Where Did All The Koala's Go?

Koala Road

We lived at 40  Koala Road Blaxland, in the Blue Mountains. Not Smith Road or Jones Road. Koala Road. A road named after our iconic cuddly cutie pie of a Koala, when Koalas were living there. There hasn't been a Koala sighted in the Blue Mountains since the 1940’s. Not until the Springwood bush fire of 2013 when to the incredulity of Blue Mountain folk, a few heat struck smoked out and bedraggled Koalas emerged from their incinerated hideaways desperately searching for safety and water. 

I can’t imagine how anyone could possibly point a gun at, much less shoot, a Koala. But the early industrial British had run out of their own furry wild animals by the time they arrived in Australia, and with the same efficiency used back home to exterminate wildlife, they went on to shoot animals en mass in Australia too. By 1924, the new settlers had entirely wiped Koalas off the face of South Australia, severely depleted them in New South Wales, and almost eradicated them in Victoria, bar 500 odd individuals. In 1919 alone, one million Koalas were slaughtered in Queensland, and when a moratorium on hunting Koalas expired in 1927, Queenslanders massacred a further 800,000 Koalas in a mind boggling single month.  One month!

I guess it would have been easy to kill 800,000 Koalas in one month. It’s not like they run away real fast anywhere. Most of the day, when hunters were out and about and on the prowl, Koalas were snoozing, or leisurely hanging around their trees, minding their own fluffy cuddly business, chewing away at juicy eucalyptus leaves, stretching their legs and arms and leaving them outstretched, and generally just lazing around in such impossible positions one wonders how it is they don’t fall out of their trees. I’m just surprised the hunters didn't rather pick them up and squeeze them to death, that’s how unbearably and irresistibly cute Koala's are.  Finally public outrage at the slaughter forced governments in all states to declare the Koala a protected species by the late 1930's. Not so however for the particular gum trees who’s leaves Koalas love to eat, which continue to be bulldozed to this day to make space for the nonstop growth of people. Koala’s never recovered in the Blue Mountains and they are now on the brink of extinction throughout Australia. 

Imagine an Australia without Koalas.

Growing up we used to look skywards at towering gums swaying in the mountain breeze desperately trying to spot a Koala. “I see a Koala! Do you see it? There it is- look ! Up there- in THAT tree”, one of us would holler excitedly as we trekked through the bush to our favourite waterhole, rock ledge or secret meeting cave. “Where? I don’t see it?”, another would complain squinting up at the sun. Then our hearts would sink with insulted disappointment when we realised that it wasn't a Koala at all, it was a swollen node of wood or some kind of hive tricking us into thinking it was a Koala hugging its branch. And so my street name lied to me and I never saw a Koala on my road or anywhere else in the mountains growing up. And I wasn't happy with the adults before us who so selfishly used up all the Koalas, not thinking to leave us any to enjoy.

Our Koala Road was also not in some commonly named suburb either; we lived in Blaxland, a place named after one of the 3 wealthy landowners who opened up the Blue Mountains to human settlement in 1813. Gregory Blaxland came with his family to Australia as a free settler and soon owned large areas of farmland around Sydney. But Sydney was swelling with hungry mouths and more and more land was needed to graze more and more sheep and cattle. The settlement needed to push out west. Six other expeditions had tried to forge through the mountains but failed. Prompted by a severe drought, Blaxland decided that he would have a go. Coaxing fellow landowners William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth to trek along, he took a different route than the failed expeditions before him – across the ridge tops rather than through the valleys. Apart from three convicts and notorious Kangaroo hunter, James Burns, all the team took with them was four pack horses carrying  six weeks supply of salted meat and flour, seven handguns, tents, a hoe, cutting tools and a compass. It was a tough gig being a wealthy exploratory farmer back then: forging a track through impenetrable vegetation using only rudimentary hand tools; salted meat and bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner; sleeping at night in the dark without a fire, fearing the smoke would bring on an attack by Aborigines who never agreed to share Australia with the English invaders. 

Because they traversed the ridges it only took six days to cross the mountains before the men spotted the grazing hills to the west they were hoping to find. Humans, cows and sheep soon followed – and right behind them were the fur traders slaughtering to near extinction all the Koalas in the Blue Mountains. The road our bus took every day to ferry us to and from school, and the railway line we became dependent on to cart us in and out of the mountains when we were old enough, follows the exact route Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson took.

Nor was Forty Koala Road Blaxland nestling in a banal patch of bush. It buffered what would become UNESCO listed World Heritage National Park. Of course we always knew our mountains were very special, only now they were special to the whole wide world. Starting fifty kilometers west of Sydney, the Greater Blue Mountains Area is 1.03 million hectares of jaw dropping magnificence: an ancient explosion of sandstone plateaux, escarpments and gorges carpeted with temperate eucalypt forest spanning over seven outstanding National Parks which include Blue Mountains, Wollemi, Yengo, Nattai, Kanangra-Boyd, Gardens of Stone, Thirlmere Lakes National Parks, and the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve. These parks together parade the most intact scelerophyll forest wilderness remaining in the world, and the most significant representation of Australia's biodiversity. This includes endemic and evolutionary relict species, like the Wollemi pine, and significant numbers of rare or threatened species like our gorgeous Koala. Blue Mountain Koalas have high levels of genetic diversity so they are considered important to Koala conservation. The UNESCO listed area is precious to what’s left of Koalas Australia wide so it was a bitter sweet event when some Koalas escaped the 2013 fires to be spotted by humans for the first time in 70 years, because while it revealed that Koalas were clinging on, it also meant that many more probably perished in the fire, as did their trees. And as we are now seeing with the current Australian government’s attempt to de-list the UNESCO listed Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and with the same government's attitude to not protecting the UNESCO listed Great Barrier Reef, being UNESCO world listed is no guarantee of long term protection from human greed. As I write this post a new petition is going around to Stop Coal Seam Gas Exploration in the Blue Mountains, not only UNESCO listed, but the catchment area for Sydney's water supply. Will future generations of Blue Mountain kids be angry with us too when we leave them swimming holes, creeks and ground water so poisoned with hydrocarbons that they can't swim in them anymore like we did as children?

My childhood was stamped with history, nature and international significance, just by virtue of my address. It was a very privileged childhood of a non material kind. What else could a child want than an endless grand expanse of bush to explore, imagine and adventure in. We didn't have personal technology. We were down at the waterhole tying up meat or bread, or bits of our left over lunch onto a piece of string to lure yabbies out of their muddy hiding places.  We were dancing to the energy of nature under fresh unpolluted water falls and basking in the sun on sandstone rocks with blue tongue and frill necked lizards, turning our heads up to the sky to see fantails of light filtering though a carousel of tree tops. Kookaburra’s, King Parrots, Rainbow Lorikeets, Crimson Rosellas, Galahs and Cockatoos, Wrens and Robins – so many colourful symphonic birds chorused through the wilderness while the blended fragrance of boronias, swamp heaths, wattle, eucalyptus, lavender, and earthy fresh water engulfed our senses and relaxed our bodies. We were cycling home from school and to our friend’s places through bush tracks, and flattening our tyres as wallabies looked on. We went bush walking to wherever – sometimes we didn't know to where because the mountains were vast, but we went there anyway – and managed to find our way back without falling off cliffs or being bitten by snakes. We built secret hideaways out of branches, leaves and ferns. We grounded fine dust out of coloured sandstone, mixing it with water to paint our faces and bodies. And we would run very fast away from scary blokes we would sometimes bump into out in the bush.  Even our school cross country wasn't a boring run around and around and around some grassed oval– we ran literally across country, through the bush.

I had no idea that in the rest of Australia and throughout much of the planet, forests were disappearing at a metastasised rate. I thought the whole world was a natural paradise like the beautiful country I grew up in.

Australia in July 1975

By 1975 when thugs and corruption ruled the underworld of our urban environments, the same thing that robbed us of our Koalas  was manifesting itself between real  estate developers and a groundswell of people who considered it important for Australian culture, young as it was, to preserve beautiful and unique historical buildings and neighbourhoods so finely hand crafted by our colonial ancestors. This month in July, Sydney newspaper publisher and heiress, Juanita Nielsen disappeared. She is widely considered to have been murdered by agents of the now dead property developer Frank Theeman, because she was crusading against his plans to demolish a historic part of Victoria Street in Kings Cross, an area which the National Trust compared to Montmartre in Paris. Theeman intended to replace the demolished  buildings with high rise apartments. Juanita, along with local residents had successfully lobbied the Builders Labourer’s Federation to impose a 'green ban' on the site in 1972, and Juanita used her newspaper, NOW, to push their case. Juanita’s body was never found. It is thought she is cemented into the foundations of one of the buildings that were going up in the Cross at the time. Juanita Nielsen leaves the legacy of raising the profile of a marginalised but growing conservation movement. The last scumbag likely to know her fate and thought to have been her killer, Eddie Trigg, died 2013 without confessing on his deathbed. This brutal affront to our democracy inspired two fabulous Australian films, The Killing of Angel Street  (1981) Directed by Donald Crombie: 

And Heatwave, (1982) Directed by Phillip Noyce:

The World in July 1975

ARPANET'S first Router

The INTERNET’S parents are born to the US Department of Defense this month: they called their baby the ARPANET. And putting a giant lump in the world's throat,the US Apollo and the Russian Soyuz meet up in space sealing the final chapter of the Space War and ending the Apollo Space Program with one final splashdown.  US astronauts would not be seen again until 1981 when they would swagger onto a tarmac to catch a Space Shuttle.

The first international agreement to protect wildlife and plants from extinction as a result of poaching and trade comes into effect this month too. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora took 12 years to be triggered following a resolution adopted back at a 1963 meeting of member countries of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These things tragically take time compared to the speed at which animals can be made extinct.

He's A Sex Maniac. July 1975

Meanwhile at Springwood High School, I finally stop pining over Mark - much to my children's relief. There is a party on this month and for the first time I experience the sexual pressure boys were putting on us 13 year old girls. No wonder my parents found any and every unjustifiable excuse to ground me right before a party. Slut was a word commonly used among teens by now. The older Oxford Dictionary meaning for slut was ‘a woman with low standards of cleanliness'. Over time it morphed into meaning: ‘a woman who has many casual sexual partners’.  We were far from being women and I didn't know anyone who was having sexual partners, much less many of them and casually. It was only last month I found that being pinched on the bum meant you were 'sexy'. But we certainly knew the word was derogatory and had something to do with being with boys. Girls used it against other girls either because they did start experimenting early, or to maliciously ruin their reputation or in territorial posturing. Boys deployed the word for the same reason or out of rejection. While I just 'luv' all the boys and think their smiles are 'just beautiful', I wasn't at all ready for anything more than the innocent Postman’s Knock, where I could always get out of being 'next' - by needing to vomit for example. To spare readers from cringing, I have replaced a most unpleasant word that starts with 'f' and has more than four letters, with a family friendly word - after some consultation.

Tuesday July 1 – “I've got a real bad cold”

I've got a real bad cold and I might even lose my voice again. I went and talked to Craig and he said “How come you were away yesterday?” And I said "I had a cold", and he said “Oh” and was acting real hostile. So cold I felt. Blackborrow started blowing me up today and sent me outside for nothing.

Wednesday July 3 -  "My sister was a real angel”

I didn't go to school today cause of my cold. God it’s bad. I feel really sick and it’s really bad. My sister was a real angel. She stayed home and made me stay in bed and fed me and never groaned when I asked her to do something. She was great.

Thursday July 3 – “I didn't go to school today”

I didn't go to school today again and I feel just as bad as yesterday. I miss Denton and Jason and all the rest of them.

Friday July 4 – 

Well I went to school today and I shouldn't have. I wore my scarf. I felt silly. But it was warm. Some kids laughed and some said it was good. Mark goes “whoo-hoo” cause of my scarf. Gees Billy doesn't talk much. Deb was going to postpone the party. I wish she had have cause there’s only going to be six: Jo and Mark, Debbie and Craig and me and G.  I hope the other girl comes. Anyway, I’ll leave the rest of the space for the party.

Saturday July 5 -  The Party-“you’re not a slut if you let someone touch you occasionally”

Wow the party was great. We played Spin the Bottle, Postman’s Knock and Truth and Dare. Plus the usual lying around, dancing and eating. The boys were stupid all night and I couldn't stop laughing. 

There was plenty of food but we had to bring our own drinks and supply transport. At one stage Debbie got the shits with Craig cause Craig had the shits with Debbie cause she wouldn't dance with him. Everyone was flirting so much. 

Sunday July 6 –

Debbie just rang and we had a great old talk about the party. 

Monday July 7 - “Are you going to sit next to me”

I missed my bus (on purpose) to try on a pair of Debbie’s jeans. I had to catch Borea Street bus and I started talking to Mark and Billy. Anyway we were rambling on and Mark asked me if I was going in the sports carnival and said that I was going to win it. Billy said “Are you going to sit next to me” but I didn't say anything. Then Turnbull told me to "Get in line!", and Mark goes “it’s all your fault”. As I got off the bus he gave this funny look. Sports carnival is on tomorrow and Thursday, and it’s a mufti day and I have nothing to wear.

Tuesday July 8 - 1st in high jumps, tie second in long jumps, 2^nd in hurdles, 1st in 100m

Well today was the sports carnival and we didn't sit anywhere near the boys. But all the time I was in the events so it didn't really matter. I came 1st in high jumps; tie 2nd in long jumps, 2^nd in hurdles, 1st in 100 meters, and 3^rd in 200 meters. When I was running the 200 meters I heard the guys call out “Go Petra!”. Same with when I was hurdling and the 100 meters. They’re sweet. It was Mum’s birthday today and she was quite happy. Oma sent her a letter saying her sister had gone mad, her brother was being shitty keeping her out of the house, and the money is coming soon! WOW. I want some stripy socks to go with my jeans and some gum boots.

Wednesday July 9 - "These girls were calling me a slut, the f’ing moles".

When I was in woodwork Denton was close to me and he smiled and said hello and I smiled back and on the way to lunch he was walking behind me. At the end period 4 , these girls were calling me a slut, the f’ing moles.  Everyone at training gave me the shits. They’re always being nasty and harassing me at the bust stop.

Thursday July 10- I came 3^rd in Javelin, 2^nd in hurdles

We had second half of sports carnival today. Wow. Trevor and all them came down and sat with us all day. I think they like Jo cause Trevor called Jo 'sexy'. First of all Dixon and Mark sat next to me, then Trevor and Canon and Canon and Dixon had a fight over who was going to sit next to me. God it was funny. When I was under the blanket Billy asked if he could come under but I said there wasn't enough room. Trevor kept putting his hands and head up my legs and I once kicked him in the face which I shouldn't have cause it hurt him. When I was sitting next to Trevor and this other kids, Michelle and all them came over ( they were only a couple of yards away from us) to take a picture of  the boys, and B told me to Piss Off! The f’ing mole. Then they tried to take a photo of Marc and Amanda with their arms around each other but Mark wouldn't and he kept looking at me. With those girls near us I was sort of scared they were going to pick a fight with me. I came 3^rd in Javelin, 2^nd in hurdles 4^th in 100 meters and 6^th in 200 meters. Our relay came second and we did pretty bad in the ball games. Altogether 'Chapma'n was coming second by 6 points only. At a couple of stages we were coming first. It was great. Seeya.

Friday July 11- “Debbie is in hospital to get a wart cut out”

Nothing much happened today. Didn't see much of the boys. Last night I got a phone call from Paul Sharp but I didn't say much. He wanted to know whether my wanting to go with Reagan was true. Christ! Cathy’s little brother told him, the dickhead. Went and saw Debbie today cause she was in hospital to get a wart cut out. Seeya.

Saturday July 12 – “YUM, YUM” 

We played the Blue Jays today and won 28 to 10. How about that eh? They are just about the hardest team. That beautiful guy was there again, gees he’s nice. YUM, YUM   Didn't think he took much notice of me though. I don’t blame him, who would. I’m supposed to play a netball carnival tomorrow and bloody Mum wouldn't f’ing let me cause I didn't find out any details, when bloody Mrs Goetze never told us any. I was going to watch a horror movie then Dad wouldn't let me, then he just decided he’d let me cause he wanted to watch it, and not the cricket. Now he wants to watch the cricket again and won’t let me watch the movie.

Sunday July 13 – “Only 2 goals off the trophy. GEES”

Us - the Tigers - went to a netball carnival today and we won every game except the last one which we lost by 2 goals. Only 2 goals off the trophy. GEES. That gets me. We had great fun and Cassandra and all them were real nice to me. Mrs Goetze said that Linda Carey is going to be in our team next year. God.

Monday July 14 – “He said I must like him if I would ring him”

Jason was in the library today and I said “Gaday  Jason” and he smiled. Gees he’s got a nice smile, so I smiled back. I didn't see any more of them today except from a distance. We went and visited Debbie again today. Glenda and I rang up Craig this arvo and I had him guessing who I was. He thought I was Joanne Fletcher or Anne Blackborrow. Gees. Then he finally caught on and we talked for ½ an hour. Then he said I must like him if I would ring him up and I said "well if I hated you I wouldn't be talking to you". Now he thinks I've got a crush on him. What have I done? I wanted to ring up Denton or Jason but I couldn't work out their phone numbers.

Tuesday July  15 – “G said at the next party she was going to let him touch her”.

We went to the Choir Festival  first and second period and boy are we bad. We saw one primary school that is fantastic compared to us! I got a pencil case for my pencils and it’s too small. G and I were discussing G and his fingers and G said at the next party she was going to let him touch her.

Wednesday July 16 – “Jo and I had a good old talk about G and his fingers and what it feels like”

We had a whole free 3 periods for Gunner in choir and we were out at Area 1. Trevor came down and they were talking about the archery cord being back. Jo and I had a good old talk about G and his fingers and what it feels like. Went to choir festival. Went and talked to this guy and who looked a lot like Craig, and he was older too. He was quite nice. He kept putting his arm around me and trying to kiss me but I wouldn't let him. He kept saying let’s go to a quiet place and..... and I don’t even know his name. Seeya

July 18 Friday – “I was the Champion of 14 years girls’ in the athletic carnival”

Guess what! I was the Champion of the 14 year girls in the Athletics Carnival. Wasn't that great!  They announced it over assembly. The zone sports carnival is on Tuesday and Wednesday and I haven’t even practiced. I went up to practice at lunch time but the football was on. Denton and all them were up there and Jason and a couple of other guys asked me if I would go out with Bill Cannon to the theater tonight and I said I couldn't cause I have to go out tonight and they asked if I would have gone with him and  but I just said I don’t know. Then Jo went and said that I liked someone else which sounded like I liked someone not in their group.  And they told him when he was right behind me so I would hear. Then Chris later told me that he didn't really want to go with me, and then he did.  Then they said they are trying to pair me up with one of them. I wish I could be with someone I liked. At period 7 they wanted me to go upstairs but I couldn't cause of Turnbull. That kid who kept trying to kiss me last night came around and he wouldn't piss off. He kept on following me. I read my stars and they said "offers to go out on dates" and "winning at sports games" and that’s exactly what happened.

Saturday July 19 – “I heard about you and David R”

Well nothing happened today. I umpired my sister’s team last and one of the girls from the Blue Jays came up and said “I heard about you and David Reagan” and some other David kid who I never heard of. That’s all. Isn't that boring?

Sunday July 20 – “I’m paying her back for the time I was sick”

Well my sister was sick today and I had to look after her. She has a real bad cold and I’m paying her back for the time I was sick. I worked real hard and cooked the tea – which bombed out. Nobody liked it including me. When I asked Mum if I could watch the Matt Helm Movie – Murderers Row (on Sunday Night I might add) she actually let me. It was fantastic and really funny. We also watched Miss Universe and from the very beginning. I wanted Miss Finland to win and she did. How about that. Oh, got to go now. seeya.

Monday July 21 - "Did you enjoy your trip?".

I wore my summer uniform to school today and I had to go to the office first period. Jason tried to say hello but everyone got in his way but he finally said it. He’s sweet and I really like him. I showed him to Glenda and she goes “Oh is that Jason? I know him” and she’s raving on. Then I tripped over a rock and Chris goes “did you enjoy your trip” and I said “Oh yes, fantastic really great” and he said “And you didn't even send me a postcard”. And me being dense I said “What for?” and then “Oh yeah”, and Glenda started rambling on. I finally went up to practice and there was nothing for me to practice on so I did discuss. Sharp reckons I’m gonna win. Ha! Funny boy he is. I haven’t got a hope. But I’ll try. Wish me luck for tomorrow. Thanks I need it.

Tuesday July 22 ^– "Just missed out on the record by 2 seconds".

Doctor Dolly, June 1975

Well today was the sports carnival. I came first in the 100m hurdles and I just missed out on the record by 2 seconds. And I missed out on the area by 1 second, isn't that sickening. I came 2^nd in discuss and about 6^th or 7^th in High Jumps – isn't that terrible. I was reading this Dolly Magazine when Chris Dixon and Mitchell Pash came up and started reading it with me, then we came up to Doctor Dolly  God it was funny.( see articles I pasted in dairy, Jan 9 and 10)

Wednesday July 23 – “Someone came in my room and tried to strangle me”.

I had the most horrifying dream last night that someone came in my room and tried to strangle me. I woke up sweating and my heart was beating real fast. Well today was the last day of the carnival. I was in nothing today. I did absolutely nothing ALL DAY. Our school came second altogether. Damn. The girls came 2nd and the boys came second. I don’t think I’m in anything for the Area. Damn. I got my photo taken with Chris Dixon and these other dicks. The girl who took the photo said we are going to be in the school mag. I met Craig and Billy on the way home. We didn't talk much cause Billy wanted to go home, thank God. Craig goes “what’s the matter, why aren't you in a talking mood”. Christ I was nervous.

Thursday July 24 – “She wants to drop Craig cause he keeps going up her top”

Nothing much happened today. Jason and all them play handball now so I don’t see much of them anymore. I made a bet with Glenda and Mark and JB that I wasn't going to be in the State and they reckoned I was. If I win I get 90 cents, if I lose, I lose 90 cents. Craig said hello and said “Weren't you feeling well yesterday?” and I said "no" and smiled. Deb rang and we had a good old talk. She wants to drop Craig cause he keeps going up her top and she wanted my advice. Then I remembered that Craig had told me that he couldn't give a dam if she had both her tits cut off. When I told Deb she was real relieved and now she won’t drop him. But Jo wants to drop Mark cause she doesn't like him anymore and she wanted my advice. God I hate 'that girl'.  Every time I say something she has to correct me or say something nasty and when I’m not talking to her she always interrupts or goes “whoop whoop stiff shit”. I cried real hard yesterday cause everyone’s going on holidays and I’m not and cause we are poor. Mum tried real hard to cheer me up and she was really fantastic.  Seeya

Saturday July 26 – “But a fat lot of good my advice was...”

We played the Viscounts today and we won 14-6. God the umpires were bitches. They were all for the Viscounts and they kept pulling up Cassandra. Well Jo dropped Mark and Deb dropped Craig but she’s gone back with him. I rang Craig then Deb and Jo and we had a good old nag. She reckons someone’s trying to cause trouble but we're not sure who it is. David Yates asked Debbie to go with him and Mark's all friendly with her now. I wonder why. Went to Euroka today for a picnic and Sharon and I went bush walking most of the time. We even walked down to the Nepean River. I thought these blokes were chasing us so we ran like crazy. It was great. Seeya

Sunday July 27 - “Fox on the Run” was on Countdown today

Nothing much happened today. It was absolutely boring. Mum and Dad played golf and I worked all day. My periods came again on Thursday and they are killing me now. I watched a fantastic movie last night called 'Satins School for Girls', it was really good.  I told Glenda about Jo and Mick and her expression didn't show much and when I looked at her she said “Don’t look at me like that” and I said “Like what” and she said, “You know”. My favourite song, 'Fox on the Run' was on Countdown today, but half of it was interrupted by some stupid sharpies dancing. Anyway, Seeya.

Monday July 28 – “Wish me luck in Volleyball. Thanks. I need it”

I tried out for volleyball and I had to come back. I haven’t got a chance though. I wish I had tried out for softball. Damn. I want to try out for netball but I don’t have a choice. Wish me luck in Volleyball. Thanks. I need it. Seeya.

Tuesday July 29 – “I got into the Jesmond Volleyball team!”

Deb was at school today and now we go to the library again. Guess what!! I got into the Jesmond Volleyball team! Isn't that great! I was trying out for it when a volleyball came over and I picked it up and it was Chris Dixon. I said “I don’t think I’ll give it back”, but he squeezed my neck so I gave it back. Denton, Jason and B Craig were walking practically next to us and they didn't even say Hi. But then later Denton said “Hi Petra” and Jason said  “Gaday Petra”. Little Craig hit me in the arms and said hello. I lost my Jacket. Damn.  I asked Blackburn of I could look for it and when I came back I had to write on a piece of paper “I've lost my Jacket”, and sign it.

Wednesday July 30 – Dad said that I have to go on the pill. GOD what does he think I am! 

Jason said "Gaday Petra" and when I was in woodwork he smiled at me. God he’s got a gorgeous smile, it’s really beautiful. And he was talking real fast and stopped suddenly and said “Gaday Petra”.  Carol Irons gave me this love letter from David. It was really mushy and ugh! (See envelope).  He wasn't at the bus stop so I couldn't give him my reply.  I want to tell him to get stuffed but it’s not very nice. Ann Horton told Debbie and Jo the true story of what really happened at Area 1. God it was bad, really disgusting. Anyway, You know what Dad just said to me? That I have to go on the pill! Soon too. GOD what does he think I am. Christ!

Thursday July 31 – “I had to walk home in the dark all by myself, boy was I scared”.

At woodwork Jason was walking behind me. He smiled a real sweet smile and said hello. And he said “Oh I won’t dob on you,” and I said “For what?” and then I said it didn't matter and he smiled. God he’s got a beautiful smile.  I am definitely in the Volleyball team but its only for Penshurst, not for Jesmond. Drats. They don’t have a junior Jesmond volleyball team.

I caught a bus to the plaza and Geoff, David Hurst and Brent Stone were on it. Then guess who got in it? That dreamy boy I was telling you about on Saturday. God he was beautiful. It looked really bad - me with 5 boys catching a bus. I must admit I was rather scared. Geoff kept trying to crack onto me. I saw quite a few nice boys at the plaza but the one on the bus was the nicest. I found out his name but I forgot it. I had to walk home in the dark all by myself, boy was I scared. I got some stripy socks, they’re really nice. And I bought a whistle but it sounds real sick. I forgot Jo’s back with Michael and JB’s having a party and that means Ian has to come, which will cause trouble with Craig and Debbie. It’s all very complicated.

JB's decided who she’s inviting – Glen, Craig, Mark, Streak, Michael, Peter, Geoffrey, Maurice, Me, Glenda, JB, Debbie Wheatly, Trudy, Jo, Debbie. But bloody Mum said I can’t go. I was looking forward to it too. I’m gonna TRY and speak to Dad, not that he’s’ gonna do much good now. SHIT. Mum thinks I’m too young to go to parties now. CHRIST.

Written By Petra Campbell

Web: www.petramcampbell.com

Email: kpmm@ozemail.com.au

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ITS CRACKER NIGHT-"I Hope Your Letterbox Blows Up"

This month Mum tries to work out our family tree. One side of me comes from this fecundate catholic Dutch family. Mum had 9 brothers and sisters. Her mother had twelve siblings. Her father had nineteen. Nineteeeeeeeen brothers and sisters!!!!  All from the one mother. And not one miscarriage, birth defect or serial killer. My very brave baby making machine of a great grandmother didn't boil any extraneous little humans up for dinner, or take any tiny toddlers out for a stroll on a Dyke at king tide, or forever forget where she put anyone. She didn't contemplate divorce at the prospect of just one more baby, or expire with exhaustion after the nineteenth child insisted on squeezing its way out. What a womb! And what immaculate genes.  To any woman reading this who has ever been pregnant, given birth, breast fed for any period of time, and raised even just one child: imagine being pregnant for 19 years in a row! And having babies endlessly sucking your nipples for even longer!  The thought of it turns my head 360 degrees. They didn't have formula back then – it was breast feed or die. At that rate of population growth, it’s little wonder the Dutch were among the first Europeans to sail off their overcrowded tiny 41,426  km² patch  of low lying European  coastal land in the late 16^th century. Today Holland is only the 26^th most densely populated place on earth thanks to people like half my Dutch family who served their country patriotically by emigrating somewhere else.

The gigantic property where my mother grew up was sold a few years ago through Sotheby’s International for a rather princely fortune - given the lack of space in Holland. Mum has 89 direct cousins. The Ruyters  on one side, and the De Wits on the other, are spread all over the globe Mum told me as we branched everyone out over a sprawling family tree. Between their spouses and offspring, and where everyone is living now, it seemed like I was connected to half the whole world.  I only recently discovered the size of Dad’s family after he passed away in June 2012 when my children and I took his ashes to his home town of Guyra. Although he only had one sister, his parents had almost as many brothers and sisters on both sides of his family as Mum did. Only his sister ever came to visit us. Dad never took us to Aunty Laurel's very outback giant cotton farm in Goondiwindi, or to anyone else in his family.

Dad and Mum’s generation calmed down a bit when it came to procreating: Mum only had the two of us and some of her brothers and sisters went to the other extreme, never having children. What I loved about coming from such a huge family growing up was that the rellies with strange English accents were always visiting, often all the way from Holland. Visitors from Holland was a big event. The house usually had to be cleaned inside out as if

someone had died in it. Sometimes we re painted, carpeted and wallpapered. Then  we would pack into our wide and long Holden Valliant and head for the airport to pick them up.

The airport in Sydney was a million miles away when you were a kid in a car coming from the Blue Mountains. Our Valliant's roaring engine vrooomed in our eardrums, stowaway mosquitoes and flies buzzed around our faces, the stale chemical odour of melting vinyl seats glued to our nostrils like the dirt and dust filled greenies growing with every kilometer in our noses did, parents suffocated us with cigarette smoke, engine fumes knocked us into a stupor, and all with no air conditioning - except for the hot wind that blasted through the front windows. The sorts of conditions that conspire to make kids car sick.  No wonder we were always driving  our parents crazy with “are we nearly there yet? Are we nearly there yet?” “ Are we nearly there yet?!!!” And we had to go through it all again three more times as we returned home with our visiting human cargo and took them back to the airport, or to another relative, at the end of their stay with us. No wonder Dad never drove us to Goondiwindi! Goondiwindi is as far away as it sound like it is - somewhere near Africa.

All other family members, including every person our visiting relative ever knew in Australia, or remotely knew, would be at the airport too. It was a festive occasion, full of love, laughs and a melodic sing song foreign language punctuated with guttural sounds - like the drawing up of spit in preparation for a giant slag .Mums brothers and sisters were slim and attractive, worldly and interesting. They had a really quirky sense of humour and were odd in a nice way.

 They always bought Dutch treats with them: yummy things with funny names like speculass, bitterkoekjes, pepernoten,taai taai, marzipan, stroopwafels, and my favourite, zoute dropjes (salty Dutch licorice): sweet treats full of butter, sugar , nutmeg, cinnamon, almonds, vanilla and anis.  Our exotic visitors would tell us how we should be living and what we should be doing; and they would definitely agree with Mum and Dad when I wasn't allowed out, because I was way too young for anything, especially if it was remotely to do with boys. That's how it was in Holland and so it should be at any De Wit residence in Australia. Uncle John, who served his entire life as an upholsterer in the Australian Navy, is coming soon, so we are fixing up the house for him because he is a real nitpicker….

This Month Dad Gives Me A Good Hiding

Corporal domestic punishment has been an accepted disciplinary duty in Australia ever since England planted people here. It’s still allowed today as long as you are ‘reasonable’, otherwise its assault. Thirty four countries around the world have prohibited corporate domestic punishment, twenty two of which are in Europe. 

I wasn't routinely ‘punished’ by my parents. It’s now June and this is my first belting for the year. In practice Dad or Mum would take to me usually to teach me a lesson of honesty. Dad would use the belt or his six foot two male physical force and Mum would chase me around the house waving a wooden spoon - or pull my hair. 

It Is Also Cracker Night, Or Bonfire Night As It Was Interchangeably Known.

Cracker night is a lost tradition in Australia.I don’t remember ever knowing what cracker night was for as a kid. For us it was just one of those best ever festive occasions of the year when you get to build a giant bonfire, set off as many fire crackers as you could buy, and roast lots of food all night in the bright orange embers of the fire.  But Cracker Night was actually a celebration called Empire Day originally cheered in on May 24, the date of England’s Queen Victoria's birthday. It was renamed British Commonwealth Day in the 1950's and moved to June 11 in 1966, to honor Queen Elizabeth II's birthday. 

We lived on a quarter acre in the bush so we had an abundance of big branches and logs with which to build our fire. We had a permanent bonfire spot where we piled logs and branches up over the whole year and which also supplied our hand built brick BBQ.  Dad would whack the mound of wood before lighting it to give any animal residents time to escape. Much of the back of our house was terraced with bricked in vegetable plots. This is where Dad dimensionally placed the crackers -one vege patch behind the other - lining up the fireworks in the holes of spare bricks . We girls liked the colorful crackers that produced lots of light and pretty patterns: skyrockets, blazing parachutes, catherine wheels and roman candles. The boys liked crackers that made loud noises and which they could throw at people and things for a laugh: tom thumbs, throwdowns, and bungers. Fire crackers used to be as freely available in shops  at Cracker Night time, as Christmas decorations are today around Christmas.

While we oooohhh’d and wooooooow'd at the explosion of light above and around us, naughty boys were out on the street letting off bungers  that deafened the ears, scared little old ladies, made babies cry and set the dogs off on a synchronized barking and howling cacophony. Every house had a dog or two on our street it seemed, including us. In the morning we would check if our letterbox was still intact, being the traditional target boys tried to blow up.

Poor old Queenslanders lost their cracker night in 1972. New South Welshmen had them for another 14 years until 1986. By this time even they had decided that some people just couldn't be trusted with fire crackers because too many people were being blinded and burnt, not to mention what was being done to pets and wildlife. And so Cracker Night was banned and the Queen's birthday is now celebrated by national public holiday on the second Monday of June.

The World in June 1975.

June 5, 1975 is a big day for people in the United Kingdom (UK) because they voted to join the European Economic Community in the first ever referendum to be held through the totality of the UK. As a measure of how important this day was, the next UK wide referendum wasn't held until 2011. The European Economic Community (EEC) was a product of Europe’s attempt to avoid going to war with each other ever again, having lost up 40 million people in two World Wars over a period of 30 years. The goal of the EEC was eventual economic and political union of its member nations. A union that facilitated the free movement of labor and capital, and common or reciprocal policies on social welfare, transport, foreign trade, agriculture, labour and fair competition. The EEC directly evolved into the European Union (EU). British governments and industry have always struggled with the EEC/EU because they feel more economically and politically aligned with the USA, rather than with mainland Europe’s more socialist ideals. But the British people felt differently and voted to join the EEC. Just as momentous for Britain this month:

the UK became an oil-producing nation as the first crude oil was pumped from the Argyll oil field, by the Transworld 58 submersible drilling rig in the North Sea, to the oil tanker Theogennitor. What a great name for a tanker. Sounds more like the title of a sci-fi film.

Early 1970's Environmentalism

Young readers might think of environmentalism as a fad of

the present but concerned global citizens have been fighting since the 1960’s to protect the ecosystems we rely on for our own survival, as well as for the rights of others species to have future generations of their own - even if they are not useful to humans. This awareness evolved as a result of several environmental disasters that occurred after World War II when industry and governments started making more and more stuff  in a very toxic and wasteful manner and releasing chemicals into the environment without really knowing or understanding what effect they may have on human health and the environment, or indeed knowing, but not telling. A landmark in the environmental awareness movement was Rachel Carson’s 1962 “Silent Spring” which chronicled the deadly effects of DDT sprayed by US farmers on crops to kill mosquitoes. The problem was, DDT killed birds around her farm as well. Carson's book sold over two million copies generating significant public fear around pesticides and environmental contamination. It would be a 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in the USA that inspired the first Earth Day in 1970, founded by Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson who witnessed the devastating consequences first hand. 

Greenpeace was established 1971 because its founders could see that political will was lagging on environmental protection, and critical mass understanding was not happening fast enough. They took to non violent action to direct attention to the issues of environmental destruction. As I write his post, Greenpeace's conservation ship, the Esperanza, is attempting to intercept a Japanese whaling ship the Nisshin Maru, from their illegal whaling in the Southern Oceans. The thing is, Greenpeace has been fighting whalers for 39 years now. This month in June 1975 and for the first time, Greenpeace's vessel, the Phyllis Cormack, put itself between the huge Soviet whaling ship Dalniy Vostok and helpless whales who were being over harvested . For thirty nine years this battle has been going on. This is how resistant industries, nations and cultures are to the idea that the world's resources are not theirs to squander and animals are not theirs to make extinct. The United Nations Environment Program came to exist in 1972, the same year Australia gave birth to the first political party in the world to campaign on mostly an environmental platform , the United Tasman Group, which contested the April 1972 election in Tasmania. The New Zealand Values Party and European Green Parties were formed at around the same time.

It was also this month 39 years ago in 1975, that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was created in Australia and put under government - the people's - protection.It is ironic then that as I write this same post, a petition is going around social media to stop the dumping of toxic waste water into the Great Barrier Reef from a nickel refinery, right on the heels of another petition to stop 3.5 million cubic meters of seabed being dug and dumped into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, while many groups are now lobbying for UNESCO to put the reef on its endangered list. Endangered it is indeed looking. 

In other news, MacDonald's drive through is born in June 1975 at Sierre Vista in Arizona: most exciting for the impending US obesity epidemic. 

And in a mysterious far away keystone desert of flowing robes where only men's faces could be seen, Faisal bin Musaid  is publicly beheaded at Dira Square in Riyadh for assassinating his uncle a few months earlier, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Most Saudi's believed it was a US backed conspiracy.

               

            

         YAY – ITS CRACKER NIGHT! June 1975

This is the mushiest marshmallowy of melting over Mark months. My daughter and eldest son have now gone on strike and won’t come back until Mark is gone, they told me. My youngest has stayed on because I’m now paying him pocket money to read out my diary entries while I type them up.

I use the "f" word for the first time in my dairies. Apologies. I'm still only 13.

Monday June 1 - Billy Looks Like a Sharpie

Well we’re all friends again and Michael and Ian don’t stir me anymore about being a cow and all that. Guess what!! Billy Cannon got his hair cut and he looks like a sharpie.  Since he kept calling me frizzy, I could call him sharpie, but I won’t because he’ll start hating me. We’re not on the stairs anymore. Mark, Craig, Grunk and Denton walked past and Denton goes “Hi Petra”, and I said “Gaday”.  I like them all especially Mark but he hates me I know he does but I love him so why is it so unfair – WHY. We’re seeing Sunshine with T’s gang – worst luck. Oh yeah, I got a jumper but Dad won’t pay for it cause he hasn't got the money. 

Tuesday June 2 – “God Billy’s hair is horrible but I have to say ‘hello’ cause I know what it’s like to have your hair cut at school”

I saw my luscious beautiful Mark and he said “There’s Frizz” and a kid kicked him and he goes “oh will you rack off”. The darling. I just kept smiling. Then later on I passed him and he goes “Hi Frizzy” but I didn't realise he was there, worst luck. Then again he said “Hi Frizzy” and I wanted to cry, he’s so beautiful. I told Debbie and she said he must still like me if he talks to me but I don’t know. I’d love to find out who he likes the best. I wish it were me. He didn't pick anyone to dance today. Speaking of dancing, Robert Q asked me to dance and of all the times to get the lunches, Mark had to get lunch today when I was dancing. He saw me dancing with Robert Q. Oh Diary, what am I going to do I luv him but I don’t know if he likes me. God Billy’s hair is horrible but I have to say ‘hello’ cause I know what it’s like to have your hair cut at school.

Sunshine cost $1.40 instead of 50 cents. WOW. I won’t be able to afford it. Only trouble is I've got no one's shoulder to cry on. I want to hint to Mark or  ask him if he goes to the theatre much and tell him I’m seeing Sunshine on Friday or ask him straight out if he’d like to come and see sunshine with me. Wouldn't it be fantastic sitting with Mark? Maybe even kissing him, and it could turn out that I’ll go with him – but what’s the use of caring if it’ll never happen – Never. I’m back to admiring him from a distance.

Wednesday June 3  - “Dad said I’m not allowed to shave my legs ever again until I’m 18.”

I saw Mark again today. I was going to talk to him but Lynn W was with me. Dam. We stirred Paul Sharpe again today. He’s nice. I have another lump on my kneecap from shaving and stupid me went and told Mum it and Kerosene (the bitch) said “do you shave your legs?” and Mum felt them and said I did. Boy did she get SHITTED up. Then she told Dad about it and he was really putting me down.  And Dad said I’m not allowed to shave my legs ever again until I’m 18. FUCK. Now I’m gonna be stuck with black hairs on my legs. God Mum makes me sick, she’s so old fashioned. HELL! I guess I had better stop dreaming about Mark coming to see Sunshine with me cause it’ll never happen, never. I wonder if he’s even kissed a girl before. He’s so beautiful Diary, really. If only I could get a picture of him.

Thursday June 4 –“ I just don’t understand boys”

I forgot to tell you Peter asked me to go with him yesterday. I said no though cause I want Mark and I thought he only wanted a pair for sunshine. But he isn't going. Mark hates me I know he does. I walked passed him and he gave me a really FILTHY look. Oh God why me. Why can’t he just like me? I just don’t understand boys.  There’s no way I can find out if he likes me except to get someone to ask him and he hates that. I saw him in the library. Gees he’s gorgeous. Simply beautiful. I walked passed Billy and he pushed me. Oh diary I love Mark so much. I cry all the time. It's amazing you’re not pouring wet!

Friday June 5 – “ He called me the sex symbol of Springwood High Kindergarten and I should entered Miss Caltex!!"

Boy have I got a lot to say. Well first of all we were back on the quadrangle today but that won’t last very long. I found out that Chris wants to go with Yolander but he is too gutless to ask her. I was giving him all this advice and when she was finally alone, he was too gutless to ask her. Anyway Jo said to Denton “gees you’re small” and I stuck up for him and said he can’t help it (da-da). Then he said “Well I’m in 3^rd form”. I clicked my finger as if to say worst luck. Then the bell went and I was walking to class hoping Mark would meet up with me cause I knew he was behind me.

Anyway I told him about Chris and Yolander and I asked him if he likes sad stories (hint hint). “No, why what’s on” he said, and I told him Sunshine and he said he had read the first 10 pages and said he hated it. Damn there goes my hope of him coming to watch Sunshine with me. Anyway after science I asked him if he liked my groovy pencil case and he smiled and showed me his. I said “bye” and he said “Seeya”. All through science I was in heaven. Oh the joy and ecstasy in talking to him again and being able to see his warm and welcoming smile. He also smiled at me on the way to 8^th period but I didn't see him. THEN – on the bus Lynette told me she had talked to him. And she reckons I said I  had broken off with him. And you know what he said to that? “Tell her that I’m deeply in love with her and that wild horses could take him away”. Ooh! I was furious. I was OK until she stuck her nose into it. Now look what she’s done you know what she did last year? She asked him what she thought of me and he called me "the sex symbol of Springwood High Kindergarten and I should enter Miss Caltex!!"  I was furious but curious at the same time. That’s why he was leering at me. I don’t know whether to hate him or like him, I could talk it out with him I guess. I hardly ever see him. I guess I’ll have to wait and see. When we were walking home Lynette said, “have you ever seen a Zombie? Well you’re standing next to one”, and I just ran away in tears mixed with a bit of everything. Gunner was having a go at me and he made me miss my bus.

The Theater –Sunshine was sad. I didn't cry though. Deb and Ian and Joe and Mick hardly saw any of it, the way they carried on - and that made me long for Mark. I WANTED HIM WITH ME!

Saturday June 6 – “there were all these boys in this little mini”

We won netball 77-20 and are now tied top with Viscounts and Blue Jays. I went to Aunty Mary’s to pick up eggs and we stayed for supper and Brendon and a bunch of other guys were there. Brendon goes “Its Petra” and I just said “Hi”. When we were going home I saw a mini and there were all these boys in this little mini. They all waved and beeped the horn. Went to a cocktail party and was helping serve the food and wine. I was also helping eating but since I was helping I didn't have to pay $3. Boy I have never seen such a big washing up in my life and guess who had to do it? Yes, me and Cindy. Claire is a little spoiled brat she was helping eating but not working. Mr. and Mrs. Schwears and the Quirks and Cabells came, but only half showed up. It was great! Mum is constantly nagging at me:  "don’t do this don’t do that do this do that, why aren't you? Why do you?” God she makes me sick sick sick. I’m making myself a top to go with my skirt. It’s quite difficult to do.

Sunday June 7 -" We were working out a family tree. Gees its big".

Did a lot of work today, cleaning my room and removing the wallpaper from the kitchen wall and washing the ceiling. There’s a lot of fuss on which paints to have and all that cause Uncle John’s coming home soon. We were working out a family tree. Gees its big. It’s impossible to work the whole thing out. It’s far too big. seeya

Monday June 8 - "So why do I dream? Why not face the reality–I'll never go with him again"

We are up on E Block. Mark and Billy walked past but I pretended I didn't see them. Ian said to me that was a good “moooo vie” (movie). I just said “yes it was”. I was watching the netball when Chris came up to me and said he was making Yolander jealous. And I gave him all this advice again, anyway all the other boys started cheering and yelling. Then Mark moved to sit next to a girl whether to make me jealous or to sit next to her because he likes her I don’t know. But it worked. I doubt it was to make me jealous because why would he want to do that because he hates me. So why do I dream? Why not face the realty. –I'll never go with him again

Wednesday June 10 – “Mark wasn't at Training –Pooh”

I found out today that Yolander doesn't want to go with Chris but how would I tell him. I just won’t. Saw Mark a couple of times. Mark wasn't at training - pooh. Mark’s brother walked past with Billy's brother and they said he used to luv me and they said boy have I grown up. What nuts. Ian, Deb, Mick and Jo have the shits with each other.

Thursday June 11  - “Yeah there’s plenty of fish in the sea, but I want Mark!”

Everyone’s still fighting. We were at the quadrangle and were playing handball with a super ball and Denton and all them were under the covered way.I bumped into Mark several times, he just looked at me too. I want to cry. I walked past Chris and he put his hand around me and grunted and put his hand on my body, the dirty old man. He’s not going to ask Yolander he told me when he rubbed against me. Maybe I should forget about Mark. Yeah there’s plenty of fish in the sea, but I want Mark! Mum’s credit account came through now I’ll be able to get my clothes, isn't that fantastic?  Cathy M rang and asked me if Paul Sharp rang me yet because he asked Cathy what my last name is but I don’t believe her. The more I think about it the more I don’t believe her. I started crocheting a hat to wear to school but because of my bloody homework I couldn't get it finished. I hate school. I really HATE school, and bloody Mum wouldn't even finish it for me, she wouldn't even start. I slammed the bedroom door on her real hard. Debbie’s giving Ian until Wednesday to apologise and if he doesn't he’s going to drop him. Good on her. It’s about time!

Friday June 12 -  “He actually beat me and beat me and beat me, and then he threw me in the corner and beat me again”

Dad, or should I say Mr. Campbell, just belt me up. He actually beat me and beat me and beat me, and then he threw me in the corner and beat me again. Then he threw me onto the cupboard and hit my head on it and then he threw me out the door. My fingers and back are aching and I've  got this monstrous headache, and Mum just sat there and watched. How she could let him, how could she? All because Mum told me to turn the stove on low and then she reckoned she didn't, the lying son of a bitch - or should I said daughter - just to protect herself. She did say on low - she did. I screamed and I screamed and cried till I could shower in all my tears - and I’m not going to apologise if it’s the last thing I do. 

“I don’t go with every Tom, Dick and Harry who comes along”

Now to get on with the brighter side of things, well they weren't that bright. Everyone reckons it was bad luck today. Maths test – I flunked . Sure was bad luck. We were in the library and Craig was there and so was Denton and some other guys. Anyway I borrowed a book and I dropped my glove. Denton just kicked it around. He knew it was mine and yet he didn't pick it up. He didn't even say Hi. I felt an outcast, a dumb dumb- 2 inches tall. There must be some bad rumours going around, there must be! Deb’s back with Ian. And Joe with Mick (She wrote him this long letter). And I said "at least I don’t go with every Tom, Dick and Harry who comes along” and Salmon said “ that’s cause no-one will go with you”. That really hurt me. He gave Joe and Debby a sandwich and I had no lunch but he wouldn't give me any. Oh No, the bastard. I said ‘f--k’ and Debby started blowing me up. What’s it to her what I said anyway: its none of her business. Mark was behind me when we were going to sixth period and this great dick ass grabbed him on the neck so I couldn't talk to him. Jason said hello to me today but he’s only stirring me.

" I hope your letter box blows up”

I was going to catch my bus when Joe saw me and said Craig C wanted to go with me, and she was dead set. But I said No. Mark was behind me and he said “have a nice cracker night” and I said “thanks and are you having a bonfire?” And he said “no. I hope your letter box blows up”. I said “oh thanks, we just got a new one”, and he said “well I’ll come around and blow it up”. Oh I hope so I really do, but I doubt it. I wonder if he heard about Craig wanting to go with me but then I had to go otherwise I would've missed my bus. I almost did too. I got a phone call from one of the guys at the station, it wasn't Paul because he kept saying ‘Paul said so and so’, but it sounded like him. He said they were going to come down and watch netball but I told him we aren't playing. 

"Mum got my skirt and top of lay-by"

I couldn't stop laughing today. We went to the library and I was reading these jokes which had all these ‘knock knock’s’ and all these stupid poems - I was in hysterics. I laughed so much that I cried. so did Glenda. Manzie wants to go with Glenda. Mum got my skirt and top oFf lay-by. They’re  gorgeous, I love them. She also bought some corduroy to make some jeans but it was the wrong colour and she can’t take it back either. Better go now my hands are killing me, seeya.

Saturday June 13 – “tonight was cracker night we built a fantastic bonfire and had over 150- crackers! "

Well tonight was cracker night we built a fantastic bonfire and had over 150- crackers! The bonfire itself was beautiful and every time I looked in the flame I thought of Markkkkk. The crackers were so colourful and happy. I kept thinking about how I could be so very happy when everyone else is so happy. Mum was on my back all today do this, do that, and we are getting fined 50 cents if we don’t keep the cupboards in order. CHRIST! Dad was too. I hate them. We just don’t get on. It’s as if I’m some sort of hated criminal who they have to live with. I try to see things from their point of view but it just doesn't work because they don’t try to see things from my point of view. We stayed up all night barbecuing things in the fire. And we lit all the crackers too. It was great - EXCEPT THE PARENTS!

I got a phone call from that HARRIS dick, and he wanted me to come to his place. I said I couldn't and he said he’ll come to my place then cause he thought there was no-one home, and when I told him about the bonfire he said he’d come but I said ALL the neighbours are coming and he said, “We wouldn't want that would WE!" God! I wonder what he’s got in mind? I hate to think. He said he’d ring me back so I could come to Katoomba with him. I don’t know the jerk. Well he rung me today (Sunday) and he wanted me to come and watch him play football but I said that Uncle John hadn't come yet and I hadn't seen him for over a year (the last time I saw him was about 4 weeks ago), and he said we’ll be back by 4 and I was begging Mum to say no, but she just looked at me.

Monday June 16 -" God Uncle John’s a dirty old bugger"

God Uncle John’s a dirty old bugger; he keeps talking about things that will develop ME! And then he kissed me hello and he did it on the lips and for a long time. UGH! Last time he tried to feel my back to see if I was wearing a bra. Christ! That boy rang again but Uncle John answered and said I was out for the day and then later he rang and he said I was with a friend cause she’s going back to boarding school tomorrow. Phew. What am I going to do about Wednesday? I won’t go to netball training or I’ll ask the bus driver to drop me off, and I’ll have to. All this haS gone too far. Had a big fight with Mum and I went up to Sharon’s. She forgot about the 2 weeks. When I came back she was finally nice to me, maybe she’s finally seeing my way. Mum still reckons I’m too young to go out with boys and Uncle John agrees with her. They’re just too old fashioned.

Tuesday June 17^th  - “Saw a bad bitch fight today, it reminded me of me and The School Bully.”

We’re back on the balcony AGAIN. God is our group gradually breaking up. The only reason we’re up there is because Debbie’s up there and the only reason Debbie’s up there is because T’s up there. T – she talks to much, she goes on and on and she won’t let anyone talk. She’s like a broken down record. Saw Mark a couple of times: he gives me these funny looks, not nasty but affectionate (sort of). Said Hi to Denton a few times, I wish I had gone with him. 

"I don’t understand boys I just don’t understand them".

Walked passed Billy and he pushed me again. Why does he do that? Jason said gaday and I said it back, then later he avoided me. I don’t understand boys. I just don’t understand them. Paul I asked me if I was going to go with DR. I said I never heard of him, then I remembered. I told Cathy to tell him to stop ringing me because I wouldn't answer the phone because I already had a boyfriend. I saw him at the station this morning- gees he’s a creep. I got 60 out of 100 in a maths test. Isn't that bad! I think too much about boys. Trouble is I like them. Oh well. Saw a bad bitch fight today, it reminded me of me and The School Bully. We’re actually allowed to wear slacks to school now. Well tomorrow’s the day, and I’m terrified. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

Wednesday June 18 -" The phone kept ringing and when we picked it up they hung up"

Didn't go to school today. I said I had an earache - I did, believe it or not. The phone was ringing all afternoon for me. Cathy rang about four times. She said she told that Harry dick that I already had a boyfriend. He said “Oh Damit”.Then he rang me and asked me if I was going with Paul, plus he reckoned he was going to ask me to go with him. Then Cathy rang again and said Harry had asked her to go with him. Christ! They’re just as bad as T’s gang. Then the phone kept ringing. When we picked it up they hung up. I've got a good mind to tell them I already have a boyfriend plus I’m getting sick of their phone calls. They’re stupid plus I’m not going to answer them anymore - and I will not. Mum’s getting sick of it too and I don’t blame her. Seeya

Thursday June 19 – “Gees I was jealous”

I saw Mark flirting with Grace, and maybe even Schwarz. Gees I was jealous. I really was. Craig Campbell asked me to ask Debbie to go with him. Oh groovy, we might be out on the steps but if Jo goes with Mark we’ll be in a big muddle. I got some green slacks to wear to school.

Friday June 20 - "Craig, Debbie, and Jo and Mark were getting under their parkers and pashing each other off. They nearly got sprung by a teacher"

When we came to school we were standing right next to Denton’s group and when the bell went Mark walked past and looked at my slacks and said “oh swarvo”.  Now Glenda’s after Mark. Debbie asked her if she liked Mark and she said she loved him and would go back with him and also Glenda was crying last night over it. I went to the canteen to buy some lollies and Mark was in front of me. He moved out and let me in. Wasn't that sweet?  He was behind me going to 6^th period but he didn't talk to me.  He kept looking at me though not that that means anything. Denton got kept in and I met up with him and he said “Hi Petra” and we started talking not about much. I didn't know what to talk about. I should have asked him about Africa. He’s sweet and I like him a lot. I walked past Jason and Trevor and Jason said “Gaday Petra”. He’s nice too. We were in room 30. You should have seen what was going on. WOW. Craig, Debbie, and Jo and Mark were getting under their parkers and pashing each other off. They nearly got sprung by a teacher. We need one more boy to invite and I want Glen but Debbie doesn't. It will probably be Geaoff Maurice.

Saturday June 21 to Monday 23^rd -" I got really scared cause I thought they were after me" 

Didn't do much over the weekend. Went to Aunty Judy’s and Uncle Paul’s but Sue wasn't there so I had a boring time. I’m going to use the rest of the space for Monday. I crocheted a hat to wear to school and I did. Now I’m crocheting a long scarf. Some kids said I look great but others, well. Mark keeps looking over but I doing think he likes me. We were playing handball and the group of boys got our ball – Trevor Anderson was almost about to throw it on the roof when he looked at me and said “It’s Petra’s ball, we can’t throw Petra’s ball on the roof”, and he gave it to me. He’s cute. He has really rosy rosy cheeks, curly hair and is short and podgy. At lunchtime Blackburn and all them started walking over my way and I got really scared cause I thought they were after me. God I was shaking like a scared rabbit. It turned out they wanted to see Mitchell Pash for something. Schwears still likes Mark and none of that group is going with anyone, gees their weak. Debbie decided whose coming. Its Glen, Peter Yates and Jeff Maurice. My periods are late and I’m going to have them while the sports carnival’s on and Debbie’s Party. Christ I’m beginning to wish I never had them,

Tuesday 24 June - "That’s supposed to me you’re sexy"

Gees Denton’s beautiful. I said hello to him. I was in the library and Denton was at the table next to me but Emma Smith and Tracey Greenduds was at it too. He came up to me and I was all red, I looked up to him and said “HI”. He’s beautiful. He asked me what I was doing, then he said “history?” and I said “yes, yuk”.  and he went away. Chris patted me on the bum and Waddell keeps putting his arm around me and pinching my bum. That’s supposed to me you’re sexy. We were in the library and Mark wasn’t in it. He was still sitting right behind me with Bradley Cabbel. And he reckoned Mark wanted to go with me. I don’t know what I’d say now. Anyway we got kicked out and I came back and said “oh your pen, do you want a pencil, you’ll have to sharpen it?”. And Mark said “girls” but I didn't hear the rest. I’m fighting with Mum. AGAIN! She’s really got the shits with me and I with her. When Mum and Dad go out I’m going to find that stir note we wrote to Downard and say I burned it - but I’ll put it in my dairy, OK. Seeya.

June 25 Wednesday - "Yesterday she stuck her fingers at my throat and my necklace"

Was going to woodwork and Denton was close to me. He smiled and said Hi. I luv him. I should have gone with him. Chris and Billy was behind and Chris said “oooh there she is Cannon, what a sight”, the goons.  I keep dreaming I’m going to America and I’m writing all these letters. They’re great. Paul rang Cathy and asked her if I’d go with him. They weren't at the bus stop today thank-god. Said Hi to Mark. Cassandra was nice to me at training when only yesterday she stuck her fingers at my throat and my necklace. I’m fighting with Mum AGAIN. They thought I was on a diet because I wouldn't eat one of my two shishcababs. They won’t even believe me now!

Thursday June 26 - "I just passed English by one.Christ, how bad can you get"

My periods have come and I won’t have them for the sports carnival or Debbie’s party thank-god. I think. But I will have them for the trials, worst luck - but still. Glen said he might pair up with me. God. I came 22^nd in English and got 64 out of 135. I just passed by one. Christ how bad can you get. Got to go . seeya.

Friday June 27 –“ I came fourth in Commerce and second in Woodwork”

I think Mark is going with Amanda cause they dragged him over to her and something happened and Amanda was very happy. Then I saw him come out at lunch time and then Amanda and the rest of them. I don’t really care anymore. I like Denton and he waved really nice at me. I wish we could just stay on the stairs. Jo got the shits with me cause Ian and Michael kept on following us. The louts. Trudy hates Debbie so she doesn't want to invite her. She wants to invite Robert Mason and Steven Stockton. This party isn't going to work out. Joe and I sat with Glen and Mark in science and we couldn't stop laughing. I came fourth in commerce and second in wood work. Neil Waddell said to me " your not going with anyone is you?" And I said "nope" and he said "will you go with me" and I said "nope". I thought he was only joking. He got real cut. I tapped Craig on the shoulder as I walked passed him because he did it to me yesterday, Debby rang and we had a good old nag. Seeya

Saturday June 28 - "Cassandra was nice to me. Would you believe?"

There was this beautiful guy at netball. He’s gorgeous. When he walked passed me he looked at my legs. I wish I had legs to look at. I didn't have a chance to change my pads, so when I got home from netball it was really messy. It was right through the pad and all over my pants. Yuck. You should see them when I wake up. We won 20 to 5. I played shocking, and Cassandra was nice to me. Would you believe? Debbie wants me to ring her up tomorrow. Seeya

Sunday June 29 -  "That horny kid rung"

Mum came home from golf and was in a real bad mood. When I started taking my clothes off she said “you’ll catch pneumonia” and I said “I know” and then she said “I’m just thinking how much money it going to cost” and she told me to get inside. I like the way she’s concerned about me. I wish I did get pneumonia - that would show her. That horny kid rung and reckoned he was Paul S and asked me if that David R was a dick and I said yes. He hung up on me. GOOD! Dad fixed the high jumps.

June 30 – “I came first in Discuss. HOORAH”

Well I came first in discuss, HOORAH. Denton and all them were up there and I was practicing hurdles. I had my 2 top buttons undone and when the bell went I was walking between them and one of them said “how's your shirt going Petra”. I said “very good” and went all red. The Bunsen Burner set the methane alight in science and I put it out and everyone’s going, “what it likes to be a hero act”. God it was funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnny. Jason was on library duty. Went to the plaza at DJ's and bought presents. I got Mum some chocolate and my mallet I made in woodwork. Mum is still cranky from yesterday and I know her and Dad are fighting because of meeeeeeeeeeeeeee SEEYAAA LATER ALIGATORRR

Written By Petra Campbell

Web: www.petramcampbell.com

Email: kpmm@ozemail.com.au

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