From Melbourne
12.4.82
Dear Alan
Pleased
to see that you are happy with your change to private practice. We hope that it
means a congenial existence and more professional experience. However, from
this distance the long term prospects in South Africa do not appear favorable.
But no doubt you have worked all that out. There seems to be some attempts at
reform by the Prime Minister but little chance of dealing with the basic
issues.
That’s
not an attempt to tell you what to think about SA – you know so much more than
we do, so I’ll confine myself to news from here.
I met
Geoffrey Patterson in the street about a week ago. He had just arrived back
after a year overseas spent mostly wandering Europe. He worked on a farm in Germany for a while then
visited Scandinavian countries and France and Italy. He found England rather cold and seemed glad
to be home. The traveling killed his
desire to work at a desk and he was applying for a job on the oil rigs in Bass
Strait.
Another
person I met was Ian Dukson of Leonard St and he had just received a letter
from an English friend who is apparently working with you. The letter said you
looked well and appeared happy.
Our big
news in recent weeks was the Victorian State Election in which cousin Darryl
was a candidate. He stood as the Australian democrat candidate for Melbourne
West province in the upper house. He was
soundly defeated of course but polled 2,000 more votes than the Democrat
candidate at the previous election. His prospects of a political career would
be rather meagre with the Democrats but you can’t knock him for trying or for
having an interest in public affairs.
The
change of government in Victoria can’t men much change as State Governments
can’t really affect the economy very much but they will tend to spend money for
a while. It probably means more jobs in fields like education and health. There
will be some social reform but I think they will be inclined to move slowly.
It’s
nothing to do with the change of Government but Anne has received a permanent
appointment with Education Dept. she had been doing some emergency teaching at
Tottenham Technical School and the opportunity came up for a permanent job in
science and maths. Tottenham tech
wouldn’t be the ideal place to teach but it will be good experience. If you can
teach there I suppose you could teach just about anywhere.
Lois
has been home for Easter and she seems to have settled into country life quite
well. The same thing applies with her – it’s the practical experience that is
essential to gain mastery of a profession.
As you
can see by the heading this is Easter and we have spent most of it at Trentham.
The weather absolutely glorious although it is dry and rain is needed. It was perfect for the holidays.
In fact
the weather has been a bit too warm for the footballers. The season is now in
full swing, three matches having been played. And it looks like much the same
teams at the top and much the same at the bottom.
We
recently made a change of motor cars and are now driving a red Commodore. The
change-over deal was a good one and the new model seems to be an improvement.
The little Mini is still going well but it is now Beverley’s possession. She is
driving it every day to Monash U and it has cut her traveling time in half.
The
accountant forwarded a copy of your tax return last week and I signed it and
sent it back. You should get about $500 refund. When it arrives the best place
would be the Building Society, but you can let me know your preference.
Regards
Dad
.
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