From Melbourne 10.12.85

From Melbourne

10.12.85

Dear Alan

                Communication with South Africa has been restored through the good graces of the Australian postal union and we received your Christmas card today.

                The ban was rather futile and seemed to hurt the wrong people. It was just an exercise in self-indulgence by the unionists – something they are quite expert at. The ban was a bit like the economic boycotts in that its main effect was to hurt innocent people. However having just read an article about South Africa’s mineral wealth and its importance to the West one would have to doubt the seriousness of any boycotts.

                News about South Africa has been less prominent in our media over the past few weeks although there is usually at least one item everyday.

                We have been getting quite     a bit about the rebel cricketers although it was supposed to be played down. There won’t be much on TV, it will mostly be newspaper reports.

                The interest in the matches in SA could be due to the poor performance of the Australian cricketers against the Kiwi’s. Fancy losing the series 2-1 and they have to face up to the Indians, commencing next Friday, in another tough encounter. This time there is a Victorian or two in the side so their performance might be better.

                Australians have been doing rather poorly in sport lately and the Aust tennis championships at Kooyong this week saw the final fought between two Swedes. Australians hardly got past the first few rounds.  Mentioning tennis, some news of former tennis team mates of yours at Sunshine Park. Ian M is back living in Melb. After some years in USA where I believe he got a Master’s Degree. David H with whom you also played, had the misfortune to have his father drip dead at a comparatively early age.

                At present we are in the throes of the usual pre-christmas rush. Business has been quite brisk lately (despite the antiquity of our plant) and your mother is very busy with the end of year activities at the kindergarten.

                This year has been going along in much the same pattern as usual with the exception of our trip to Tonga but next year could see some big changes.

                The plan for major re-development of Sunshine’s shopping centre is before the local council tonight and is expected to be adopted.  When out into effect it will have impact on our property and would mean closing down the business. The uncertain thing is the exact time so we have to continue until the council makes a move to acquire the property. We must of course have at least the façade of a business or we would not receive any compensation for good-will.

                Should the council’s plan come to fruition we will gracefully retire – provided the cheque is big enough.

                Your mother’s working life is also being affected by the council as they are going to build a new kindergarten. Not before time. Tenders have been called and the builders should commence early in the new year. That means she will work on next year to have the pleasure of being in a new building, then maybe retire at the end of the year.

                Although Christmas is only  a few weeks away this weather has been extremely wet and it has rained in the last nine days in Melb.

                There has been a great deal of humidity and thunderstorms almost every day, very tropical and, I guess, similar to Natal.

                The result of course is prolific growth of grass and the countryside looks very green at present but hot weather in January could see a danger time for bush-fires. We will be spending a few days at Trentham making sure the grass is well cut before the danger period.

                We haven’t any other special plans for the holidays but hope to have some days for relaxation.

                We received a letter from Pamela today and she is going to some of the Northern islands in Tonga for a few weeks holiday. Tonga is spread out over the Pacific and some of the islands are 200 k north of where she is on the main island.

                Travel will be by boat, which if I know the Tongans, will never leave on time. Just like the Victorian railways.

               

                I’m not sure of the academic year over there but I expect exams are now over. Would be interested in any results for yourself and Lorna .

                We do hope that yourself, Lorna and the girls have a happy and enjoyable Christmas.

                                                                                                                                                                Kindest regards Dad