly likely.  I am not sure about Paul’s version of events though.

B&S Balls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_and_Spinster_Ball

I have decided to ride back to Sydney.  This will enable me to sort some stuff following the property settlement and plan my next moves.

As I left my host’s place in South Canberra, he and his wife were so pleased they took a number of photographs of me heading down their drive way.

My route north took me around Lake Burley Griffin.  I came across a large number school age kids on the path.  I asked one group if there was some sort of event.  They told me that it was the Canberra High ‘Walk at Thong’.  Canberra High is my old secondary school.  I thought if the students are all out walking, this is may be an opportunity to check the old place out.

The  route to the school took me past a townhouse I owned in from 1980 until I left Canberra to move to Sydney.  It was interesting to see the place again after all those years.  I have good memories of being in that house.

The old school is a short distance from my old house.  I started at Canberra High when it was located in Acton.  Acton is next to the city centre known as Civic.  The school was founded in 1938 and serviced the inner city suburbs.  A decision was made that Canberra High would be relocated from the city to the newly developing suburbs in Belconnen.  My form was the last to start at the old school.  The move was made in 1969.  The old school buildings are now the School of Art.  The Conservatorium of Music, which is now part of the Australian National University, was built on our old school oval.

Given that we lived in the inner part of the city we had to be bussed to the’ far flung’ suburb of Macquarie.  I am sure that for most of us this was a unique experience, given that for all of our lives we had walked, or ridden bikes, to school.

Probably one of the biggest changes was being exposed children from big cities. The old Turner/O’Connor gang had been brought up in the Inner North of Canberra.  It was essentially a small town.  Most of the residents of Belconnen were imports from Melbourne.  These were street wise kids from the ‘big smoke’.  It took a number of years before the gang  from the ‘old Canberra High’ and the ‘rest ‘really merged.  This merger really started in forms 5 and 6 when we all started going to parties.  I got to know a great looking girl from Box Hill in Melbourne.  She is giving me advice on what may become my new career.

I can still recall the day that one of my mates was casting his eye over the new arrived student in 4th Form.  He had learned that one very attractive girl was called Beth.  He announced to the group around him that he “was going to marry that Beth Chick”.  He did and they are still married.

As I walked around the school I came across the bloke who looked after the maintenance of the building.  He asked what I was doing there and we had a bit of a chat.  I told him that as well as being a former student, my other connection to the  place was that my father’s company had installed the heating in the buildings.  The bloke told me that heating was not a problem for him.  However, he did say that the roof was a nightmare. It is in desperate  need of replacement, but the government will only do repairs.

My route out of Canberra took me through the suburb of Kaleen.  This suburb was developed in the late 1970’s.  A number of my friends married shortly after leaving school and bought houses in Kaleen and nearby suburbs.  Today it is difficult to imagine 21 to 23 year old couples, on single incomes and with the children, buying houses.

One disappointing aspect of Kaleen and other suburbs in Canberra today, is the state of the houses and gardens.  It would appear that there are fewer people that have the time or the inclination to look after their 3 to 4 bedroom houses on large blocks of land.  Many would obviously prefer to live in higher density housing with less maintenance.  The gardens in many of the houses in all Canberra suburbs have been left to rack and ruin.

My host in Canberra is an old school mate.  He and I are part of small group, some of whom, go back to pre-school.  Others in the group became friends in Infants and Primary School.

My host’s wife has kept all of their family photographs.  They are filed and recorded, archive style.  She also managed to retrieve and file photographs of his pre –marriage days   These include photographs from Primary School.

Looking over the old photographs has led me to reflect on our early school years and our school friends.  Our school serviced the inner Canberra suburbs of Turner, O’Connor and Acton.  Like most of Canberra, the demographics of these suburbs was mixed.  The occupations of the children in the school included; public servants of all levels, professionals, tradesmen and clergymen  etc.

The children in our classes came from families with parents from a typically wide range of occupations.  These include: the Medical Head of Canberra Hospital, a leading Economics Professor, Plumbers (me and at least one other), a Quantity Surveyor, leading Scientists, a House Painter, a successful Artistic Painter, and low, middle and high level Public Servants.   Also, included in the classes were children from single parent families where their fathers had tragically died at young age.  The income levels of the families were also varied.  This variation was not as wide as it probably is today.  However, the variation was significant.

What I think was really important was that, irrespective of our family backgrounds and the incomes of our families, all of the children were in the classes based on their abilities.  Everyone was given an equal chance to succeed.  The mixture of the backgrounds of the children provided each child the opportunity to experience social contact across very different families.  This is one of the great advantages of the Public School system.

I have had the opportunity to see the experiences of my daughter and stepsons at one the most expensive Private Schools in Sydney.  The cost would put them among the most expensive schools on the planet.  As would be expected the students at that school are typically drawn from families that are well off.  While the range of incomes is broad, all the families would have above average incomes.  Some of the families have extremely high incomes, putting them among the richest families in Australia.

Attendance in Public Schools has been on the decline across Australia.  I understand that this trend has also occurred in Canberra.  Critics of this trend point to the development of a ‘two tiered’ system.  The Private Schools are being very well resourced and the Public Schools are being slowly starved of funds.  A dichotomy is also developing in backgrounds of children that are attending the schools.  Children of the Private Schools come from the higher income earning families and the children from the Public Schools from the lower income families.   The two groups rarely mix.

It also appears that the advantages conferred on the children from the Private Schools extend to their career outcomes later in life.  Conversely, the disadvantages conferred on the children of the Public Schools extend into their lives, irrespective of their abilities. I believe that our nation is poorer as a result this development.

One bloke that does not appear in the photographs below is trying to address this problem.  He was in the year below us, but played in the same cricket and rugby teams as us. He has received a bit of publicity recently following the announcement that he will be gifting $A50 million to the Australian National University.  This money will be used to provide scholarships the talented students.  Let’s hope that 7 to 10 years’ time, children from Turner Primary win some of those scholarships.

Flickr Photos

Turner Primary 1964 – 67

https://flic.kr/s/aHskMbvJpJ

I have taken the opportunity to do some stuff that Canberra has to offer.

Yesterday afternoon I rode to the National Arboretum.  The Arboretum has been established in area of former pine forest that was devastated in the 2003 fires.  I was very familiar with the pine forest in my trail bike riding years in the mid and late seventies.

After the fires, ACT Government decided to develop the site as an Arboretum.  The plan for the site includes: “permanent gardens, outdoor sculptures, cafeteria, visitor centre, hotel, bonsai display, children’s garden and playground, reflective pool, pavilion and a spacious outdoor events space”.

“An expert panel selected the tree species for the from the United Nations’ ‘Redlist’ which is an international listing of all trees with an endangered conservation status. From that list only trees that could cope with Canberra’s extreme climate were chosen”.

As you would expect, the idea of spending public money on such a thing as an Arboretum drew a great deal of criticism from certain quarters.  Nevertheless, its establishment has progressed; the landscaping, has been completed, the key buildings constructed and trees have been planted.  Of course it will be years before the trees grow to their full size.  However, even at this early stage the place is fantastic.  The views from the highest point are spectacular.  On a beautiful autumn day hundreds were drawn to see the site.

My ride took me on the bike path that circumnavigates Lake Burley Griffin.  Canberra’s bike paths were originally designed for just recreational use.  The network has now been extend to include paths specifically for commuters.   Judging by the numbers of both recreational riders and commuters the investment in the network is money well spent.

In the evening I went to the Bumbies v Bulls  Rugby Union game at the Canberra Stadium.   In previous posts I have talked about the Brumbies and the Raiders Rugby League Team.   It is great that a city of Canberra size can support two teams in the national competitions.  The Brumbies are going really well his year.  They had thrilling last minute win over the Bulls last night.

On our way to the stadium, my host and I passed a distinctive 1964 EH Holden.  My host  recognised the car as being one owned by the mother of a school mate of ours.  This bloke  only has his mother’s old car, but seven other old Holdens that he is restoring on his property just outside of Canberra.  This is an interesting retirement project given his former career.

The car restorer is the nephew of Ken Catchpole the great Australian half back of the sixties.  They say sporting ability runs in the genes.  Our mate was, not surprisingly, a very handy Union and League player, and pretty good at Aussie rules.  He has also a very good cricketer.  I will probably post about that later.

With the aid of a mobile phone call we able to meet up after game.  The car restorer was with his younger sister who I haven’t seen for over 35 years.  Yet another case of how surprising little, people change with the years.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/360/arboretum/4404976

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/290928273#.UVdzRMlb6ko.facebook

I find myself back in Canberra.  I had to return to Sydney last weekend  to attend a hearing in the Family Court  on  Monday   One day I may post about that.

Anyway, I am now in position to make some decisions.  The first of these is whether to continue on my ride down the Murray River.  Another is when, and by which route, I will return to London.

In the meantime, I will be in Canberra for a few more days.  This is notwithstanding my host in Balmain is providing advice to my host in Canberra as to best method of getting rid of me.  He seems to think one of his part-time retirement jobs includes being a pest eradication consultant.

On a more serious and sad note, a friend from Melbourne, I saw here a couple of weeks ago is not happy.  He competed in the Capital Punishment Mountain Bike race.  After going really well for over 80 klms he fell badly on a difficult part of the course.  He broke his hip and had to undergo surgery to have pins inserted.   There have been further complications following the surgery.  Not good, but it appears he will be better soon.

On  Sunday night I had dinner with an old mate, his wife, son number two and his delightful wife.

My mate has been mentioned in other posts and has been a friend since pre-school.  He is now the media adviser to a senior federal politician.  On Sunday afternoon, he had travelled from his home to to nearby suburb of Northbridge.  There were celebrations for some anniversary- 100 years since something (I can’t find any reference of it on the internet).

Anyway, there were a number of sporting events on the on the oval adjacent to the golf course.  I lived in Northbridge for a year nearly twenty years ago and remember the golf course and the oval well.

My mates’ boss, the senior Federal politician was invited to give out prizes to the winners of the sporting events that were staged as part of the celebrations.  Others at the proceedings included prominent residents of the suburb.  These included Laurie Daley (former Canberra Raiders, NSW and Australian Kangaroos, Rugby League legend) and Bob Hawke the former Labor Australian Prime Minister.

My mate reported that his boss engaged in long conversations with the above mentioned residents.  It was clearly apparent that my mate’s boss has  a great deal of respect for Mr Hawke.

In the context of the event of last week in Canberra and the apparent poisonous nature of politics generally, it gratifying that sort of incident occurs.

Of course everyone likes and respects Daley ,even dyed in the wool Queenslanders.  I think we all should give the same respect to great politicians irrespective of their parties.

After dinner we watched the final 20 minutes of the Raiders beating the St George Dragons.

Great meal, great company and conversation.

I am back in Sydney.  This is not part of my plan.

Today I had lunch at the Lord Nelson, a brewery pub I have been going to for years.

I am reminded of an incident that I observed in the pub a couple of years ago.

A rather large bloke  approached the bar.  In a booming American accent he asked “ do you serve Bud? (assume that to mean  Budweiser Beer).  The barman replied, “no we make our own beer here”.  The American then asked: “do you make anything that tastes like Bud?”.   The barman responded: “ no, but the pub down the road might.  I know their cat died, but I am pretty sure they got another one”.

Other patrons that heard this conversation serious pissed themselves laughing.

The American did not appear to get the joke and left the Lord Nelson without trying their excellent brews.

My last post was about my most recent Friday Night Drinks Venues.  I have been thinking about this great institution in earlier years.

The Jamo and the Uni Bars and Refectories

My first experience of Friday Night drinks was just after I let school in Canberra.  Our favourite watering hole was the Jamison Inn (the Jamo).  On reflection, the reason we probably like it was that be knew nothing else.  The Jamo was a really basic pub, in the then newly developed suburb of Macquarie.  Put simply it had what we wanted, beer and pool tables.

In the 70’s, Australia had fairly restrictive liquor laws.  Pubs and other venues serving alcohol had to close at 10.00 p.m.   The only way that venues could stay open was to provide musical entertainment and food.  A consequence of this policy was that that venues, including pubs , clubs and university refectories had incentive to  stage concerts and dances with live music. The Canberra venues were no exception.

During the mid to late 70’s we be treated to a feast of great live music at the university refectories , the various clubs (e.g. the Finnish Club, West Rugby Union) and the pubs like the Jamo.  These and other venues around the country, provide bands with a full-time living.   These bands included: Sherbert, Skyhooks, Mental As Anything, Dragon, Spectrum, Daddy Cool, Spit Enz and ACDC.  In later years you could add bands like Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil.  It was a great period of Australian music.  At the time I don’t think we realised how lucky we were.

Some of the more notable concerts I can remember of that era included seeing Split Enz at the Finnish Club which was opposite the Jamo.  I think Neil Finn must have been well and truly under the legal drinking age.   They were very  different to say the least, but even that early age it was clear that they would go a long way. Another great night was seeing Daddy Cool at the Jamo.

Getting back the Friday Night thing, the drinking crowd was essentially old primary and high school friends and their partners.  Then as, now the subjects of conversation included: sport, politics, and the personal lives of all in sundry. How little things change.

The National Press Club

On this day of great turmoil in Canberra, leads me to recall another Friday Night Drinking Venue.  That venue was the National Press Club.  The reason we drank at the Club was that one of your group was a member.  This bloke has started his journalistic career as a cameraman with Channel 7.  He quickly moved on to move into radio and TV.  He had a long and distinguished career in ‘free to air’ and pay TV.  On this day he is the media advisor to a senior politician.   I was planning to travel with him to Sydney this evening.  As a result of the events of the day this has not occurred.  I will be taking the mid-day train to Sydney tomorrow.

I have found myself having to interrupt my ride through the Australian Bush yet again.  Unfortunately it is not due to having to attend a job interview, still no luck on that front.   I have to return to Sydney to attend to matters related to my property settlement.

This return to Sydney will enable me enjoy a Friday Night Beer at the GPO Bar, 1 Martin Place.  I have been having a Friday Night Beer ever since I was legally able to drink coming up to 40 years ago.  This milestone has led me to reflect on some those locations and the importance of the great institution which is the Friday Night Beer.

The most used venue for my Friday Beers in recent times has been the GPO Bar at 1 Martin Place in Sydney.  As the name suggests the bar is in what was the General Post Office.  The building is classic sandstone structure that was completed in 1891.  It was converted into a hotel in 1996.  Unlike many ‘façade’ developments, this one is really well done.

The GPO Bar is ideal for old coots like me and my fellow Friday Night Drinkers.  It doesn’t  get too crowded, the music (if played) is low in volume, and the food in the adjacent food court is good quality.  It also has TV screens showing the ruby union and league in autumn and winter and the cricket in summer.  It also attracts the younger crowd, resulting plenty of eye candy.

My drinking mates are drawn from a tight demographic; former Australian National Audit Office staff, their school mates and bloke I went to pre-school with.   With the exception my Balmain host, we are all about the same age.  My Balmain host is very old, but (despite broken neck and back injuries) is increasing active.

Notwithstanding the venue has been known and accepted by all for over a decade, it has to be discussed every Friday afternoon.  This is now done via e mail.  Usually around 2.00 p.m. an e mail is sent by someone to confirm that a “beer is on”.  A chain of e mails then discusses if it should be at the GPO or an alternative location (say to the Opera Bar on the harbour).  This communication goes on until around 6.00 p.m. In 98% of occasions it is agreed that the GPO Bar will be the venue.  For reasons no one knows, a key member of the group can only arrive at 6.15 p.m., not minute before.  I think we all agree, WTF, was all the e mailing about.

The conversations over the beers rarely stray from the following subjects: sport, politics, economics, the state on certain members love (in the broadest sense of the word) life, and when the remaining working members of the group will retire.

A key issue of discussion is; who of the young, and not so young, female patrons should be given the Best in Bar award?  Towards the end of the evening this very important decision is usually an issue of serious debate.  On many occasions it is necessary to award winners in various categories.

Usually at around 9.00 p.m. we all head off. Most go straight home,  some don’t go straight home.

I think we all agree that Friday Night Drinks are an essential component of a happy life.