Born in 1940?

Ron Williams

This is the first of the 1940s and the second book overall to be released in a series of 32 about life in Australia – one for each year from 1939 to 1970. They describe happenings that affected people, real people.

The whole series, to coin a modern phrase, is designed to push your buttons, to make you remember and wonder at things forgotten. The books might just let nostalgia see the light of day, so that oldies and youngies will talk about the past and re-discover a heritage otherwise forgotten.

Hopefully, they will spark discussions between generations, and foster the asking and answering of questions that should not remain unanswered. In 1940, the Brits thought the War would be a picnic. But they changed their mind after military disasters in Norway, Belgium and Tobruk. German subs were filling the Channel with British shipping, and the Frogs stopped hopping.

Then the Hun parked their planes full-time over London, and Blitzed it. But, against all odds, the Poms survived. In Oz, the first Menzies Government rationed food, clothing, petrol, smokes and shirt tails. It introduced conscription for men, internment for Italian men, and stopped the use of pink icing on cakes. Photography was suspect, strikes were almost treasonable.

Amid all this, Contemporary Art was blossoming, and doing its bit to destroy Australian culture.