My personal story from the 6os, (not a travel bog)
David Herd 1960s Australia
David Herd 1960s Australian teenager, who even today in 2016 can still remember the 1960s as if it was yesterday. Life was rather simple growing up in that particular era compared to what teenagers face today in 2016. The photo above is from 1960 featuring my first car, a Morris Minor convertible. I attended North Auburn public school until the age of 12 and was one of only two students to be chosen to attend the then semi exclusive Homebush Boys High. Spent 3 years there, excelled in Rugby Union, and just passed my intermediate certificate. My final reference from the deputy headmaster was a classic;
David Herd attended this school for 3 years and participated in sport.
I spent the next 5 years as an apprentice Toolmaker then in May 1964 set out with best friend Glen Beasley on the mandatory trip to the U.K. and Europe.
I can easily explain the scratchy photo above and in the header. My home in Wood St North Melbourne in 1974 was gutted by fire and a large part of my photo collection was spoiled. The ones I save got rather scratched with my attempt to clean off the soot. Follow this link to find out what caused this unfortunate fire.
My first girlfriend
What incredible memories I have of this gorgeous girl Elizabeth Wiggington, better known as Beth. She lived on the corner of Wellington Rd & Antwerp St & I would ride my bike 3.3 Km from my home at 58 Kihilla Rd. It was much easier when I got my drivers licence & bought my little Morris Minor, except for the night I was driving home from her house & collided with a horse on Cumberland Rd. 🙂
When this photo was taken she was a ripe old age of 15.5. 🙂
Now here is one of the reasons I love Facebook, it was 1960 when we were together for 1 to 1.5 years, then I never really saw her again. It’s now September 2019, 59 years later & we have re-connected on Facebook, in fact Beth sent me quite a few photos, because way back then I had lost all the ones I owned. 🙂
It’s now 2021 & Beth just sent me this photo
I absolutely love this shot from 1960.
My FJ Holden around 1960
Beth’s job was to wash it. 🙂
Here is a song by Johnny Burnette from 1960 which tells the story.
Some old friends here.
The guy at the front is Jimmy Blakey, his brother Billy was wounded in Vietnam, both nice guys. The 2 guys on the far right were probably my best friends from primary school & up until the age of 18, Denis Culpan who has lived in Gosford for many years, & Lennie Barr who moved to Batemans Bay 30 + years ago & sadly passed away in 2018.
More from the 60s
Dezzy, Rhonda Cohen, David Grech, Roslyn Keyes and Lenny Barr at Rhonda’s wedding, 1960’s. David Grech looks like he’s been sucking lemons. 🙂
Beth & team
Teddy Cooney, Roslyn Keyes, Lenny Barr and Dezzy, in the 1960’s, at the Miller’s Hotel, Fairfield.
July 1962 with Veronica Crocker
My beautiful girlfriend Veronica, we were celebrating my 19th birthday at a Kings Cross Sydney night club.
October 1962 at Garie Beach Sydney.
This VW was in fact my 3rd car, my 2nd vehicle was an iconic FJ Holden.
Veronica October 1962
From memory we went out together for around two years, I was very lucky because she was such a gorgeous lady.
This was also October 1962
Taken at Ebenezer which is on the Hawksbury river near Richmond. I was there fairly regularly water skiing.
Surfers Paradise 1961
A far cry from 2016.
Xmas 1962 at Coolangatta
I spent Xmas and New Year 1962 at Rainbow Bay near Coolangatta with Veronica and her parents. There were two significant events on New Years Eve that stick in my memory, first we went to a show at the Beachcomber in Surfers Paradise to see a young trio play some great music. They were known as the Brothers Gibb, you guessed it, they later became the Bee Gees.
That was them & this was me. 🙂
Coolangatta beach 1962, David Herd 1960s Australian teenager.
Bogle & Chandler
This was the 2nd significant event, after the Brothers Gibb concert Veronica & I parked on the hill overlooking Rainbow Beach for some serious necking (as they called it in those days) when the news flashed on the radio that a couple had been found dead at Lane Cove national park. This discovery was the start of a police investigation that gripped the nation.
David Herd 1960s Australian teenager
It was January 1963 & driving back to Sydney we struck floods on the Highway around Grafton, where traffic was stopped I would pull around the outside and float my VW across the flooded part of the road. Veronica would stay in the car and I would push it across.
July 1961 at Lidcombe oval.
I’m parked on the hill after playing for Lidcombe United A grade rugby league team. We won the competition that year.
The winning team.
I’m standing 3rd from the left & Denis Culpan is next to me. On the left kneeling is Jackie Brown next to the wild man Tommy Patterson.
David Herd 1960s Australian teenager & brothers in May 1964
After 18 months of working 2 jobs, I just qualified as a toolmaker, plus I worked weekends for Don Talbert the Australian swimming coach, my friend Glenn Beasley and I prepared to leave on May 7th to sail to England on the Fairsea. Just before I left I took my young brothers the the barber and had them shorn. They loved the new haircuts but poor Mum almost fainted. 🙂
Big farewell party
We combined a farewell party with an early 21st birthday. My actual birthday fell on July 7 after we had reached London. Above is one of my all time favourite photographs, on the left is Glenn Beasley beside “Pop” my grandfather Sam Tippett, my beautiful mother Iris herd, yours truly, Nan Tippett and my wonderful father Arthur Herd.
The Herd clan.
Here we all are at my farewell party.
The mandatory keg My lovely Grandmother
It would be almost 1.5 years before I would see my family again.
My lovely mother, Iris Herd.
Iris was an absolute treasure, she dedicated her life to her family and friends.
David Herd 1960s Australian teenager, family in 1964
A rare colour photo of Mum with Warren & Bryan at our home, 58 Kihilla Rd Auburn in Sydney.
Sefton Hotel January 1964
Great memories from the 60s, This is January 1964 & here I am at the Sefton Hotel with Gary McCosker & Glen Beasley, the girl on the right is Rhonda Boyland.
Our cars around 1960
The FJ Holden was mine & the Zephyr was Sam Tipett’s, my grandfather.
84 Carnarvon St Auburn in 1960.
Home of Nana & Pop Tippett, I lived there until I was 5 years old.
Backyard at 84 Carnarvon
Beth relaxing with the chook yard in the background. 🙂
My passport photo
Twenty years of age in 1964, what a clean cut innocent looking lad I was. 🙂 Thanks for visiting my David Herd 1960s Australian teenager photo blog. The follow up to this will be the voyage on the Fairsea.
Here are some more posts to check out
Life 2015 Family history Life 1982
Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006
Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003
A-One hotel on Beach Road
For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.
Australian adventures
Counter only started June 16 2020.