From Melbourne (Mum) : 11th March 1982

From Melbourne

11.3.82

Dear Alan,

                I am enclosing a few pieces I have cut from the paper to show you what is written about South Africa. As you can see there is a wide range of views.

                There are a few letters about the cricketers playing in South Africa. There were also some other with quite different views but I can’t find them.

                The article by peter Younghusband is interesting when you compare it what has just happened. We really do not have very much in the papers here about SA but with the cricketers and the Commonwealth Games there has been a bit lately. Is there ever anything in the papers over there about Australia.

                Last weekend was the Moomba weekend and we stayed up at Trentham with Auntie Grace @ Win and Pamela @ her friend Clare. For the first time since the Moomba procession started it rained most of the Monday morning. They still had the procession but some of the floats didn’t go in it. We just stayed inside @ read until it stopped then spent the rest of the day picking blackberries. In the last two weekends we have picked nearly 100 lbs. that Win has made into jam. We are going once more this weekend @ they should be the best because of all the rain.

                Beverley is coping with driving the Mini to Uni each day.  It is getting old @ several times something has happened but she has managed.

                We changed our car this weekend for another one the same only new. This was instead of a pay rise. Dad @ Ray say it is better to lease the car than give themselves a rise. One day though we will have to buy a car.

                There was a bit in the paper the other day about dentists. The Dental Association was saying the government should cut down on the number being trained. This has been suggested before but so far nothing has happened. You are certainly getting much more practice and experience than some of the other graduates from the last few years. Has anybody else from Australia come over there to work.

                 I can’t remember if I told you or not but Elizabeth is having a baby and Jenny is having one too. She waited awhile before she said anything this time because of the miscarriage last time.

                                                                Love from

                                                                                Mum