On each migrant intake the new were housed. Those previous who stayed
and survived the hard times and prospered could see despair in the eyes of
those about to embark on the same journey. As it turned out most reached their
desired goal of obtaining a better quality of life, but there were those
dysphoric few who took the opportunity to return to England in the
timeframe given, and sadly what went with them was a degree of pretence,
crushing remarks to dissimilate truths about Australian living. It was those people and people like them who
added the burden of gossip surrounding spiders, snakes, heat and the like;
hence born came the ‘whinging Pom’.
People, such as the Scotsdon family, who stayed and battled through the
hard time’s were now able to afford cars and social excursions. Although few
could afford new or late model cars, the freedom of travel promoted picnics,
scenic tours, and the ability to venture from the local bus routes; they could
take trips outside of normal day to day vista. Ted brought home a run-down,
dilapidated ‘Austin’ by way of Mr Sharp who was generous enough to offer to tow
it back to the ‘Hostel’ with his upmarket ‘Holden’. It was dark green with two
doors, a loose mudguard and a tattered canvas roof. He was given it due to its
inoperability; it looked as though it never worked and never would. Although
the shell fronted as quite reasonable, the back seat had parts of an engine and
gearbox scattered from door to door and when the bonnet was forced open it did
not take a mechanic to notice the whole engine had been misplaced. But
considering the zero cost he was ecstatic with the donation and spent countless
weeks rummaging for parts and applying his mechanical knowledge in the repair
and restoration of the motor until he succeeded in attaining a dependable
running order. Many countless hours were fagged with sweat before and after
roadworthiness in the necessity of service and maintenance. When it broke down
he would remove the motor from the car, as he did in England, and place
it on the kitchen table. This allowed him to work on it at night because free
time during the day was a luxury afforded only to the rich and the unemployed.
The car was not a ‘Rolls Royce’ by any comparison, but he had it running smooth
and it worked most of the time, which helped immensely for security in work and
allowed for many happy family outings.
Most ‘Hostel’ dwellers were saving money regularly for the explicit
purpose of leaving in anticipation of purchasing a home of their own and
improving their lifestyle. Because of this and other daily financial
commitments, practically everyone’s car of affordability was old and decayed
and demanded urgent mechanical attention. Ted was a not a mechanic by trade but
had enough experience and ingenuity to make driveable a stagecoach if so
warranted. His competence was soon realised and much of his spare time was
involved in helping others make their vehicle functional. Rarely would he
charge friends for services rendered, it was more of a barter system but with
no obligations attached. During the gathering of people to lend advice on these
‘bonnet up’ occasions, Rene would make the usual cup of tea and sandwiches and
everyone would get along just fine.
Don had come of age to enter the next phase in his education; ‘Hammondville
Infants Primary School’. His mother completed the entrance application earlier
in the year, approval required to finalise enrolment was their presence for a
few hours orientation before full-time attendance; to Don’s dislike it was on
the same day. Monday morning was a bright, beautiful sunny morning, spoilt for
Don only due to the reality of another institution offering the opportunity to
imprison him; he had not yet accepted the rigidity of ‘pre-school’ hours and
was still quite a little terror. Rene was on afternoon shift in the kitchen so
took the time and the opportunity to accompany Don on the firs bus trip to
school. He was as defiant and determined as he was obstinate in rejection of
school. She forcefully dragged him on the bus. He querulously and
contumaciously objected and cried all the way. After morning orientation when
it became time for Rene to catch the bus back home to attend work, leaving him
alone, he performed to his worst. It was déjà vu for her, she could not
look back, walking swiftly with her head forward and down. Don again felt
completely rebuffed and neglected by her actions, surely a feeling all children
experience on their first day of school and most eventually forget, but not
Don, it was a perplexing situation for him because he always found it hard to
accept the imposed rejection of his mother.
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