Childhood memories of the mid 20th Century.
‘In childhood we press our noses to the pane looking out.
In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane looking in.’
– D Robert Brault.
These are true stories told by ten Australians of their growing up in Australia around the mid-twentieth century. They provide us with an historic record of what life was like at that time, contrasting city and country and spanning the length and breadth of Australia, each one coming from a different area, background and lifestyle providing us with a fascinating read.
The idea for this book began one summer’s day in Sydney’s Centennial Park. My friend June and I had gone there, as we often did, to paint and June began to talk about her memories of growing up. It was a fascinating story, a snippet of history that I thought should be recorded. So, the next time we went out I did, with the aid of a small recorder. How different her story was from mine, and no doubt to others born around the same time. So, I decided to ask those others to record their memories of growing up, and how they highlighted the gulf which separates us from the childhoods of today.
When I began to write, the stories grew to include the influences upon them and what was happening in the world, from which their stories could not be separated. I asked many people, more than the ten in this book, what they thought was the greatest difference between their childhoods and those of today, and they all gave the same answer “A feeling of freedom.” I wonder what do you think?.
Childhood memories of the mid 20th Century.
‘In childhood we press our noses to the pane looking out.
In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane looking in.’
– D Robert Brault.
These are true stories told by ten Australians of their growing up in Australia around the mid-twentieth century. They provide us with an historic record of what life was like at that time, contrasting city and country and spanning the length and breadth of Australia, each one coming from a different area, background and lifestyle providing us with a fascinating read.
The idea for this book began one summer’s day in Sydney’s Centennial Park. My friend June and I had gone there, as we often did, to paint and June began to talk about her memories of growing up. It was a fascinating story, a snippet of history that I thought should be recorded. So, the next time we went out I did, with the aid of a small recorder. How different her story was from mine, and no doubt to others born around the same time. So, I decided to ask those others to record their memories of growing up, and how they highlighted the gulf which separates us from the childhoods of today.
When I began to write, the stories grew to include the influences upon them and what was happening in the world, from which their stories could not be separated. I asked many people, more than the ten in this book, what they thought was the greatest difference between their childhoods and those of today, and they all gave the same answer “A feeling of freedom.” I wonder what do you think?.
Image 1 of 16
Image 2 of 16
Image 3 of 16
Image 4 of 16
Image 5 of 16
Image 6 of 16
Image 7 of 16
Image 8 of 16
Image 9 of 16
Image 10 of 16
Image 11 of 16
Image 12 of 16
Image 13 of 16
Image 14 of 16
Image 15 of 16
Image 16 of 16