This is the fifth of the 1960s and the 27th book overall to be released in a series of 32 about life in Australia – one for each year from 1939 to 1970. They describe happenings that affected people, real people. The whole series, to coin a modern phrase, is designed to push your buttons, to make you remember and wonder at things forgotten. The books might just let nostalgia see the light of day, so that oldies and youngies will talk about the past and re-discover a heritage otherwise forgotten. Hopefully, they will spark discussions between generations, and foster the asking and answering of questions that should not remain unanswered. In 1965 is the woman’s place in the home? Winston Churchill died; relatives from Gallipoli and Greece and Crete did not all mourn. Maybe we should cancel Anzac Day marches because of heavy drinking. Freedom Rides were exposing the treatment of Aborigines. Hemlines are going up, exposing “spiritual knees and legs”. The Mavis Bramston Show was staged, and ball-point pens were not coming to a school near you. Alphabet soup was filling bowls, and school projects were irritating corporations.
