From Melbourne
1.8.84
Dear Alan,
Firstly
congratulations on your marriage. Your mother and I sincerely hope your married
life is a happy and harmonious one. You both have our best wishes.
Since
our return from South Africa we have had time to let our impressions sink in
but we saw so much in a short time that
it is a little dangerous to form definite opinions without a great deal of thought. The holiday was a
memorable experience; I found the scenery, animal life, plant life and bird
life very impressive but he fascinating thing about South Africa is the
society. For the whites the similarity of life-style with Australia is obvious
but underneath there are certainly marked differences. The potentiality for
upheaval is certainly there but my impression is that it is not likely just
yet. However I’m not making any predictions, the situation is too complex and
so much will depend on the rate of reform. I see the ANC is still causing
trouble and I have no doubt that it is going to go on and probable escalate but
SA can probably life with a certain amount of violence.
The
political scene in Australia is rather different; the general debate seems to
be on rather trivial matters. The present major concern is over a false customs
declaration by a minister of the Fed Government. Hardly earth shattering
matters. There is also the ever-present obsession with higher wages and shorter
working hours despite the lessons of the recession.
However
it has to be said that the Labour Government is performing fairly well on the
economic front. Inflation has drifted to
the lowest level for about six years and there has been a drop in unemployment.
Economic growth has been fairly strong in the past six months and if that continues there
could be a further improvement in the employment figures.
The big
news at the moment however is sport. The Olympic Games is getting massive
coverage in all the media. By the end of next week we could well be bored to
tears, perhaps relieved a bit if Australia wins any Gold medals.
I
believe there is no TV coverage of the Games in South Africa but no doubt there
is news in the Press. I can imagine the furore if Z Budd wins a Gold medal.
South Africans seem to be as besotted with sport as Australians.
The
football season here is drawing to a close with the final set-up yet to be
determined. Footscray and Melbourne are both still with a chance of making the
finals; the next couple of weeks will tell the tale. However Essendon &
Hawthorn look superior to all the others with Essendon best bet for the flag.
This year for the first time some of the finals will be played on Sundays – a
cause for some controversy.
I have
not been to any matches this year as we have been too busy on most days and on
others the games have not been attractive.
That we
have been busy in the business is a good sign; at least we are still viable
even if somewhat outmoded. We should be able to hang on for another year or so
before thinking about closing the door.
The
house has been somewhat quiet in recent weeks since Pamela left for Tonga. She
used to come in quite often and give a spurt to any discussion. She also was
not adverse to new ideas a d stirring up her parents.
We have
had several letters from Pamela since she reached Tonga – one arrived on the
same day as your last letter. She is experiencing the conditions of a real
third-world country and has to life on a wage the same indigenous people would
receive. She is in charge of the library of a secondary girl’s school run by
the Methodist church and has to battle with very limited resources. She is
already talking about us going over for a holiday. I’m not sure about that. A
holiday on an island about 50 miles long isn’t all that attractive unless it
could be combined with another place. Personally I would like to visit New
Guinea; it has an exotic flavor and is not far from Australia. Your mother is
keener on seeing more of Australia and I must concede that makes sense. In the
meantime we will have to work hard and save-up.
Your
mother is looking for photos of you sisters to send to Lorna but hasn’t found
suitable ones yet. We might have to have some taken. Everybody is well except
Lois broke her hand at hockey.
Kindest
regards to yourself @ Lorna
Dad
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