Swap Cards

Swap Cards were a passion (more like an obsession) I had as a child. There was only one problem, I never wanted to part with my cards. I remember swapping a couple of times & then going home in tears because I wanted my old cards back! I obviously wasn’t a born swapper.

We took them to school in great big bundles with rubber bands round them or some of us . . . → Read More: Swap Cards

The old Bata Shoe (Frankston)

Does anyone remember the old Bata Shoe?

The old Bata Shoe on parade

Bata used to have their factory in Frankston & they had this huge shoe which appeared in the Australia Day Parade during the 60’s & early 70’s. It used to have small children popping out all the little windows in the shoe. It was delightful & I used to look for it every year. I have a vague recollection it . . . → Read More: The old Bata Shoe (Frankston)

Shaker Maker

These were great fun! You mixed up the plaster in the shaker & the poured it into a variety of different moulds including disney characters, & all sorts of crazy critters. You then waited for them to dry (they shrunk a bit) & then painted them. These were invented in the good old days when children were encouraged to be creative. These too had a unique smell, which I can still remember to this . . . → Read More: Shaker Maker

Mr Whippy

Mr Whippy was a major source of panic amongst Melbourne households during summer holidays. As soon as you heard his faint musical tune getting louder, a mad rush ensued to find a parent willing to part with a few coins. You then had to sprint & hopefully catch Mr Whippy before he merrily made his way to the next street, oblivious to the devastation he left behind if you weren’t fast enough.

Mr . . . → Read More: Mr Whippy

McDonalds opens in Australia

As McDonald’s stores opened in Australia throughout the 70’s, we were lucky enough to have one in my home town of Frankston. Fast Food was still a fairly new phenomena back then, but people flocked to the new McDonalds restaurant & stood in long queues to order their burgers. No-one knew the bad health effects from junk food back then, it was all new, exciting & you just had to have it!

There was an . . . → Read More: McDonalds opens in Australia