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My Long Winding Road

November 8, 2019 by David Herd

My Long Winding Road

David Herd Family History

My Long Winding Road has been a wonderful journey, born way back on July 7 1943, & grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney Australia. One of the great benefits to me with this photo blog, is I get to re-live all the fabulous experiences in my life, I’m certain that without photos as a reminder, I probably would forget 80% of what I have done in life.

I was the eldest of 5 boys with the most wonderful parents any child could wish for.

Rather than focus on the early years just follow THIS LINK for lots of old photos of all the family.

This post covers memories from the 60s & 70s, part 2 will be the 80s & 9os.

Please note this is not part of my travel blog, it is my online photo album.

My 21st birthday in 1964

David Herd Family History

We celebrated a couple of months early as I was about to leave for England on the cruise ship Fairsea with my best friend Glen Beasley. Here is the story of THE CRUISE.

May 1964

My Long Winding Road

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. 🙂

A girlfriend from the 60s.

My Long Winding Road

Veronica Crocker lived at south Granville, such a sweet beautiful lady, in fact breaking up with her really motivated me to head overseas. I have been so lucky to have know so many GORGEOUS GIRLS.

My Long Winding Road

My Long Winding Road

Halfway to England we took in some very famous sights.

The White Lion Hotel in Cobham

My Long Winding Road

Glen & I worked as barmen for a few months, I think we drank as much as we served. 🙂

7th Engineer on the La Marea

My Long Winding Road

After 12 months away I needed to earn some money to pay for my trip home. Spent a few months working on the ship, we took Volkswagens to America & bought back grain to Europe.

My first job in Sales

My Long Winding Road

 I joined Macdougals LTD in Clarence St Sydney in 1966 selling Victor calculators, this was the year of decimal changeover. Then in 1969 I became Victorian state sales manager for Victor calculators, Smith Corona typewrites, Elliot addressing machines & SCM copiers. I had a staff of 30 salesmen, & what a shit fight that was.

The Hydro Majestic at Medlow Bath around 1968.

My Long Winding Road

Adrian Yates, Ian Rich & Paul Webber. 

Another year at the Hydro

My Long Winding Road

 A big team had a great weekend.

Moved to Melbourne in 1969

My Long Winding Road

Living in Alma Rd St Kilda & working in Swanston St in the city.  From the left we have David Adams, aka the Animal, Adrian Yates, Mike Wright, DH, Graham Edwards & ???.

Sydney 1971

My Long Winding Road

Moved back to Sydney after 2 years in Melbourne, here I am with good friend Peter Lewis & one of his many girlfriends Marilyn.

Living in Adelaide 1973.

My Long Winding Road

This shot was taken at a party I organised on the beach at Semaphore in 1973, at the home of Maria Martin. Lots of photos HERE.

The music in the 70s produced many of my all time favourite songs, here are 3 of those.

Piano man 1973

Hotel California 1977

Suttans of Swing 1978

Darwin airport 1972

My Long Winding RoadAnsett hosties & Arch Wilke (RIP) an ex north Adelaide Aussie rules player.

The following day

My Long Winding Road

Manton dam south of Darwin.

Anzac Highway Plymton in Adelaide.

My Long Winding Road

 The cool dude on the right is Grahame Farquhar who was one of my regular drinking partners. I last saw him in 2014.

Melbourne Cup 1975

My Long Winding Road

Di Lett & the man in the black hat. 🙂

Wood St North Melbourne

My Long Winding Road

I transferred from Adelaide to Melbourne with Sanyo, in 1973, lived there 2 years & met many new & interesting people, got engaged to a beautiful lady and narrowly escaped an attempt on my life. 🙂 I was 1 year at Lexton Grove Windsor & 1 at North Melbourne.

I love this photo

My Long Winding Road

It was 1975, I’m with Di Parkinson, her brother Phil, Wolf Wottke & Angie.

A little bit of erotica. 🙂

My Long Winding Road

As they say in the classics, two ladies called  Dianne are better than one. 🙂

The Herd family in 1979

My Long Winding Road

 A rare photo of the five brothers together with our beautiful Mother.

Adelaide in 1975

My Long Winding Road

Sadly as time goes by we lose some friends, that’s Hank Wottke between Angie & Parko, he passed away while living in Western Australia, RIP. Kneeling at the front is Trevor Beach, worked for City Ford in Sydney for a number of years, RIP old buddy.

Thanks for visiting my My Long Winding Road photo blog, PART TWO is coming soon

     Here are some more posts to check out

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  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

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             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
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Australian adventures

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Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

November 20, 2015 by David Herd

Cos in Leigh St

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants and the neighbouring Peel St are two very trendy restaurant areas in the heart of Adelaide. The after work crowd flock here to spin their stories and pose for the crowd.

Terrific terrine at Cos

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

This was an excellent entree at Cos restaurant in the city of Adelaide.

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Very good food and a nice atmosphere at Cos in Leigh St.

Clever little Tailor

Adelaide South Australia October 2014

Clever little Tailor is the catchy name of this Peel St wine bar which seems to cater for the local trendies. :)

Clever little Tailor

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Certainly not dedicated followers of fashion here.

My red wine was $16 per glass which is quite a shock for a guy like me who lives in Thailand. That equates to about B400 which is more than a Five Star hotel would charge in Bangkok.

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Adelaide South Australia October 2014

Leigh St is next to Peel St & both have some very nice restaurants & bars.

Peel Street

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Old stone building in Peel St, both Peel & Leigh streets run between Hindley St Currie.

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

 Two things have contributed to the popularity of these two streets. The conversion of Leigh Street to a traffic-free al fresco dining area, with beautifully restored buildings and trendy new bars; plus the state government’s new small bar licence, which has fast-tracked licensing for bars with a capacity of under 120 people and made the process much, much cheaper.

This is not the Franklin Hotel

Leigh Street Adelaide Restaurants

 On the corner of  Leigh & Hindley Streets “The Little Pub” is only an eleven minute walk to the Franklin Hotel which offers very good accommodation. Book through this link for a great rate.

Thanks for visiting my Leigh Street Restaurants photo blog. In my opinion Adelaide is one of the most liveable cities in Australia.

                              Please check out these fabulous posts
 

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1g Duck

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Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg

November 20, 2015 by David Herd

Glenelg

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach.

Adelaide South Australia October 2014

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach is where I decided to stay in October 2014. It is the oldest European settlement on mainland South Australia & was established in 1836.

Tram to the city

Adelaide South Australia October 2014

A pleasant way to travel to the heart of the city without any car parking problems.

Bay discovery centre

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach

This building on the left was the town hall until 1997 and is now the Bay discovery centre. The building on the right is the Five Star Stamford Grand which is the number one spot to stay in Glenelg & perhaps the whole of Adelaide, use this link for a great room rate.

Old Glenelg church

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach

  The name Glenelg is noteworthy for being a palindrome.

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg Marina

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There a quite a selection of restaurants at the marina and car parking is available in the basement.  

Oyster Bar

Adelaide South Australia October 2014

Denis Young and I have been friends since I lived in Adelaide in 1973, strangely we have hardly changed at all. 🙂

Grind It

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach

 A very good place for breakfast, which is rated number 2 restaurant in Glenelg by TripAdvisor.

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach

Parkland between the Marina and town centre.

Atlantic Tower Motor Inn is a reasonable priced motel in a good location, use this link for a discounted room rate.

Cardone’s Seafood and Grill

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach

Rated number one by TripAdvisor out of 135 restaurants in Glenelg, I had dinner there twice and it was excellent.

Stanford Grand Hotel Glenelg

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach

This has to be one of Adelaide’s prime locations.

Apartments overlooking the beach.

Adelaide South Australia October 2014

What a beautiful spot. 

Farewell from Adelaide.

Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach

From here I drove the Great Ocean Road to Dromana in Victoria, via the car ferry across Port Phillip Bay.

Thanks for visiting my Adelaide seaside suburb Glenelg beach photo blog

Adelaide holds some wonderful memories for me, the 2 years I lived there in the 70s were as good as any in my life. Now to explain where I’m at and how I feel, I’ll leave it up to Glenn Frey.

                                    Here are some more posts to check out
 

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          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

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That’s all folks

1g Duck       

 
 
 
 

After Dromana I flew to the Gold Coast.

In March 2014 I had a terrific world trip.

Check out these great food photo blogs.

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Victor Harbor South Australia

November 19, 2015 by David Herd

Built in 1866

Victor Harbor South Australia

Victor Harbor South Australia

Victor Harbor South Australia is a city on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 km south of Adelaide. The city is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries. It is also a highly popular tourist destination, with the city’s population greatly expanded during the summer holidays.

One of the main activities

Victor Harbor South Australia

Let the games begin in Victor Harbor. I’m guessing this may well be the main sporting activity in this South Australian town. 🙂

Victor Harbor South Australia

Victor Harbor South Australia

Some lovely old stone buildings in Victor Harbor.

Victor Harbor South Australia The Anchorage

Victor Harbor South Australia

A rather typical South Australian hotel.

Victor Harbor South Australia

 

Victor Harbor South Australia

Quite a pleasant 80 kilometer drive south of Adelaide.

Norfolk Pines

Victor Harbor South Australia

All around this part of the coast from here to Adelaide you will find Norfolk pines.

Aldinga Beach

Victor Harbor South Australia

On my way to Victor Harbor I drove along the coast to Cape Jervis via Aldinger Beach.

Roadside cafe & hotel

Victor Harbor South Australia

Stopped here for coffee about an hour south of Adelaide. I certainly would recommend a road trip around this coastal area.

Cape Jervis

Victor Harbor South Australia

These are the only shops in this desolate South Australian town, why anybody would live here is beyond me.

What a monstosity

Victor Harbor South Australia

Clearly the builder never employed an architect, good luck trying to sell it.

The Kangaroo Island ferry at Cape Jervis

Victor Harbor South Australia

Thinking back I wish I had taken the time to travel to Kangaroo Island. Oh well, perhaps I’ll return one day however I doubt it. One thing I know it’s not a place I would like to be in winter.

Kangaroo Island fires January 2020

Australia burns Xmas 2019Almost half of Kangaroo Island has been scorched as damage assessments continue into the devastating bushfires still burning on the South Australian island.

Smoke on Kangaroo Island

Australia burns Xmas 2019

Overnight, many residents and tourists evacuated to Kingscote where they spent a sleepless night on the town’s oval and close to the jetty. Evacuees and residents have been stranded with many road closures still in place.

 Back to civilization

Victor Harbor South Australia

I enjoyed my short road trip, in 24 hours I will visit Hahndorf on my way to Phillip Island via the Great Ocean Road. Thanks for visiting my Victor Harbor South Australia photo blog.

          Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.       

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Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe     Hungarian Parliament Building (2)       The Walkie Talkie (5)    

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837        IMG_7425    Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                     

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam       Main Square (3)     Vung Tau statue (6)

 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great photo blogs.

 

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Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia

November 19, 2015 by David Herd

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills South Australia

 Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia is a short trip from Adelaide, The town was originally settled by Lutheran migrants. German influence is very apparent in Hahndorf and is seen physically in the traditional fachwerk architecture of the original surviving buildings. There are also many restaurants in the town serving German cuisine.

Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills South Australia

Hahndorf is a small town in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. Currently an important tourism spot, it has previously been a centre for farming and services.

German Arms Hotel

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills South Australia

Close to this pub is a hotel that rates very highly, use this link for a great room rate.

 Old sandstone homes

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills South Australia

This is a typical South Australian sandstone home. In 1973 my home in Adelaide was quite similar.

 Hahndorf Adelaide South Australia cafes & restaurants

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills South Australia

Hahndorf is on of Adelaide’s main tourist centres with lots of places to eat and drink. Famous of course for it’s wine making expertise as are other South Australian areas.

Beautiful old buildings

Hahndorf Adelaide Hills South Australia

Thanks for visiting my Hahndorf Adelaide post, make sure it is on your bucket list when visiting Adelaide.

It is now 2016 and I have lived in Thailand for 5 years, however if I had to move back to Australia I think I would choose Adelaide as my home. It would be a toss up between here or Port Macquarie in NSW, however Adelaide in my opinion is one of the most livable cities in Australia.

I have said it many times over the years but I still believe my two best years living in Australia was in Adelaide 1972 to 1974.                         

                             More posts for you to see

     Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe     Hungarian Parliament Building (2)       The Walkie Talkie (5)    

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837        IMG_7425    Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                     

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam       Main Square (3)     Vung Tau statue (6)

Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Click here to see my post on the Great Ocean Road

Here is my trip to the Gold Coast November 2014

In 2003 I took 3 Japanese girls to the outback

 
Aoy visits
 

 

That’s all folks

1 (5)

 

Check out these great posts

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Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

July 24, 2014 by David Herd

Interesting times for the FiveStarVagabond

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Melbourne danger drama romance in the mid 70s, it turned out to be a period of change & exceptional drama. I transferred from Adelaide to Melbourne with Sanyo, in 1973, lived there 2 years & met many new & interesting people, got engaged to a beautiful lady and narrowly escaped an attempt on my life.

Please note this is not part of my travel blog, it is my online photo album.

When an underworld gangster threatens your life it certainly gets your attention, but it couldn’t have been further from my mind as I turned my red E-type Jaguar into my street at 11pm on Saturday September 27 1975.  My best friend Wolf Wottke and I had been at the piano bar at the Old Melbourne Hotel since 2pm discussing my predicament and trying to work out if the threat was real or imagined. That nine hour drinking session included my other best friend “Jim Beam” who in later years was replaced by “Jack Daniels”.

Not much gets past me, so the question was answered fairly quickly when I saw the three fire engines and two police cars parked outside of my smoldering home at 10 Wood St North Melbourne.

My first thought was “the house next door has had a fire”, my second thought was “Houston, we have a problem.”

My worst fears were confirmed when a detective opened the door of the Jag and I fell out onto the road, he looked down at me and asked “are you Mr Herd”?

“I certainly am” I slurred, and he said “well I have some bad news for you; there has been a fire in your home”.

So how did it get to this? Well it all started three years ago when I met a beautiful dizzy blonde at a party in Avalon in Sydney, my story about this meeting was told in another post, more details about how and why my house was firebombed can be found here.

Looking back all those years ago I could have lived without the Melbourne drama & focused more on the romance. 🙂

Wood St North Melbourne just off Abbotsford St

I sold my Adelaide home in Torrens Park

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

I had only lived in my lovely sandstone home at Lochwinoch Ave Torrens Park in Adelaide for seven months in 1973 when Ross Radford my boss at Sanyo Office Machines decided to transfer me to Melbourne as his State Manager. In many ways I was sad to leave Adelaide and all the friends I had made but it was a promotion with more money and prestige so how could I refuse?

You will laugh at the prices in those days, I paid $24,000 and sold it 7 months for $31,000. I also remember buying new cars for my sales reps, Holdens were $3,200 and my salary was $6,000 per year.

I still consider the two years I spent in Adelaide from 1972 were perhaps the most fun I have ever had in my entire life. 🙂 Arriving in Melbourne drama & romance were the last thing I expected, then again I guess the romance was not a surprise but the drama was.

Same house 40 years later in 2014

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

The house had not changed in all those years, seeing it certainly brought back some wonderful memories.

Lexton Grove Windsor

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

One of my lovely Adelaide girlfriends Jan Seegars came to visit me in Melbourne. I was renting a house in 15 Lexton Grove Windsor, just off Dandenong road & two blocks from Orrong Rd.

Here is Jan 50 years later in 2014.

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Still looking very good. 🙂

Here we both are October 2014

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

We crossed paths again in Dromana in Victoria in October 2014 & shared lots of laughs about the great times we had in the 70s.

Lovely Lee Gregory.

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

I mentioned romance in my opening paragraph, and here is my most serious attempt at it. I met Lee in Adelaide and was thrilled to find she had moved to Melbourne. After a very short period when became engaged, after what seemed an even shorter period it came to an abrupt end. Her ex boyfriend from Adelaide was always lurking in the background and his influence won the prize, c’est la vie. 🙂

Lee & Baxter

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Fiancée number 2, it would take 10 years before fiancée number 3 would appear.

Lee & I in Singapore in 1974

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

We went out for 2 months before being engaged for 3 months, in that time we had a terrific holiday in Singapore & Bali.

Melbourne Cup 1975

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

John Lawless & Ray Dodd at the Melbourne cup in 1975. Ray has owned the Keilor Hotel since he acquired it from his father in 1974.

George Dodd established the first school in Keilor, several years later Mathew Goudie opened a school in the Keilor Hotel. Mathew was a Scottish baker fro Ayr who had previously run a bakers shop in Bourke St. Mathew purchased the Keilor Hotel in 1862 for the sum of 1000 pounds, it had been built in 1849, succeeding a timber building erected in 1842 by the Hunter brothers. Georges son, John, married Mathews daughter, Mary, they had five children and established a farm called Brimbank (because the house was on the brim of the river bank). Today the areas of Keilor and Sunshire are the City of Brimbank.

After Mathew passed away another of his daughters, Jane, ran the Hotel to 1907 when the family decided to lease the Hotel out. Tough times followed with World war 1 and the Great Depression, John & Mary’s son Harry could remember collecting the money from the leasee and picking up 1 keg of beer from Bouverie St in his fathers horse drawn wagon, the keg could last 2 weeks before they had to make another delivery.

Post World War 2 prosperity returned to Keilor and to the only surviving hotel in the area (there were a dozen during the Gold Rush). Now the older generations of the Dodd and Goudie families had passed away, Harry preferred to remain a market gardener and it wasn’t until 1974 that Harry’s son Ray leased the Hotel from the family.

Melbourne Cup 1975, check the haircut. 🙂

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

After all it is nearly 40 years ago.

Think Big won the cup that year for the 2nd time in a row, think big was obviously also what the guy above was thinking when he combed his hair.

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance Xmas 1975

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

 Angella Savic, Hank Wottke (RIP), Di Parkinson & Trevor Beach (RIP) in Adelaide.

Parko looking fabulous

https://fivestarvagabond.com/melbourne danger romanceWhat a knockout. 🙂

Beechworth Victoria 1975

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

An absolute classic photo, check out the bell bottom jeans and my beautiful E-Type Jaguar. Di Parkinson, Phil Parkinson, Paula, Wolf Wottke & Angella Savic.

Beechworth Victoria 1975

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

A red E-Type & a great looking chick, what more could a fellow want? A haircut maybe. 🙂

Dianne Parkinson, great lady but a little bit crazy.

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

She was a terrific looking girl, totally crazy and a lot of fun. There is no doubt that no other woman in my life caused me more drama than Di. From the moment we met in 1971 and for the next 5 or 6 years she at times turned my world upside down. 🙂

Max was my service manager at Sanyo

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Max also worked for MacDougalls LTD when I was transferred to Melbourne from Sydney in 1969, he worked for me when I returned to Melbourne with Sanyo in 1974. Looking back my Melbourne drama was one of the most dangerous events in my life, however apart than that, life in Melbourne was very good to me. I had a great job earning good money, a nice car and some interesting friends.

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Not quite Melbourne, in fact it happened in Adelaide. The Photo below was taken in Melbourne, now 40 years later in October 2014 I paid a visit to John in an Adelaide jail where he has spent the last 24 years.

John, Rosalyn & I

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

Taken at my home at 15 Lexton Grove Armidale, what do you think about my classy shirt? This photo was taken 40 years ago in Melbourne in 1974. John Farquhar & Roslyn were friends of mine, John received the 2nd longest sentence in South Australia’s history, 3 weeks ago I paid him a visit in the Adelaide prison where he has resided for the last 24 years. Believe me when I say he looks nothing like he does in this photo, I guess I don’t either. I have no idea what happened to Roslyn.   John was very good company, polite and interesting. However he had a wild streak and a total disregard for the law. He was also clever enough to have a solicitor for a girlfriend, her name is Natalie Dunford. She bought my E-Type Jag in 1979 & still owns it today.   This may sound strange but in the 70s he was a very nice guy, but sadly an habitual criminal. Here is one very funny story I recall, he used his own white E-Type Jag as a getaway car after pulling a robbery. With the cops in pursuit he is firing bullets at them from the car. Now in Adelaide in 1974 there were only about 6 E-Type Jaguars in the city, John’s, my red one, my best friend’s green one an 3 others. Naturally the police tracked him down in no time at all.                                                                                

Brian Roberts RIP.

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

I have just found out an old friend passed away in August 2016, one of Melbourne’s great characters, on many occasions I did enjoy “an ale with the Whale”.

Greetings from Thailand

Melbourne Danger Drama Romance

It’s 2023 and I have been living in Thailand for 12 years.  I was planning to return to Oz in 2024 & find a little bolthole somewhere on the NSW coast close to the beach or Chevron Island on the Gold Coast. However recent trips to Australia have changed my opinion, I think I’m in Thailand for the long haul.  Thanks for visiting my Melbourne Danger Drama Romance photo blog.           

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 

  Click here for my post on Dromana in 2014.

 

Gold Coast in November 2014

 

Gold Coast in 2004

 

Check out these great posts



Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Adelaide 1972 exciting life

June 9, 2014 by David Herd

Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history.

Adelaide 1972 exciting life for me, it seemed all the planets were perfectly in line to produce perhaps two of the best years of my life.

Planet one, I was 29 years old and in my prime.

Planet two, I was sent there by Sanyo Office Equipment to be State manager on a Sydney wage package, which was around 50% better than an equivalent Adelaide salary.

Planet three, there was an excess number of gorgeous single women waiting to be swept off their feet,  and most motivated talented young Adelaide businessmen had headed to the Eastern capital cities to work, because that’s where all the head offices were with most of  the top work opportunities.

Mid 70s in Adelaide

All my planets were aligned in Adelaide 1972

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

So here I was, the new boy in town with loads of money, motivation and truck loads of confidence. It was a similar situation to my arrival in Melbourne four years earlier except I felt decades wiser and totally bulletproof.

I remember the drive from Sydney in my blue MGB, flashing along the highway with the number one tune at the time playing over and over, American Pie by Don McLean. In some way the lyrics seemed to me to symbolize a new beginning, I was excited by the thought of new horizons to conquer, new people to meet and of course new ladies to pursue.

A long, long time ago…
I can still remember
how that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And  maybe, they’d be happy for a while.

Anzac Highway Plympton

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

The first thing I did was rent a luxury Penthouse on Anzac Highway Plymton in the most prestigious  residential building in Adelaide, it was known as “the Spanish Flats” and before too long I turned my apartment into “Party Central”.

The only Adelaide people I knew were Joyce Weir and Vera Lukic, two fun girls I had met a couple of months before while they were holidaying in Sydney. They were both very social out and about types who happily introduced me to many of “the right’ people, party animals like myself.

Another early contact was Charlie Bradley, and neighbour on the ground floor, a good style of a guy who like myself dedicated most of his spare time pursuing the fairer sex. The following year Charlie banned everyone from using that name and insisted on being referred to as Charles, obviously much more refined.

Vera Lukic & Joyce Weir

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Two great ladies, sadly Vera passed away around 2012, Joyce lives in Sydney and I still often see on Facebook.

Drinks with friends at Plympton

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

My circle of friends started to swell exponentially due to these early contacts, and soon ten minutes on the phone was all it took to arrange the next party at my Penthouse. Along came a host of new friends, Wolf Wottke, Graham & John Farquhar, Mike Poulter, Dave Brooker, Dick Wilkins, Ronny Walsh from Broken Hill, Steve Rado, Jan Seagars, Dianne Butson and many others, but more about them later.

Old friend Steve Rado

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Steve was my flatmate in the Penthouse and was I think often quite shocked by the constant shenanigans. A great guy who now in 2015 lives on the Sunshine coast I think. We stay in touch on Facebook, this photo was from 1979 in Sydney.

I finally caught up with Steve again in Brisbane August 2016. We had a great lunch at the Regatta Hotel.

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

The big patch of plaster on my nose was the result of a skin cancer removal.

Graham & Flo Farquhar in Adelaide October 2014

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

How time flies when you are having fun, 41 years have past between the previous 2 photos.

This shot was actually in 1975

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Taken at Dick Wilkins home in 1975, I thought it was worth including as all the people were close friends when I lived in Adelaide. Angella Savic, Hank Wottke, Di Parkinson & Trevor Beech.

Richard (Dick) Wilkins Adelaide 1972 life

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Dick Wilkins was a terrific guy who lived one kilometre away on Cross road Edwardstown, probably the only guy I knew who threw more parties than I, (a lot more) so between the two of us it was nonstop hedonistic heaven.

Angella Savic & Wolf Wottke

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Wolf became my best friend while I was living in Adelaide 1972, he eventually left Adelaide and  moved into my apartment in Sydney around 1983. Angella also moved to Sydney and became a Qantas hostess, a job I believe she still does to this day. Wolf & Angie were an item for a few years then he hooked up with Jenny, another Greek girl in Sydney. They are still together today.

My favourite Adelaide girl Adelaide 1972 amazing life

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Di Butson was a beautiful girl with a lovely nature,  if I ever should have married a lady it would have been Di. However at that time of my life in Adelaide 1972 I was just too wild & committed to being single to change my status. Over the years however I sometimes think of Di & how different my life could have been.

Perhaps Glenn Frey can help me here

 

Dianne’s 21st birthday

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Di was one of the nicest ladies I ever knew, I often wonder how life turned out for her.

Did I mention Di was a dancer?

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Di was also a teacher with Arthur Murray dance studio in Adelaide.

Jan Seagars & Baxter

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Here are three of my favourite memories from when I lived in Adelaide 1972, Jan Seagars, Baxter my red Doberman & my wonderful E-Type Jaguar. Baxter & the Jag came with me to Melbourne in 1974 then on to Sydney in 1976, sadly Jan did not. 🙂

My apartment block and the ones on either side became our own self contained fun park; I could write a book just based on the events that took place there. Six or seven of my friends all ended up living in the complex. One great looking 18 year old was living in the block next door, her name was Jan Seagars and her boyfriend was a well known Norwood football player named Des Flavel.

Jan & I had a nice arrangement going, Des would leave for work at 8 am, and if my bedroom blind was open 50%, it would mean I was alone and she was welcome to visit. Which she did on many occasions, this gave me just enough time for a “quickie” before opening the Sanyo office in Grote St at 9am. Jan had recently won the title of Miss South Australian Beach Girl and at 18 years of age was as close to perfect as a girl could get.

Here is Jan 40 years later in October 2014

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Here we are at my friends Droama vineyard 40 years later. Now known as Jan Klain she is still the life of the party.

Check out the red outfit, what was I thinking?

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Here I am at Darwin airport with Arch Wilkey & the Ansett hosties from my flight. On the right is Sue, Leah is in the middle & I forget the name of the blonde on the left. Arch was a well know footballer with North Adelaide. Now you can laugh all you want at my crazy red outfit, but I soon got rid of it as you will see in the next photo taken a couple of hours later. 🙂

R.I.P Arch

North Adelaide premiership player Arch Wilkey died on the 29 th September 2007 at the age of 61 after a long battle with an inoperable brain tumour. Arch played 73 games for North Adelaide between 1966 and 1974 and was a member of the 1971 premiership side. He was a mercurial footballer who epitomised the North Adelaide style of the late 1960s.

North were renowned as a high marking, long kicking side full of brilliant players and Arch fitted the mould perfectly. It is contended that Arch was the first player to make the number 23 as famous as it is today – being followed by the likes of Michael Jordan, Dermott Brereton, Shane Warne, David Wildy and Andrew McLeod. No doubt each was inspired by Arch’s brilliance as an athlete and chose to wear “his” number.

In his early career he played mainly at half forward but when Mike Patterson came to the club Arch played more as a defender. Injury curtailed his career. He missed the complete 1972 season with a knee injury, and after playing in the 1973 preliminary final missed the Grand Final with injury.

He retired in 1974 and moved to Darwin to live. As much as Arch was remembered as a brilliant player, he was also known as a wonderful and happy character. Soon after he moved to Darwin, Cyclone Tracey hit. When asked what it was like, Arch replied that it was almost as scary as playing Port at Alberton.

On the way to Manton Dam

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Adelaide 1972 exciting life with Leah & Sue

Manton Dam 70 Kms south of Darwin

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Leah & Sue at Manton dam

Lets see more of Leah 🙂

Adelaide 1972 exciting amazing life

Those were the days my friend we thought they would never end.

Bob (Fatty) Francis

Adelaide 1972 exciting life

Another old friend of mine was well know DJ Bob Francis, he retired in 2013 after 57 years in Radio. This photo was from 1997, sadly I just received the news in November 2016 that Bob has passed away peacefully in his sleep, RIP old mate.

Thanks for visiting my Adelaide 1972 exciting life photo blog.

 

To receive my latest posts please follow me on twitter 

                 

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 

Click here to jump forward 10 years & check out how my life has changed since Adelaide 1972.

 

Here is my post in 2003

 

Surfers Paradise in 2014

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 4 photos