Melbourne
7.12.81
Dear Alan,
Apparently
a letter I wrote some time ago did not reach you due to the mix-up in your
change of address. It was fairly lengthy and I have forgotten the details but
you have probably had the ground covered in letters from your mother. I
remember mentioning the football finals – which again proved exciting – but I
think you have all the details of that by now. At the time, I had been listening
to a series on ABC radio called “Images of Africa” and it turned most
interesting. Each program was devoted to a separate country and the series
showed what a complex continent it is. The programs were Canadian and appeared
objective.
Last
night on TV we watched a re-run of the ABC series “The White Tribe of Africa”
which is about the Afrikanners. They certainly are an embattled people. They
appear to have a sense of destiny but it may be juts that they wear blinkers.
The analogy between them and the Israelis is quite striking. You certainly have
the opportunity to observe a very different sort of society. That should be a
great experience but I hope that you are also getting first-class experience
professionally.
We
would like to hear something of the work you are doing and the parts of the
country you have been able to visit. I believe it is a very beautiful country and
a man I met last week who lived there for 18 years suggested it was a good
place for a holiday. Maybe we will make it one day?
Everybody
seems to be going overseas these days, particularly the young. Your cousin
Glenn has been appointed to the school at the RAAF base in Butterworth Malaysia
and leaves in January for two years. He is simple seconded from the education
department and does not lose seniority. In fact I understand that it will help
advance his career when he returns.
As
Fiona Gardiner is now in England and Katherine Wilson goes to France in January
for a six week study course it means all the Carlton cousins will have a
representative overseas next year.
Your
mother met mother of your friend Geoffrey last week and learnt that he is
wandering around Europe and hope to meet Graham Roberts in London later on.
There must be thousands of young Australians in Europe so if you ever get there
you want be lonely.
Form
this distance it does not appear to be a good idea to stay too long in South Africa
but the strange thing is that all one reads and hears the Afrikaaners do not
see themselves as sitting on a powder-keg.
South Africans are supposed to be
very sports-minded and the big news during the winter was the rugby tour of New
Zealand. We certainly got plenty of space in the papers here. No doubt you got
a different angle over there. On the sports side I was wondering whether they
were interested in the test cricket here. They would dearly love to re-enter
the test arena and I am sure would be worthy opponents. We are in the midst of
another frenetic test season and there is a lot of ballyhoo about the cricket particularly the one-day
games. At the present time the TV seems to be full of cricket or tennis.
Whatever is on, we will soon be able watch it in color as we have taken the
plunge and will take delivery of a color TV set in the next few days. However the next few months TV is largely
confined to repeat programs.
Although
the end of the year is approaching neither Anne nor Lois have yet received word
of any teaching appointments for next year. I think they should both get a job
but hey may not know until after Christmas.
We have
not made any definite plans for our holidays but no doubt will be at Trentham.
It’s been quite a job keeping up with the grass – cutting up there as it was a
wet winter and a good spring. Good exercise!
You
might let us know what goes on in South Africa at Christmas time; it could be
of interest.
Everybody
is well at present and your mother is busy with the last few weeks of the
kindergarten year.
No time
to be bored!
Best
wishes for a happy Christmas
Dad
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