Dear Jude and everyone!
HAPPY 60TH TO YOU, JUDE! You were only 6 years old when my family moved to Anzac Avenue, Junee and we became “across the road” neighbours – and subsequently good friends.
My father – Jack Jellett – had purchased Walter Bell’s stock and station agency in Lisgar Street and he moved our family to Junee (from Henty) in 1955 to our (then) new house. Your family had also recently moved into your new home, with its tennis court. This tennis court became the main after school focus for my younger brothers, Alon and Colin who regularly played on and maintained the court. Your sister Jenny and sometimes Marcia were also keen on tennis at that time. You were too young, as I recall!
As the youngest of the seven Oehm children, life must have been both frustrating and challenging – for you and for your mother . As “the little kid sister” life must have been a combination of being protected ( sometimes hidden and often distracted), and inevitably spoiled because you were often “too young” to join in with the older members of your family as they lived their lives. Your next sisters Jenny and Marcia were 6 and 8 years older than you- then there was Peter and Geoffrey who also still lived at home and were off-road motorcycle fanatics. The oldest two, Betty and Jim were already married and living elsewhere.
Life around you was very busy during the 50’s. Was it a feeling of “being left behind” or trying to keep up with them that gave you the motivation, enthusiasm, energy and skills to do so much as you do and have done in your adult life!
I lived in Junee only during school holidays until the end of 1956 but over the next 3 or 4 years I participated in lots of sporting, social and educational activities with Marcia and Jenny as well as Helen Sheather (now Martin) and your cousin Helen Oehm (now Rosengren) who were my age. These were important years for us and we were lucky to be “growing up” at that time. I do recall vissits to the Junee picture theatre. On one occasion your mother asked my mother if you could walk to the movies with my brothers Alon and Colin - you were probably about 9 years old and they only a few years older. We were all amused because they said it was “OK as long as you walked in front of them so that no-one knew you were together”!! How silly teenage boys could be! Naturally, neither of them remembers this as I do. Did they ever let you ride down the hill in their billy cart?
Jude – it’s great to know that the little kid across the road all those years ago has enjoyed a happy and fulfilling adult life and has now reached the age of 60! On behalf of the Jellett brothers Alon and Colin (and myself) we can all say “WELCOME TO THE 60’s.”
May you enjoy your day and the years ahead !
DOROTHY CALDICOTT (nee Jellett)
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