1950's Interveiw

Mrs Bennett set the writing task of interviewing a Grandparent. So, that's exactly what I did and here it is...

Interviewing My Nan -

Name-

Karen

Year I was born -

1959

Where - Wellington, NZ

School -

Memories -

“I remember learning to sing with the words written up on the blackboard and the teacher would
play the guitar.”

“Listening to the Government radio program which taught us songs.”

“Standing next to my desk, saying my times tables”

“The School fair”

“Heavy School bags with LOTS of textbooks”

“Not being able to go to school because the River flooded the footbridge which you had to
cross to get to school.”

Morning show and tell, singing the national anthem on a Monday Morning at school assembly. 

“If the weather was nice we would play outside and if it was raining we would play in the library”

“The disgusting smell of the Highschool toilets, they smelt phenol and like cigarettes”

“ Using grey leads and drawing margins on our pages with a pink pencil”

“Using nibbed pens for ink” 

“We had little ink pots on our desks” 

“Being the SRC (Student Rep Council)”

 “Going to school on the bus walking 30mins. First 4 years high walk 5km to bus stop.
" I Enjoyed school."   

“Jumping in the freezing cold pool”

“In Primary School at Kingsville we watched Neil Armstrong on the School TV”

“Making a little wood puppet in Art class” 

Schools - 

Primary -

Ohio Bay School near Wellington up to Grade 4

Kingsville Primary School near Melbourne Grade 5 and 6

Highschool -

Foots Grey Ladies College Form 1

Bacchus marsh High School Form 2 to 6

Uniform -

Winter Uniform - Wool chunic, long socks, black shoes, shirt and tie and a wool jumper.

Summer Uniform - Summer cotton frock, short socks.
(GIRLS WHERE NOT ALLOWED TO WEAR TROUSERS UNTIL 1975)

“The first time I wore trousers was the last 2 years of Highschool. 

Sports - 

“I remember playing games and doing Gymnastics, I remember playing on the school oval
with my friends and a game I remember was ‘What’s the time Mrs Wolf’.” “I was sports captain
of the Athletics and the Swimming Team” 

“Played Softball against other High Schools”

Teachers -

Mr McKenny, Grade 4 teacher “He was absolutely wonderful he was a teacher at Ohio Bay
School near Wellington”

“In Australia Mr Little (chubby and short)”

Mr Nunnon, I didn’t get along with him

Some teachers don’t get respected and others do. 

School Camps - 

“My first School camp was in 1971 at a Victorian Ski Field. 

“In 1975, we went to Swan Hill.”

Subjects I enjoyed - 

“In Highschool I enjoyed English/Literacy, Art, Sewing, Cooking/Home Economics.
Even though I wasn’t very good at Maths I still enjoyed learning it” 

Favourite Singer/Band -

John Farnham

How did you listen the Music -

On the TV and radio

Technology at Home - 

TV

Telephone

World Events -

Neil Armstrong walking on the Moon

Collapse of the West Gate Bridge Melbourne

Favourite TV Shows -

Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men

Andy Pandy

Get Smart

The Ponderosa

My Favourite Martian 

Young Talent Time

Walt Disney 

Fashion -

Sunday hat for Sunday School

White Gym Shorts and T - Shirt and White canvas sneakers

Pant suits for Girls

Platform shoes

Flairs/pants

Many skirts

Tank tops

Skimpy Bikinis

Witch’s Britches 

Polo Tops 

Skivvies  

Blazers

Hippy skirts

Father - Coach Builder for Rolls Royce, Carpenter making caravans, boats and house
renovations. 

Mother - Personal Assistant and Private Secretary

She was the first women to wear trousers and a mini skirt in public in NZ.