Born in 1964?

Ron Williams

This is the fifth of the 1960s and the 26th 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 1964 HMAS Voyager, an Australian destroyer, was sunk in a collision with the air-craft carrier, Melbourne. Stamp collecting was disappearing as a hobby, wine was no longer plonk, and mothers were waging war on old-fashioned tuck-shops. (God bless them. The tuck-shops, not the mothers). The Beatle cult was angering some people. The TAB: to be or not to be? Can true Reds get fat? Did Billie Graham have lasting effects? Prostitution was proposed as a safety valve against rape. Judy Garland got bad Press in Melbourne and left Oz in a sulk.