Born in 1961?

Ron Williams

This is the second of the 1960s and the 23rd book overall to be released in a series of 33 about life in Australia – one for each year from 1939 to 1971. 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 1961, the term New Australian was no longer politically correct. State governments still would not allow petrol vending machines. We all thought that Mrs Aeneas Gunn would never die, but she did. The Sydney University denied that its Philosophy Department was a centre for free love, and the Brits were talking about joining a Common Market with Britain. Ten Pin Bowling was laying ‘em in the lanes, people were up in arms over Russia resuming nuclear testing. American visitors thought that our public lavatories stank.