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In 1950, Dugan and Mears became famous. War criminals were
hanging out at Nuremberg. Dancing pumps were tripping the light fantastic at The Plaza. Whaling in Australia was big; square
dancing was bigger.The US started a war in Korea, and so we did too. Uranium was found in Australia. The Sara Quads were born.
Japs were coming back to Sydney but this time, not in submarines.
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In 1953, pets in churches were welcomed with open arms. Painless
childbirth was popular, especially among women. Be warned - the coronation of Elizabeth will soon be in the news. Edmund Hillary
reached the top. Thallium became popular, as a footballer found out. Lots of Pom migrants had done their time, and went back
to Mother England.
In 1956, the first big issue was the Suez crisis, which put
our own Bob Menzies on the world stage, but he got no applause. TV was turned on in time for the Melbourne Olympics, Hungary
was invaded and the Iron Curtain got a lot thicker. There was much concern about cruelty to sharks, and the horrors of country
pubs persisted.
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In 1959, Billy Graham called all of us to God. No exceptions.
Perverts are becoming gay. The Kingsgrove Slasher was getting blanket press coverage. Tea, not coffee, was still the housewife's
friend. Clergy were betting against the opening of TABs. Errol, a Tasmanian devil, died. So too did Jack Davey, Hi Ho. There
are recommended three ways to kill a snake. Aromarama is coming to your cinema. Bill Dobell, a Friday-night Wang1 Wangi drinking
mate, made the cover of this book.
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In 1951, the coal miners' funds were declared
black. The great mower war disturbed Sunday's peace. General MacArthur was given the boot from Korea, and he did return home
. Hire purchase was buying vacuum cleaners, motor cars, toasters and fridges. Sunday films and sport were driving clergy frantic.
Farmers were hopping mad over a kangaroo glut.
In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II was sent here victorious, and
Petrov was our very own spy - what a thrill. Boys were being sentenced to life. Johnny Ray cried all the way to the bank.
Church halls were being used for dirty dancing. Open the pubs after six? Were they ever shut? A-bombs had scaredies scared
and the Cold War was really hot.
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In 1957, Britain's Red Dean said Chinese Reds were OK, but
we all knew they were the real baddies in the world. America avoided balance-of-payments problems by sending entertainers
here. Sydney's Opera House will use lotteries to raise funds. The Russians launched Sputnik and a dog got a free ride. A bodkin
crisis shook the nation.
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SOME RULES OF WRITING
FIRST RULE. Throughout this book, I rely a lot on reproducing Letters from the newspapers. Whenever I do this, I put
the text in a different font, and indent it a little, and make the font somewhat smaller. I do not edit the text at all.
That is, I do not correct spelling or grammar, and if the text gets at all garbled, I do not correct it. It is just as it
was seen when it was printed.
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In 1952, Bob (Menzies) was not your uncle. Women
smokers were keeping the home fires burning. Sid Barnes jumped a turnstile and suited himself. US and China were still happily
killing each other, and millions of Koreans were collateral damage. Some horses were entering a grey area. Women voted to
do jury duty at their convenience.
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In 1955, be careful of the demon drink, get your brand new
Salk injections against polio, submit your design for the Sydney Opera house now, prime your gelignite for another Redex Trial,
and stop your greyhounds killing cats. Princess Margaret shocked the Church, Huxley shocked the Bishops, and our Sundays are
far from shocking.
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In 1958, the Christian brothers bought a pub and raffled it; some clergy thought that Christ would not be pleased. The Queen
Mother wasn't given a sun shade; it didn't worry the lined-up school children, they just fainted as normal. School milk was
hot news though home deliveries of ice was forgotten. Ron Williams' daughter made the cover of this book also.
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THIRD RULE. The material for this book, when it comes from newspapers,
is reported as it was seen at the time. If the benefit of hindsight over the years changes things, then I might record that
in my Comments. The info reported thus reflects matters as they were seen at the time. Let me also apologise
in advance to anyone I might offend. In a work such as this, it is certain some people will think I got some things wrong.
I am sure that I did, but please remember, all of this is only my opinion. And really, my opinion does not matter one little
bit in the scheme of things. I hope you will say "silly old bugger", and shrug your shoulders, and read on.
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