Bullied and Beaten with a Knuckle Buster

At 13 years of age the world around me was a confusing place. I was in an in between zone: still very naive but trying to make sense of daily occurrences that knotted up my mind and chipped away at my innocence. What was happening around the world was not too reassuring either as Skyhooks pointed out in their March ‘75 hit single “Horror Movie”.

The World in April 1975: The Mother Month of Fears for Capitalism   

  

The 1970’s was a heavy decade bloodied by ideological wars fought on third party soils. It was the Cold War Era. And April 1975 was a big month in the annals of the Cold War Era. Just like the images on our convexly bulging and bulky box shaped television, it was a black and white world back then. Ever since World War Two (WW2), two powerful tribes of bullies have been stalking each other on the world stage in what was called the Cold War. 

The United States of America was versing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( USSR: Russia and the countries it annexed during and after WW2). America and its allies in the western world believed that  capitalism, 'an economic system in which trade, industry and the means of production are controlled by private owners with the goal of making profits in a market economy' - popularly associated with its defenders John Maynard Keynes and Adam Smith - was GOOD, and the opposing economic system, communism, ‘a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs’ - popularly associated with the works of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Friederich Engels, was EVIL. Australia was on America’s side and so the ‘communists’ were our enemies too. Wherever communism threatened to spread to, the western world was there to block it with whatever it took. 

The Cold War was fought by proxy in the developing nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The war that dominated the news was VIETNAM. A terrifying and foreboding place where horrific things happened to innocent people like fireballs of napalm. And it was fought live in our living rooms on TV for us to see- it was "the television war". But not for much longer because it came to an end at last this month.

An estimated 800,000 to 3.1 million Vietnamese service members were killed in the Vietnam War, around 200,000–300,000 Cambodians and 20,000–200,000 Laotians. The 58,220 American lives lost numerically pale in comparison. Gruesome and voluminous war crimes were committed on all sides as traditional rules of engagement and the Geneva Convention were abandoned wholesale.

Five hundred and twenty one Australians who were conscripted by force and chosen by lottery also perished there. A nauseating amount of lives lost. And it was all for nothing because the allies failed, and as the last of the Americans were being airlifted from Vietnam on April 30, 1975, in one of the worlds largest ever helicopter airlifts aptly named Operation Frequent Wind, communist North Vietnam took over South Vietnam. A fortnight earlier and after five years of war Vietnam's neighbour, Cambodia, had also fallen to one of the most violent men in modern history, Pol Pot and his communist Kmer Rouge. Neighbouring Laos, would fall soon too after which all of Indo-China would degenerate into a frenzy of continued chaos, war crimes and genocide. Just as the USA feared, South East Asia fell like dominoes, one country after the other, to communism. This horrific violence would have an enormous impact on Australia in a just few years time. 

April 1975 was also the month that something much more complex would happen in the Middle East. LEBANON. Lebanon was once nothing like the destroyed country it is today. For 20 golden years Beirut was a unique dynamic multicultural society, an elegant hub of everything international from trade and regional finance, to engineering
and construction, education and universities, shipping and communication. It was fashionable, arty, and entertaining to hang out in Lebanon. It was a tolerant multisectarian

country, with Sunni Muslims hugging the coasts, Shia Muslims populating the south, and the government of Lebanon being run by Maronite Christians. The establishment of the new State of Israel in 1948 - when around 720,000.00 Palestinians fled from the land where Israel would go, to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan - shifted the religious balance in Lebanon in favour of the Muslim population, many of whom weren't happy with the Christian support of the West to start with. 

The Cold War sealed Lebanon’s fate. The Maronite Christians sided with the West while many Muslims and other socialist leaning Arabs sided with the USSR. Then on April 13,  1975 a Christian fanatic killed 27 Palestinians,sparking the onset of the  tragic dirty muddy complicated multifaceted LebaneseCivil War which lasted officially from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities. One million people fled Lebanon - a mass exodus.

While a small number of Christian Lebanese came to Australia well before 1975, after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in April, more than 20,000 refugees arrived in Australia, over half of which were Muslim.I don’t think I even knew what an Lebanese, or a Muslim was, or a Vietnamese for that matter other than what I saw on TV. The closest bit of Asia I came to was the Chinese restaurant in Penrith because on Mum’s birthday Dad would take us there for dinner. Apart from a small number of Aboriginal students and

a few immigrant ‘exotics’ which I seemed to gravitate to, Springwood High School very much reflected the White Australia Policy. We were mostly of Caucasian European decent. Elsewhere, the poverty stricken developing country of many millions of starving people, India, launched its very first 1st satellite with the help of the USSR this month, and Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft. It was a BIG month in the world. 

School Corporal Punishment 

April 1975 was also a heavy month for me at school. The brutality that was going on in the world was also happening in our schools, and often in our homes. When students violated school regulation, they were vilified by teachers, caned, and expelled where necessary. Teachers threw chalk and dusters at students, sent us out of class and kept us girls in to write sentences over and over like “I must not talk in class” when we misbehaved. And the boys turned up to have their hands ‘cut’ when they did wrong. We had respect for the authority of teachers so we stayed back and did what we were told. ‘Cut’ is another word for being whacked by a flexible rattan cane through our school uniform, on our hands, on our  knuckles or on our bent over bottoms. Other objects could be used, like a ruler or a paddle. School Corporal Punishment , a system of physical punishment Australia inherited from the English, was commonplace in Australian schools - public, private and religious. Headmasters, teachers and even prefects in private schools were permitted to administer ‘cuts’ for anything ranging from encouraging kids to do sport or punishing them for some trivial offense like misspelling words or not knowing history dates. 

Over the course of the past 100 years objections were raised against corporal punishment in schools by parents, teachers and others but when we were at school, consensus against it hadn't yet reached critical mass – and it would take another 20 years too. It wasn't until 1990 that corporal punishment was banned in NSW public schools (1997 in private schools). Technically it can still be legally inflicted in West and South Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.

Bullying in the 70's

With corporal punishment in schools and domestic corporal punishment at home being the norm for us in the 70’s, its hardly surprising that some kids just copied what they saw, learned or was inflicted on them, on their fellow students at school.By Second Form (Year 8) we had pretty much formed into groups. I was in a group with Debbie, Jo, JB, Glenda, and Trudy. Glenda and Trudy moved in and out of our group and another group. There were groups of ‘kids’ that stuck together that we liked, didn’t like, didn’t bother with or didn’t really get to know because there were several hundred of us. And then there were the bullies everyone wanted to stay well clear of. But being bullies, they would hunt their victims down.

Bullying seemed to occur daily in various forms. While Bullying has different vectors today – notably in cyberspace - and the impacts can be tragic as we’ve seen with a number of teen suicides, in our generation bullying was quite brutal and physical, of the “face to face” kind. Students literally beat each other up using tools like knuckle busters. Knuckle busters

are weapons made of metal that bullies wrapped around their knuckles so they could break your skin tissues and fracture your bones on impact. Pushing students down the stairs was common too. There seemed to be no awareness that a push down the stairs could have the same deadly effect as a King Hit can, should the victim hit their head on the rock hard cement when they fell. It was either sink or swim in those days because there was no-one to protect you from bullying, least of all the teachers.When the bullying was intolerable it was usual to take time off school to recover, or out of dread or fear.

Even within our groups, we were pretty ruthless on each other on a day to day basis depending on what happened that day, that week or that month. It was usually about a boy, or out of jealousy - of anything  - and rejection. One minute we ‘liked’ each other, the next we ‘hated’ each other. The ‘hate’ never lasted long and it wasn’t ‘hate’ as in the Oxford definition of having a ‘strong aversion to’, or feelings of ‘intense dislike’ of our fellow group members, because it was always temporary. There just wasn’t another word for “I am really hurt, angry and upset at you for what you just said and did and I’m too immature to deal with it”.  So ‘I hate you, her, him or it” would do. Our allegiances within our group shifted like Saharan sands from one day to the next too, but we still stuck together, sometimes checking out what hanging with other groups might be like, or what it would be like to sit in another part of the school grounds. We didn’t like kids who ‘loved themselves’. But the kids we accused of ‘loving themselves’ were probably just more confident, happier kids than we were.

Being bullied had a lasting effect on me. Reading my diaries for the first time since I wrote them, it would seem that I wasn’t much good at risk minimisation as I liked a group of boys in the form above me which didn’t help my cause at all, and I knew it, but the threat of being beaten to a pulp didn’t stop me fraternising with them.I did try to avoid being bullied. Dad had bought a book to help him at work called “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, by Dale Carnegie. Clearly Dad was interested in the business section of the book, since he was the biggest charmer on the planet and wouldn't have needed it for his interpersonal relations.  How to Win Friends and Influence People,  was one of the first best-selling self help books ever published. It promised to 'get me out of  a mental rut, give me new thoughts, new visions, new ambitions, enable me to make friends quickly and easily, increase my popularity, help me to win people to my way of thinking, increase my influence, my prestige, and my ability to get things done'. I was especially interested in how it would help me 'handle complaints, avoid arguments, and keep my human contacts smooth and pleasant', like the principle, that “the only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it”.  This sounded a hopeful alternative to being tormented regularly, tripped over, pushed down the stairs and beaten up randomly with sharp objects. I tried it out but it didn’t work. When I attempted conflict resolution, peaceful resistance, or avoidance, I was called a “crawler” and beaten up anyway. 

APRIL 1975: The School Bully Beats Me Up               With a Knuckle Buster

Tuesday April 1  - Dad Was My Age Too Once Upon a Time! Or Was He?

Dear Diary,

I went to the plaza today and bought some more of those books I was telling you about. Dad had a stab at me about boys. God that makes me sick, he was my age too once upon a time! Or was he ? You know it doesn't seem possible that he was. My sister flattened the (bike) tyre again. Well tomorrow’s school. I can’t wait. I’ll see you later. Today was April fools and I forgot about it. Bye

Wednesday April 2^nd –"I thought it was a flying saucer"

Well I've got a lot to tell you about today so I better get moving. First of all on the way to school I looked up at the sky and saw this thing glowing and moving in the sky- I thought it was a flying saucer. But it turned out to be an aeroplane. It was just the angle of it in the sun’s rays. Guess what ? Mark’s got a haircut. It doesn't suit him though but he still looks nice. I saw him several times today but I didn't talk to him. Michael threw a tennis ball real hard at my boob. God it hurt. Ian dropped Debbie AGAIN today- I don’t know why though. So she went around the whole school (just about) telling everyone so someone else will ask her - to make Ian jealous. Debbie loves herself too much it isn't funny. She knows it too. You know Jo suggested that they ring me up to find out if Glenda and I could come to Penrith with them, but Debbie said no because I would only take Jo away from our little talks. UGH!!!!!!!  And she’s keeping a poster Debbie bought Ian for his birthday. AGAIN. She kept the last present she was going to give him. Talk about selfish.

You know what Mark D said to me? “ Wear thicker jeans you can see through the other jeans” – which means I've got horrible legs and they should be covered up so they can’t be seen. That really hurt me. At least I can use them. They’re not there for decoration you know! I got in the B grade netball team. Isn't that wonderful! I tried out for Centre and I played against Cassandra, boy did she give me a hard time. And to top that, she’s in the B team too. I had to go through the usual “Petra Campbell stuffs her bra”. God I hate her. She was teasing me at training too - she’ll never give up. Maybe I should leave the team, but that means I’d have to give up District Rep, which I don’t want to do. Anyway, told you I had a lot. Seeya

Thursday April 3^rd - They Bashed Up Mark Today

All those boys came up to me and surrounded me and said that Craig wanted to go with me. And one of them said “he’s capable, trained and professional”. I said “you’d know wouldn't you”. And he goes “ooo arrr well ummm”. Anyway I said I don’t know and later Craig came up to me and asked me what they said. I said to ask them. But Jo told him and he said he was going to think about it- CRICKEES! I've got to think about it too! But I’m not going to. I like him but not enough to go with him. They bashed up Mark today, the poor thing. I’m already used to his haircut. I was running to woodwork and I came across Denton, big Craig and this other guy and as I was running by they grunted and put their arms around me.  Almost finished my tray for woodwork. All I have to do is put the handles on and varnish. Can’t wait. Better go now. Bye.

Friday 4^th April - I Have To Write “ I Must Not Speak in Class” 30 Times 

Jo wasn't at school today and Debbie kept on saying that Trudy's a bitch, but she went around with her all day. All the boys kept on calling me today. I think I lost my temper a bit and showed my annoyance - which I shouldn't have done. They wanted to know if I liked Billy and was told that he likes me a lot. I was talking to Mark again today, he asked me how Craig was, and I said “ you hang around there, so you know how he is” and he said “ he asked you though” and I said “ he didn't”. And then I told him about what happened yesterday and he said “ oh” . I said to him that he got his haircut and he reckoned he hadn't. And I said it was thinned, and he got his fringe cut and he said “Yes”. I saw him again after that and smiled at him.I have to write 30 times I must not speak in class for science because he caught me speaking - as usual. Trudy’s having a party but I probably won’t be going. Bye.

Saturday April 5^th –  West World, The Movie

I loved this Sci-fi film which starred the gorgeous Yul Brynner as an android in a futuristic Western -themed amusement park populated by androids with which guests could enact their fantasies. Yul Brenner is a gunman who goes out of control after being infected by a computer virus and starts killings guests. After the android kills his best friend, Guest Peter Martin played by Richard Benjamin, Peter tries to kill the android but he just never seems to die - like Terminator.

                   

Played netball today. Won the first game 15- 4, won the second game for Rep training. Went to see West World at Glenbrook. It was quite good and funny. Robert A and Robert B were there and I said hello to them. Stuart, Glen and Mark B were there and we sat next to them all night. It was good. Glen was being his usual stupid self and we were laughing the most. Every time they ate something we were offered one. Oh I didn't tell you I went with Debbie and her parents to the theater. Bye.

Sunday April 6 - I Shave Half My Legs For The First Time

I got up fairly early this morning and boy did I feel sick. I was so tired cause of last night. I didn't get to sleep until 12.30 . Boy I had a great big washing up to do and I've got one tomorrow when I come home. Mum wants me to have my hair styled into shag. But I’m scared it will turn out terrible. Forgot to tell you yesterday, I shaved half of my leg. But it seems to have taken half my tan away and I can’t decide whether to shave the rest off. I don’t want to go to school tomorrow, but I suppose I have to. Bye.

Monday April 7 - “Why don’t you go with all of us”

Mark came up and asked me if I would go with Billy. I told him I like him but not enough to go with him. And then he asked who I liked best and Glenda said “ I know”. Luckily he didn't ask. When we were going to 6^th period, some boys behind me said “ why don’t you go with all of us”. I said “sure” 23 times. I  shaved my legs but only under my knees. I didn't have time to do the rest. I got my library card today. I have a dreadful pain in my stomach. Mum reckons it’s my periods. I hope not. But in a way I do. Seeya

Tuesday April -   I Nick A Dollar

Igor, a tall boy, kept looking at me today. I just kept smiling. I told Debbie she loved herself. Boy did she get shitted up. Jo was away again.I nicked 1 dollar today. God am I ashamed. But I had to. We are absolutely broke and haven’t any money to spare. I never thought we’d be so poor. I don’t know whether to go to school or not cause of cross country, but I spose I have to. I was sick again today, and Mum said “ it’s probably your periods” in front of Mrs Kerosene. Sarah ( Mrs Kerosene’s baby  daughter ) wet her pants, and went and smeared her shitted bum all over the carpet. Seeya.

Wednesday April 9 -  “ Good onya Petra” – For what? Cheating ! And lying ! Conking out!

I did go to school today and went in cross country. I feel ashamed because in the second lap, I conked out , but I told everyone I puked. What a stinking liar. Mark went in it, but he conked out half way too. I was walking past the 15 yr boys who were getting ready for their race, and the usual boys howled out “ Good Onya Petra” – for what? cheating ! and lying ! conking out ! I was eating a packet of chips and all the boys shouted my name and asked for some. I gave them the rest of the packet and they asked me what I came. I told Mark to tell them. Stuart and Gavin were at training today.

Thursday April 10 -  ^­ UUUUUUUUGH

A tall kid with curly hair walked past me and goes “uuuuuuughhh!” And tapped me on the face. I have a funny feeling he likes me cause he keeps looking at me. You know I wish I could go up and talk to them freely. But I never know what to talk about and I guess I’m a bit worried about being alone with all those boys cause none of the other girls would come with me. I was watching them on the oval and on the bus but they didn't see me.

Saturday April 12 -    Mum Finds My Diary Under The Mattress.

I umpired a game today and Michelle was running with me. I’m going for it (the umpire exam) on Wednesday. We won 29 to 1. Trudy was there and that Helen kid who told Trudy’s Mum I called her Mum a mole. And Debbie was acting real smirky, stuck-up and a real bitch. She makes me sick the way she loves herself. Mum found you under the mattress, so I don’t know where I’m going to put you now, cause knowing Mum she read it. Oh yeah, Debbie said “Your Mum still thinks you're sex starved” ( in front of everyone ).

Sunday April 13  - I've Got A Craze For The Song “January” By Pilot.

Pilot

Slept in late this morning and all I did all day was that stupid project I had for cooking, and my neck is killing me. I watched a tiny bit of Countdown. We had tea during my half of it, and Dad wanted to watch the football. I've got a craze of the song “JANUARY” now. My sister’s going away for 4 days tomorrow- peace and quiet at last. Bye.

Monday April 14 - Debbie’s Still Got The Shits With Us 

Debbie’s still got the shits with us, only this time she’s still got the shits with Jo and JB. Because G and Jo were having a conversation on paper and Debbie asked to read it. And G let her. I think G just did it because she was getting all the blame and wanted someone else to get it also. So she showed her the note and it was all about Debbie loving herself and how she knows it. And she’s got a whole gang of kids ( Trudy and about 30 other kids hating us) – the mole.

Tuesday April 15 -  Debbie Wasn't At School Today

Debbie wasn't at school today- the wagger- cause of yesterday, but I guess I don’t blame her. Jo and she had a fight when Jo went to Debbie’s. G deliberately tried to break Jo and Debbie up cause G always hated Debbie and Jo said “ I’ll have to get a new best friend now” and G said “ I will be your new best friend”. I told her too, and I blew her up like hell. Igor really put his arm around me this time but I still luv Mark. Tracy tried to kick me cause I like Mark – but she missed. Anyway bye.

Wednesday April 16 -  We Sort It All Out With Debbie

Debbie came to school today and we sorted it all out. Trudy tried to pair Debbie up with a 5^th form guy. But Debbie wouldn't. So Trudy started crying. Mark walked past me and baulked me. And I didn't realise who it was until I looked back. I waved to him once too. Denton looks really nice when he winks and smiles at me. He did it at me today. Billy and Craig pinched and patted me on the bum at roll call. I was told that means you’re sexy. Mark has football training on Wednesdays, so I can’t see him when I have netball training. I finished my tray and I gave it to Mum. Seeya

Thursday April 17 -  The School Bully Tries To Pick A Fight With Me

The School Bully tried to pick a fight with me today. THE MOLE. But I didn't cause I was being kept in. I was going to third period and all the boys walked past me and said hello. I talked to Craig too. I like Denton and that Jason kid’s OK. But I still like MARK. It’s a fight now, with me and Amanda cause she likes him and so do I. I wish he would ask me. God Mum’s a bitch. She’s got the shits with me and wouldn't let me watch Paul Hogan, so I had a shower and she caught me, and I’m not allowed to have a shower for a week. She can get STUFFED! 

Friday April 18 -  “We Don’t Bother About Crawlers”

Guess what ! Mark hates Amanda. Isn't that wonderful! I was talking to Mark and he was being real sweet. He is fantastic Diary. So are you. Robert said he was going to pair up with me. And bloody Debbie went and took him off me. The School Bully came up to me to fight me and I started talking to her and she walked away saying “we don’t bother about crawlers”. Can’t wait until the party. Bus was late and I was talking to Denton and all them. One of them asked me if I want a screw. I love Mark. I was so happy today I wanted to cry.

Saturday April 19 -  Trudy’s Party – A Conspiracy Of Partners At Postman Knock

We won netball 46- 2. WOW. I went to Trudy’s party. It was boring. We played Spin the Bottle and Postman's Knock but everyone kept on organising their numbers, so that was no fun. All through the night , I kept on wishing Mark was there, and a couple of times I nearly cried. I like Robert though.  I got P but I wouldn't pair up with him, so I said I had to go to the toilet and ran away. If Mark was there it would have been dreamy. Robert is just wonderful and he is really good looking. 

Monday April 21  - We Had Four Prank Calls Today

Nothing much happened today. Ian said he was going to bash Craig up because he was going with Debbie. But Ian doesn't own her. CHRIST! Robert wasn't here today, worst luck, and Debbie’s trying to pair Jo up with him. It’s not fair. We were with the other group today, so I didn't see much of the other guys, and I didn't even say hello to Mark. We had 4 prank calls today, and whoever was on the other end didn't say anything. Rung Debbie and Jo up and had a good old nag. But Mum came home and got all shitted up. Seeya

Tuesday April 22  - The School Bullies Push Me Down the Stairs

Well Debbie’s back with Ian and Jo’s going with Robert. I wanted to go with Robert. Michelle, Debbie and some other girls tried to pick a fight with me. They were pushing me down the stairs and pushing me everywhere. So Debbie and Ian and all of them left me behind, so I blew Debbie up, and she blew me up. And I hate everyone. Even Mark. He started it all. God some people get jealous. And what gets me is that they've got to have a whole bunch of kids to belt me up. Kim was the one who rang us up. I like Robert now. Seeya

Wednesday April 23 - I’m Scared The School Bullies Are Going To Bash me Up.

I didn't go to school today. I put on a sickie act. And I couldn't help thinking about yesterday. I don’t really know whether I like Mark or not, which makes me think that I’m just pretending to like him, so I can believe I really like someone. And I don’t really get to see much of the other boys or Mark cause we've joined the other group and I hate it.

I’m scared that those girls are going to bash me up. And I’m hoping they won’t. I’m not good at fighting. I don’t like it. And I don’t like to cause much attention. Especially if I have to try and fight against a whole bunch of kids. Well I dread tomorrow but I've got to find out whether I like Mark or not. Seeya

Thursday April 24 - Everybody Hates Me

Everybody hates me, even Mark and the other guys. I started singing “nobody loves me everybody hates me” (“ I think I’ll go eat worms” – a song Dad used to sing when Mum was upset with him),  and Debbie goes “How did u get the hint?”. Nobody talks to me and everybody gives me a dirty look. Debbie said to everyone that I like Robert. Jo hates me and Robert avoids me. So I went away (everyone was glad) and Grady says “everyone’s up there and that’s where you should be”. They even organised a day at Ian’s, but they said it in secret, so I would know. From now on, I’m going to keep my mouth shut. I still like Mark I guess. I want to cry and I keep wishing Mark was with me. Oh lord help me PLEASE.

Friday April 25 - “How To Win Friends and Influence People”

There wasn't any school today, and all I did was watch TV. Glenda came down and I said, “Everyone hates me don’t they?”, and Glenda said “Yes”. She doesn't know why though. Neither do I. I didn't do anything, I don’t know why they hate me. They even organised a day at Ian’s for Jo and Robert, Ian and Debbie, and Glenda and Michael. They didn't want singles coming ( JB and me ). I didn't tell you but I’m reading a book called “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. Maybe that will help.

Saturday April 26 - Debbie Reckons They Don’t all Hate Me

We won netball 20 to 16, and won the other 23- 14. Saw Debbie today and she reckons they don’t all hate me. She hates G, you should of heard what Debbie was saying – it was really bad. She reckons G's got her little claws on Robert and Debbie says that G wasn't coming to Ian’s place cause she’s planning to nab Robert. I couldn't go anyway, I've got Rep next week. Can’t wait. I wonder if I should tell G. I've learned a couple of things from the book I’m reading, but whether it will work or not I don’t know. Seeya

Sunday April 27 -  ^“I Got My Periods. Isn't That wonderful!”

Well they finally came, I got my periods. Isn't that wonderful! I told Mum and she was elated. She’s going “ Oh at last my little woman” and all this. She was really happy. Trouble is its worse the next day, and Mum’s going to go away for 4 days. So I’m in trouble. I’m scared about tomorrow though. I have to wear pads, and they’re really bulky.

Monday April 28  - I Still Like Mark

We had a fight with G in Science about Robert. First of all she splits Debbie and Jo up, and now she’s trying to split Robert and Jo up. Roberts OK. I saw Mark. I still like him. And I spoke to Craig. I wish we hadn't have joined the other group, cause I don’t see much of those boys anymore.

Tuesday April 29 - I Was In A Bitch Fight Today

I was in a bitch fight today with The School Bully. I was sitting on the stairs and I tried to get out of it but I couldn't. She bloody well wrapped a broken bangle around her fingers (knuckle buster). It had a spike on the end too and she kept on whipping me on the face with it. I've got a scratch mark and bruises of my forehead, a black eye which is killing me, a whopping headache ( where she pushed my head real hard on the brick wall ), and a monstrous bruise lump on my leg when she kicked me cause I was bending her fingers back. I am sore all over. I couldn't stand it anymore. She was pestering me for a fight so I gave her one. I just hope she doesn't come back for more. After that I walked away to the library and I started crying. But I wasn't crying cause she hurt me. I was crying cause I made a fool of myself fighting. About 20 teachers asked me what was wrong. And Trudy said “Someone bashed her up”, instead of that “she was in a fight”. I told Thompson and she said she would tell Mr. Curry. And later we were watching the Tasman Cup soccer and she ( The School Bully) came back for more. But Thompson was there. If she fights any more I’ll get Dad onto her. And if she still persists, I’ll get the police. I wish Mark was there to comfort me, but he hates my guts, and now he doesn't say hello anymore. Neither do the other guys. Poor Denton had to get 2 cuts off Bedoe today. Robert was going to drop Jo for a stir but he didn't cause Jo said if he did she’d drop him for real. My periods have stopped and I LOVE MARK.

Wednesday April 30 - The School Bully Comes Back for More, Bringing Ten Other Kids With Her AND  They Break Sue’s Ankle. I Wish I was Dead.

I was in an embarrassing situation today. I didn't wear a pad to school cause I thought my periods had stopped. But they didn't, cause in the morning a whole lot came out. I thought I had wet myself but it was blood, right through my pants. So I had to tell Thompson and she told me to wash my pants so I could put on someone’s bloomers and put my pants in the drier. Then the seniors came in and I didn't know what to say. So I just said “I’ve got something in the drier”. I thought they’d never leave! Jo dropped Robert cause she reckons he doesn't like her. Debbie said that Ian’s going to drop her.

The School Bully did come back for more, only this time she bought 10 other kids with her. And they tried to drag me out of the library, but I dug my nails into them. Then a bloody teacher went and dragged me out!  Debbie and Jo got real worried cause they thought they were involved. Then The School Bully pushed Sue down the stairs, and she broke her ankle. There’s a rumour that she’s been expelled. Oh Lord I hope so. Cassandra reckons I’m going to have another one. Everyone was too gutless to tell Thompson who pushed Sue down the stairs, because they are scared they are going to get bashed up. Ian’s bloody gutless I tell you. I talked to Mark and said I hadn't seen him for a long time. He asked why we weren't on the stairs, and I told him cause Jo's going with Robert, and he goes “ that white girl” . I think he likes her. Why am I so unpopular? I haven’t done anything against anyone. I wish I was dead.

TO BE CONTINUED....

ARE YOU BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL? The following resources might be helpful:

·         Bullying No Way

·         National Centre Against Bullying

·         Raising Children Network

Written By Petra Campbell

Web: www.petramcampbell.com

Email: kpmm@ozemail.com.au

Twitter: @petraau

Facebook:www.facebook.com/petra.campbell.31

Back to School - The Party, the NO Party, and the Dance.

The seventies are in full swing. My fashionable Dutch “hippy” Mum often wore a vivid long rayon technicolour dress with a swirly design; just looking at it turned you crossed eyed and made you feel like you were spinning through a Doctor Who psychedelic enhancer. And she had a shaggy coat with hair as long as a Shih Tzu, rivaled only by the length of our carpet pile. Dad wore bell bottom trousers and shirts with long pointy collars to work; and caftan tops at home. He had scratchy black sideburns. The interior of our house was classic 1970’s: everything was in shades of green, brown, orange, mustard and cream: from the mottled shaggy carpet, slime green tiles and snazzy olive tone wallpaper to the carpeted lounge chairs, the sunset tiled coffee table and copper wall hangings that Mum was very good at making. Our dining room table was covered in a woven rug which really should have been on the floor – a weird habit the Dutch have. Orange and red lights glowed everywhere, especially in our rustic bar. It was the cool part of the house where friends and family gathered. The walls were covered with shimmering gold and copper wall paper. Fijian Tapa was wrapped around the bar, and funky objects dangled from the ceiling.

Dad grew up a wild child of nature in the north western Outback of New South Wales. The 70’s suited him: he was close to earth and a poet by heart. When he wasn't attending to his subsistence ‘farm’ on our quarter acre block, or watching the footy or cricket, he had his head buried in books, especially the dictionary. Dad loved to read the dictionary. He had won a scholarship to study law at Sydney University but because it was means tested and his father never filed a tax return, he couldn't accept the scholarship or he would get his father into trouble. How parents shape their children’s future. So Dad went to Armidale Teachers College instead – and read the dictionary. By the time we moved to the mountains, Dad had traded teaching for an electronic business just when modern goods were bursting onto Australian shelves. So while we never seemed to have money, we always had the latest household gizmos – and plenty of home grown vegetables to eat.

So much has already happened around the planet since 1975 started. In the world of space, that ‘small step for man and giant leap for mankind’ -and everything else science -has turned into incredible bounds: the USSR’s Soyuz 17 carries 2 cosmonauts into space; Landsat 2, an Earth Resources Technology Satellite, is launched and returns to earth less than a month later, and an Earth-bound object travels 7200 kmph in a vacuum centrifuge in England for the first time.
 

Importantly for us ladies, it’s International Women’s Year and some women definitely proved that we could do anything as well as men: on February 20th Margaret Thatcher is elected leader of British Conservative Party ( she went on become the longest serving Prime Minister in the UK in the 20th Century and was the only woman in UK history to hold that post). Joining her in the ranks of the conservatives is Malcolm Frazer who becomes leader of the Australia Liberal Party, the party my father voted for.

But ever looming over us is the end of the world and the end of oil. The USA blows up their own Nevada desert with another underground nuclear test and the USSR does the same in someone else’s country (Kazakhstan), escalating what became known as ‘mutually assured destruction’, a.k.a. MAD.  The USA is panicking over the energy crisis so it introduces daylight savings two months earlier than usual to save oil.

In Australia, 2JJ, the predecessor of our iconic and cool youth radio station Triple J, goes to air for the first time on January 19.  But most of us listen to commercial stations where the top hits at this time in 1975  were by Daryl Braithwaite who told women “You’re My World” ( sporting a cigarette while singing in his video clip), Billy Swan offers assistance to longing women in “ I Can Help”, William Shakespeare tells his daughter she's “My Little Angel” , and The Carpenters were begging “MrPostman” for a letter. I used to sing along to the Carpenters because their songs were in my singing range, and about the only band I understood the lyrics to. We didn't have Google back then so we couldn't just look the lyrics up on the internet. Countdown went to air for the first time in colour on March 1, with John Farnham as host. 

But most of us going to Springwood High were blissfully unaware of what was happening in the wider adult world because it’s time to go back to school!

The Party, the NO Party, and the Dance.

My heart has been beating for Mark ever since I started High School.

Wednesday January 29^{th -}  I Hate Second Form

Dear Diary,

School started. I got in some good classes but I hate second form. I didn't see any of my friends or anything. I saw Mark. He’s simply wonderful. I still like him. It’s just not fair that he’s in third year. I don’t think he’s paying any attention to me. I've got to go now. Bye.

Thursday January 30^th -   I've Done Something Terrible but I Can’t Tell You What

Dear Dairy,

Guess what? We had to catch a different bus to school today and when I got on it Mark was on it. He kept looking at me though I don’t think it means anything. In first period Mark was on the bus marker next to us. I think he saw me. In second period he was in the Lab next to me. Oh Diary how I wished he liked me. Mum’s in a shitty mood – come to think of it, she’s been like that for a long time. I've done something terrible but I can’t tell you what. Maybe when the time comes I will. Bye for now.

Friday January 31 - I Have to Make my Own Clothes

My mother taught me how to wash, clean, cook, sew, knit and crochet. That’s what she was taught in boarding school in Holland so that’s what she passed onto me. If we wanted clothes we usually had to make them ourselves.

Dear Diary

I made a skirt to wear to squash tomorrow. It’s white and it’s OK. Bye

Saturday February 1 – Squash 

Squash was popular in the 70’s and 80’s. It’s hard to find a squash court today. It was my favorite sport with netball which I played, coached and umpired.

Dear Diary

I went to squash today with Glenda and Mark was there. I played a couple games with him and we had real fun. He walked home with me and we had a good old talk. It was good. I like Mark a lot.  Bye

Saturday Feb 15 -  We only Got Two Dollars to Spend at the Show!

Went to Penrith show today with Mum and Dad. It was really good but we hardly had any money: we had $2.00 each to spend and we only stayed for one hour. Saw Debbie and gang but couldn't stick with them cause of Mum and Dad. And you know what? After one hour there we drove to the pub with Mum and Dad and waited three hours for them!!

Wednesday Feb 27 -  Everyone’s Excited About The Party

Dear Diary

Sorry I haven’t written to you for a long time. I forgot about it but I didn't really have much to say. Everyone is excited about the party and I can't wait. I sat in agony today watching everyone swim and I was really hot. It wasn’t fair. I had a cold so I couldn't go swimming. Got to go now. I should have written cause plenty of things have happened and now I've forgotten it all.  Seeya.

Thursday Feb 28 -  The Party.

Dear Diary,

I've just been to a party. It was really good. Glen kept stirring me and calling me Frigid Bardot which I hate. I slapped him a couple of times for it.

Friday Feb 29­ - He tried to strangle his Teddy Bear

Denton wants to go with me. They dragged him right in front of me and told me. He must have felt really embarrassed cause I was. Later they came up and told me that he was getting desperate and he tried to strangle his teddy bear, jump off a cliff. I like him but not enough to go with him. Mark walked me to class today. There was a lot of talk about the party.

Saturday March 1   -  I Had a Drag but it Made Me Sick

Dear Diary

I forgot to tell you, Mum and Dad have gone to Fiji for a week and are coming back tomorrow. I’m staying at the Priestley’s, Jenny's at the Kerrisons. Cindy came over with a pack of smokes. I told her to piss off somewhere else with them. She had 10 in a row. GOD. I had a drag but it made me sick. Bye.

Sunday March 2 -  My New "Cheesecloth" Top

Mum and Dad are home, Mum gave me a top with tassels everywhere (its cheesecloth), some beads, a ruler, some soap and jam. They told me all about their trip and everything. I wish I had been there with them. We ‘might’ be going next year though. They are both really sun burnt and they didn't even lie in the sun. Better go now. I’m glad they had a good time though.

Thursday March 6 - Cooking Classes

Nothing happened today. We are making rice salad, potato salad and tossed salad ( in cooking) and French salad dressing. Jenny Kelly was picked to do the table decorations and everything - as usual. Nothing more happened, so I’m going now. Bye.

Friday March 7   -   Does This Girl Have VD?

This girl was away Thursday and Friday and everyone’s kicked up a big fuss about it.  We were afraid it’s a feeling of guilt but there's probably an innocent reason why she wasn't at school. But we don’t know what to think. Glenda went and told Debbie that I had a smoke a couple of weeks ago, the bloody bitch. I’m not speaking to her. I've got the shits with her. Bye now.

Sunday March 9 -  I’m allowed to Have a Party!!!

I spoke to Debbie last night and discussed me having a party. Oh by the way this girl has a bad cold so it wasn't our suspicions.

I’m allowed to have a party!!!

I asked Mum and Dad this morning if I could have a party and they said yes! Isn't it wonderful? Bye

Monday March 10 - I Hand out Invitations to My Party

I gave out invitations today and everyone is excited. especially Debbie. I can’t wait either. Mark said he would pair up with me today , whether or not he will I don’t know. Denton and Gary dobbed on us today cause we didn't have a library pass. He also told Lynette he liked me but not enough to go with me. Thank God. Bye Now.

Wednesday  March 12 -  OMG - Mum finds a secret note in my school uniform pocket and cancels my party AND I’m banned from going to a party EVER again!!!

Deb and I had a conversation in science on Monday ( on paper) about the party. Things which I wouldn't want Mum and Dad to know about. Anyway, I left the piece of paper in my uniform and Mum read it. Because of that Mum said I can’t have the party and I’m not allowed to go to any more parties cause bloody Mum reckons we're too young to kiss and cuddle as she would say. She got me all upset and Dad isn't even home now so I’m waiting for a great big lecture. I’m not looking forward to it. I’ll tell you all about it when it happens.

Thursday  March 13– Everyone is Upset about the Party

BOY have I got the shits with Mum. I came home and asked her about the party again and she said NO! So I blew her up and was being very nasty and cheeky to her and she got the shits with me and threw me out the door. Then she came in my room and tried to get the lock off my door, but she couldn't. Everyone was upset about the party. Denton, Mark, all of them sat around me today and wouldn't let me go, telling me all these things.

Friday March 14 - Mum Takes the Light out of My Room – and I Still Can’t have the Party

Denton and all them were sitting around me again today, I was sitting on a seat waiting for Debbie and them and all of them came around and sat next to me and wouldn't let me go but I finally got away. I still can’t have the party and everyone's upset about it. Mum went and took the light out of my room tonight the bitch. Bye

Saturday March 15 - I leave ANOTHER note for Mum for to Find with “Terrible Dirty Things” in it

Mum found the stir note Glenda and I wrote to Paul but she didn't tell me about it and I only found out about it today.  Dad keeps saying things like “do you want to go back to your room and “write another letter’”. Then he told me about the letter. Oh God what have I done? They can’t even trust their own daughter. Oh Lord please help me. I’m ashamed. I hate everyone.

Sunday March 16  - Any Other Parent Would do What Mum Did

 I had a talk with Dad last night about the letter and he gave this lecture on sex and was very understanding. Dad said it wasn't the letter that got him it was how I left it in my top draw for Mum to find! Anyway I talked to Dad about the parties and dance etc and he said not to mention it anymore until the next party and tell him about it first. I didn't think Mum would get so shitted up about playing spin the bottle, it was the letter, but why didn't she tell me? I guess she was too disgusted. God I hate myself. I bet any other parent would do what Mum did under the circumstances so Mum isn't as bad as I made out. I’ll tell you more about it later.

 Monday March 17 - What do you reckon

 I had the same old shits with Craig , Denton, Mark and all of them . They reckon they are going to come to my place today and they did. I was just walking out the door when I saw them and ran inside and started being really stupid and wetting myself and when I finally did come out I didn't say anything. Anyway, Glenda asked them what they were here for. Bill said “what do you reckon”.  

Tuesday March 18  - 

 Went to netball training. Saw Bill, Stewart, Mark and some other kids. Cassandra was there today worst luck and Cindy. Cathy and Cathy were smoking on the way home.

Thursday March 20 - I Still Love Mark

Mark was on library duty. I asked him how he went in the swimming carnival: he came 4^th. I still love him. Debbie and Jo had a fight but made up at lunch time. Three boys are coming over to see me on Monday but I don’t know who they are. I hope its Mark.

Saturday March  22 -  I’ll Never Dance with Mr Neighbour Again!

Played netball against Penrith Rep. Lost all games 11-6, 11-7, 6-4. I made a skirt to wear to the dance today in 2 hours – how’s that for a record. Watched The Osmonds on TV. Gosh they are good, really fantastic. When I was going to bed Dad wanted to dance with me and then Mr Neighbour.  Mr Neighbour holds you so close and tight. I started getting nervous, so I said I was getting hot and went to get a drink and said good night –Thank God. His face was one inch from mine, can you imagine! I’ll never dance with him again! It would be OK if it was MARK. Mum went and took my bed lamp off my bed cause I left my light on Sunday. Seeya

Sunday March 23 - 

 I can’t wait until tomorrow afternoon. I think I’ll just stay in my uniform. The only trouble is if Mum’s home I’ll have to go to Glenda’s – if she lets me. If she isn't I’ll have to stay home cause I’m not allowed anywhere if she’s not home. Anyway, we’ll see what happens. Mum took my light out of my room and she isn’t going to give it back. Bye.

Monday March 24 – “ If You Want to talk About Me, Do it at My Face”

They didn't come. This time I was looking forward to them coming and they didn't. Pooh.  I had a fight with Debbie today. Debbie dropped Ian and then went back with him Debbie told me to piss off because they were talking about me. And I said, “as you said, if you want to talk about me, do it at my face” and she said “at least I make sure you’re far away before I talk about you” and we carried on. So Jo, Julie and I pissed off and we’re not going back for a while either, I haven’t told you about the dance yet and it’s on Wednesday

Tuesday March 25 –My New Blue Opal Nail Polish is “Beautiful”

No school today isn't that wonderful? It was a drag. All I did was homework – oh yeah, I wrote a letter to Cheryll and sent it. I also went to the shops and bought some nail polish – blue opal. It’s beautiful. I just put some on and I reshaped my nails. I told Dad about the dance and he said he can’t take me cause of work, we’ll work something out though. Seeya

Wednesday March 26 - The Dance

The dance was good. I flirted a lot and won free bottles of drink and two handkerchiefs by bringing the boys a shoelace and a belt to a teacher. I danced with a lot of boys and Stewart but he went off later with Glenn and flirted with other girls. Stewart was really serious with one chick, Renea someone or rather. The band was quite good and we danced a lot. Many boys put their arms around me. Boy I wish Mark was there but 3^rd form weren't allowed. It’s not fair. I got sprung a few times for not wearing shoes. I've got glitter through my hair and it won’t come out. I had it on my face too. If only Mark was there. The dance would have been just perfect.

Thursday March 27– I Guess its Puppy Love

The group of boys asked me if wanted to do to the party again and I said I don’t know, Ill have to think about it. What would happen if I went to the party and I turned out to be the only girl going? I hate to think about it. I said hello to Mark today and then Cathy started talking to him. And I got jealous. I luv mark. I guess it’s ‘puppy love’ though but people have told him so many times I like him so he must get very sick of me. I went to sleep in maths today. I was so tired. I think I hurt my hip at the dance cause it was aching today and I could hardly walk.

Friday March 28  -  “We Went Down the Bush on Our Bikes”

I slept in until 11.00 this morning. Isn’t that terrible! I was so tired. Mr Priestly fixed my bike. Stewart , Gavern , Craig and Tonkins rode by on their bikes and Stewart goes “hello passionfruit” and all this and I had to explain to Leanne who was who. We went down the bush on our bikes, boy did we have a rough time. I keep wishing Mark was here. I really like him. God if anyone (Mum, Dad, or Jenny) ever read this diary. Well I hate to think about it. Anyway they shouldn't have been snooping in my bedroom!

Saturday March 29  – I Have to do Boys Jobs Around the House.

We had no boys in the family so I had to do the lion’s share of helping Dad around the garden since my sister was only ten.

Dear Diary

Dad wanted us to carry a whole tonne of thick branches of trees down the front for him to burn. God they were heavy. You know the fire started burning and then it started raining and the fire kept burning and it’s still burning. The Priestley’s were supposed to come to tea tonight and we got all the dishes ready and everything and Mr Priestly rang to say they couldn't come cause Mr Priestly is sick! Well its Easter tomorrow and no eggs. What’s an Easter without eggs!

Sunday March 30- Its Easter and We Didn't Have ANY Eggs at All!!!

Nothing much happened today. We had to relight the fire because it went out. Well it’s Easter. I slept in in the morning.  Mum gave us 1 dozen eggs( chocolate) in a funny sort of egg box.  Jenny and I gave Mum and Dad some eggs too. Guess what, every Easter Mum Boils eggs and colours them and we can eat as many as we like. But this Easter we didn't have ANY eggs at all!!!

Monday March 31 – God it’s Getting Cold

Leanne’s real stuck up –most boarders get that way. She doesn't even say hello to me anymore. And if I say hello to her she ignores me. At first she was good kid but now? The stump finally burnt out and plenty of wood was left over and I had to take it all back up again. God its getting cold, it really is. The winds howling and it’s raining. Talk about miserable weather hey! See-ya,

Written by Petra Campbell

Web: www.petramcampbell.com

Email: kpmm@ozemail.com.au

Twitter: @petraau

Facebook:www.facebook.com/petra.campbell.31