First up what I say is my opinion, it will anger many, but hopefully educate.

My best advice to all of you:

1) Never believe everything you are told. ALWAYS CONDUCT YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE PROCEEDING. I was lied to by my own father about my 1st love, and many other things too.

2) Seek Multiple Incomes, Because Job ( Just Over Broke) Security long term is not guaranteed anymore.

3) Be Supportive of your Friends.

4) Be Considerate of others when you go out: i. e. On Public Transport, put headphones on to listen to your music, refrain from swearing and talking loudly, NEVER put your feet on the seats. When driving, be considerate of other motorists, cyclists, pedestrians.

I also offer this advice: Arrange to have $100 per week deposited to your Superannuation/Pension funds & save an additional $100 per week in an internet only account. I wish I had done both when I started working, wouldn’t be in the financial mess I’m in now.

TREAT EVERYONE HOW

YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.

I’ve found many young people think they know everything.

But

They don’t.

Granted they know a lot about technology, and as an oldie, I appreciate the education given.

However, YP’s need to understand us oldies have seen and done a lot, and learnt our lessons too.

Please bare in mind, many people my age and older fought and paved the way for you YP’s to enjoy life:

Especially LGBTIQA+ Winners.

YOUR WAY.

Please have respect & courtesy for others, because:

KARMA CAN BE CRUEL.

Back in 1970, when I realised I was a gurl, I had to hide who I truly was, in fear of my life.

I find many YP’s to be:

Rude, Selfish, Arrogant, Insecure, Irrational, Insensitive Immature, Noisy, Disrespectful, Lazy, Ungrateful, Ageist, Impatient, Greedy, Shallow, Attention Seeking, Vein, Judgmental, Petty, Transphobic, Homophobic.

I also find most are not

SAFETY

CONSCIOUS

Either.

SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS.

Below is the last chapter of my 1st novel, written from my memory, because I lived through it, so if you are a Young Person and feel you have a hard life today, please read below, because if I could be reborn much later, i.e. 1991+ I would.

Mel’s Journey To Gurlhood Chapter 1.10 Australia in the 1950’s – 1970’s

Being “Different” or perceived to be was not tolerated. Most people who were different, hid their true feelings from everyone, anybody perceived as being different, usually copped a hiding. I witnessed or experienced this on many occasions growing up, even though it was not proven. Most boys learnt from their fathers that being Homosexual was not allowed and was a sin by God, those who were, were told would go to Hell.

As Australia was a religious, traditional country, it was expected people marry a person of the opposite sex, buy a house, start a family, and live harmoniously together until retirement age, which was 65, when the couple would enjoy their twilight years together. Superannuation was not commonplace either, most retirees lived off the Old Age Pension.

Couples would usually meet in Secondary School, or even Primary School, they would date for several years, then got married.

In 1970, when I met my 1st gf, both were 4 years young: Our families started planning our Wedding. No Joke.

Life was vastly different as well. Everyone respected authority, including children. Truancy was not tolerated, those children not in school during school hours, usually were dealt with very severely.

Shops opened Monday to Wednesday, and Friday 8.30am until 5.30pm, Thursdays were 8.30am-9pm, Saturdays 8.30am-12 Midday.

Hotels had restricted hours as well, usually closing at 6pm every night, most were unable to trade on Sundays either.

Sundays, we all either went to Sunday School for under 18’s, Church for the adults, then home for Sunday Roast Lunch, or you would go visit family.

Milk Bars were family owned and operated, you knew each person by name, and you could carry on a conversation whilst browsing.

Milk was Full Cream from Dairy Cows, Sugar was White, Bread was White Block Loaf—most of the time it was baked, by our mothers, who were totally groovy cooks.

Shopping meant going to the main street and going to the Butcher, Green-Grocer, Fish Monger, Milk Bar for dry goods, sometimes the Milkman would travel up and down the streets, same as a Green-Grocer, this was not every street or Suburb.

Coffee was instant, usually with a dash of milk and 2 sugars, these new-fangled type coffees, had not reached Australia, although until the mid-1980’s Leaf Tea was the preferred Hot Beverage of choice.

Fruits and Vegetables were very fresh and exceedingly high quality, only in season were available and usually pesticide free as well, most families grew their own. Some even kept chickens for the Freshest Eggs possible, and they tasted fresh and unbelievably delicious.

People helped each other out, and trusted each other as well, we had a “Fair-Go” Policy, and treated each other with Politeness and Respect, usually not judged before getting to know someone.

There was discrimination a lot, however that was towards non-Caucasian persons, a lot of the time they were treated very arrogantly due to ignorance from most people.

Anybody who wasn’t “Normal” was treated very badly, and usually it was a judgement by someone who felt it was their place to interfere, sometimes these assumptions were unfounded, however it did not stop harassment and persecution until the “Victim” either admitted it, moved away, or even in some comes Suicide as the pressure became too much.

Narrow and Single-Minded Persons caused a lot of problems with many people, even today it still goes on, however, not as much as in the past.

Alcohol-Fuelled violence was rare, most violence was usually very minor, sometimes it would escalate out of control, however not to the extent that occurs today.

Criminal activity did occur, however illicit drugs, Graffiti or use of weapons was either non-existent or exceedingly rare.

Men would settle differences usually with their fists, women were ladies and rarely got into any physical violence, unlike today where it is commonplace.

Most men were also very rude, arrogant, selfish, unhygienic, they only cared about other people when they knew they would get something in return, this is something that does still exist today, with most people.

Children would obey their parents, and anybody in authority, we would play outside until around 6pm when our mothers would call us in for tea, afterwards it was bath time, homework. Arguments were rare during our times playing, usually sorted very quickly and between the persons involved. We would ride our bikes, or play hopscotch, handball, football, whatever interested us at the time, and depending on the sporting season.

Most food was home-made and tasted much better than the mass-produced foods of today, it was safer and healthier, and usually did not contain any preservatives.

Television arrived in Australia in 1956, it started as Black and White, and as a commercial station (This had paid commercials, usually live to air and by the host or hostess of the current program) or a Government channel that was completely advertisement (Commercial) Free. You had to go to the set to change channels, adjust volume control and switch on/off, remote controlled televisions didn’t arrive until the mid-1980’s, also all televisions were very heavy and bulky, they were analogue with “Rabbits Ears” type aerials.

Internet was not around, research was done by going to the local Library and reading books, or by purchasing Books/Magazines at the Newsagent, Newspapers were Black and White, including photographs.

Telephones were all Landline connections, there was no such thing as a Mobile/Cell Phone, video games did not exist either. Public Telephone boxes were very widely available. Telephones had round dials on them from 0-9, you would dial a phone that way, not the push button that came in some years later. Telephone Books were where we would go for telephone numbers, and those we frequently called were listed in our own personal either Diary, or a telephone book, which was a small blank book when purchased at a Newsagent.

Newspapers were read by nearly every man every day, in some areas there were morning and afternoon editions printed. Photos and print was black and white.

Radios or Wirelesses only had 1 band AM and were usually either Talk-Back style programs or easy-listening stations, some did have the latest music as well. If a person wished to listen to music it was on a Vinyl Round Record which contained grooves in them where a needle would pick up the sound and transmit it through the amplifier, these players were originally called Gramophones, later known as Record Players.

Video Cassette Recorders (VCR’s) were not around, nor were Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) Players. Entertainment was either watching television, going to the pictures or Drive-In. Roller Skating and Ice-Skating rinks were immensely popular. Dances occurred at local Community Halls usually once per week. Patrons were very well-behaved.

Pay Television did not come into existence in Australia until the 1990’s.

Photographs were taken with a Film Camera, which once the roll had finished, you wound it back to the beginning and took it out, either replaced with a fresh film, or took the finished film to either a Chemist/Pharmacy or Film Processing branch of that company, the sales assistant would code it and hand you a receipt, the prints and negatives were usually back 1 week later. In the beginning, they were only Black and White photographs only. Instant photographs did not come into existence for many years.

Momentous events were observed for the occasion they were, not the out of control drunken madness that occurs today.

Religious occasions were respected as well.

Jobs were easier to obtain, you could walk out of a job or school today and into a job tomorrow.

Most items were manufactured in Australia, men would work extremely hard for their wages, and took pride in their work, unlike today where most people only look forward to payday.

End of the day meant men having a beer or 8 at the local public house (pub), smoking was permitted in the hotels, the bars were segregated, men had the public bar, women were restricted to the Ladies Parlour and were never allowed in the Public Bar, under any circumstances. The only females allowed in the Public Bar were the Barmaids as they were called.

Most people were paid weekly and in cash, usually on a Thursday, this method resulted in many Armoured Vehicle robberies.

Paying bills was by going into the company during your lunch break to pay the account by cash or writing a cheque and posting it in along with a remittance advice.

Decimal Currency arrived February 14th, 1966 with 1c, 2c– Copper coins, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c— Silver coins. $1,$2,$5,$10,$20,$50 paper notes.

Credit Cards were either Non-Existent or rare.

Even though Mortgage Interest Rates could be as high as 20%, it was much easier to repay, as most people were not concerned with having the latest gadgets. Dishwashers were not common, nor washing machines, or clothes dryers either. Washing clothes for most was by hand and were much cleaner as well.

Swearing was rare, even by adults, unlike today where I’ve heard children as young as 4 years of age swearing.

Birth Control was not readily available, however even so, there were very few out of Wedlock Pregnancies, as most people controlled their urges until after Marriage. Most couples would Marry if the Woman got pregnant.

Unwed mothers’ Pension did not exist. Men took responsibility for their actions as well, unlike today where everyone blames others for their short comings.

Public Transport was all non-air conditioned; you could smoke in certain Train Carriages, everyone also took their rubbish with them and placed their rubbish in a rubbish receptacle, placing feet on seats or hogging seats did not exist. Trains were single deck services, some buses were Double-Deckers, Ferries were normal, smoking was permitted on most. Children would stand up for paying passengers no matter who the other passenger was, Respect was drilled into each child.

Printing was done by a printing company, a person would sit down and talk to the printer about their requirements, a cost is quoted, in most cases the order is placed. The customer was told when the order would be ready.

Computers were not around in the capacity they are today, everything was either hand-written and neatly, or typed using a typewriter, if there were any mistakes it would be corrected using a correction fluid or if handwriting, scrunching up the piece of paper and starting over.

Most people were very social and would go out to meet others, either through Friendship Clubs, Church outings, Community Clubs, Police Youth Clubs were mainly for boys, but it allowed them the interaction of learning male skills.

Most Motor Vehicles did not have electric windows or mirrors, they had to be adjusted manually.

Water was filled from the tap, none of the filtered bottled stuff of today, it also tasted nice, yes even I admit I prefer Filtered water as respect is no longer given by most persons.

Australians did call Elevators Lifts, although most of our terminologies have now gone to more American ones.

A groovy movie that shows 1960’s Australia is called “They’re a Weird Mob”, it is very enlightening, and shows what Sydney, New South Wales, Australia was like. I cry every time I watch it.

The Australian Weather seasons are:

Autumn/Fall–March to May.

Winter–June to August.

Spring–September to November.

Summer–December to February.

Safety was not really a top consideration either, many people died needlessly as safety was not considered, unlike today where safety is usually the Top priority in everybody’s lives. Safety should be everybody’s responsibility.

Respect Is Earned.

We should all Treat Each Other, How

WE WANT TO BE TREATED.

To end this Blog:

When I befriend a young person, it is to advise them and be a confidante for them, nothing further.

Never Assume Anything, Always Ask Questions To Clarify.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MelissaSeymour

“Mel’s Journey To Gurlhood 1”