From Melbourne
6.2.85
Dear Alan
Happy
new year to you all. By now I expect you are all at school or work as we are
here – except University students.
The
holidays passed quietly for us; we spent a couple of weeks at Trentham off and
on, but did not go much further afield. Beverley spent about 10 days in NSW
driving the Commodore which meant we only had the Mini for transport. Yes,
believe it or not, the Mini is still hanging together. We would like it to last
out this year for Bev’s last year at Uni. If it does it will have served us
well, particularly as so many have learnt to drive in it.
The main excitement in the holidays was the
theft of our TV set. Nothing else stolen, just the set. The police believe
those responsible were two young women and that the set was sold the same day.
Another example of Australia’s increasing crime-rate. It is still a relatively
peaceful society but house breakings have increased alarmingly in recent years
along with most of the Western world.
Most of the robberies in Australia are considered to be drug-related, a
problem that is probably not as severe in South Africa. But there are enough
other problems I suppose.
South
Africa has appeared in our newspapers quite frequently lately. The riots in the
townships last year; Senator Kennedy’s visit; Bishop Tutu’s peace prize and
enthronement as archbishop have all received a lot of publicity. All hard news, not what you would read about
Australia, which I believe is either sport or trivia.
A play
about South Africa opened in the Arts Center last night and received favorable
reviews. Called “Poppie Nongena” it’s about a Xhosa woman’s struggles.
Naturally it is anti-Apartheid. We intend seeing it next week.
We have
been twice to the Arts Center in the past week to see a massive production of
Charles Dickens’ “Nicholas Nickleby” spread over two nights. One of the best
theatrical productions I have ever seen.
During
the holidays there were more severe bushfires in Victoria even though January
was extremely cool. Just to hot days, one reaching 41 and it was on. Incredible as it may seem over twenty houses
were destroyed in Melton which is really just suburbia. Most of the fires were
in the North-East of the state and we were not threatened at Trentham but in
view of the lack of rain the situation will be dangerous for at least another
month.
We just mow the grass down and
hope for the best.
Pamela
has been urging us to visit her and we have made bookings for the May school
holidays. We will fly to Tonga via New Zealand (only one day in NZ) spend about
eight days with Pamela and then about six days in Fiji on the way back. Should
give us a good picture of life in the Pacific Islands, somewhat different to
South Africa. Tonga is definitely a Third World country but one thing they
don’t seem to lack is food.
Every
photo Pamela sends – and she sends many – shows Tongans having a feast. No
wonder they are large people. Quite different to the photos we have been seeing
in the newspapers of the people in Africa particularly Ethiopia.
A
friend of Pamela’s went over for three weeks at Christmas and paid us a visit
recently. She had a very interesting time although she did not leave the main
island. By all accounts Pamela is coping quite well although she seems to get
frustrated in her attempts at getting the girls at the school interested in
books. According to Pamela Tongans lack motivation. However, as they have
plenty of food why should they be concerned about development!
I met
your old friend GP today and he is back living in Sunshine. He is married and I think has a child, or
his wife had a child previously.
Congratulations
to Lorna on passing her exams. We are pleased you have put the gift to such
practical use.
Kindest
regards to all
Dad
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