Born in 1969?

Ron Williams

This is  a series of books about life in Australia – one for each year from 1939. 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 1969, Hollywood produced a fake movie that appeared to show a few Americans walking on the moon. The last steam train was pensioned off as the Indian Pacific crossed the nation. There are now no Labor governments in office in all Australia, but Laborites should not worry because Paul Keating just got a seat in Canberra.

Thousands of people walked the streets in demos against the Vietnam War, and HMAS Melbourne cut a US Destroyer in two. The Poseidon nickel boom made the fortunes of many, and the 12-sided cupro-nickel 50cent coin filled the pockets of our new but ubiquitous jeans. Oz Magazine died an untimely death.