My life story | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

My Long Winding Road

November 8, 2019 by David Herd

My Long Winding Road

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

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

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.

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

Halfway to England we took in some very famous sights.

The White Lion Hotel in Cobham

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

7th Engineer on the La Marea

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

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.

Adrian Yates, Ian Rich & Paul Webber.

Another year at the Hydro

A big team had a great weekend.

Moved to Melbourne in 1969

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

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.

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

Ansett hosties & Arch Wilke (RIP) an ex north Adelaide Aussie rules player.

The following day

Manton dam south of Darwin.

Anzac Highway Plymton in Adelaide.

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

Di Lett & the man in the black hat. 🙂

Wood St North Melbourne

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

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

A little bit of erotica. 🙂

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

The Herd family in 1979

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

Adelaide in 1975

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

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982