This is the 28th of the 1950s and the nineteenth book overall to be released in a series of 30 about life in Australia – one for each year from 1939 to 1968. 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 1966, the Vietnam War started to heat up in January, and got hotter as the year progressed. Our young 20-year-old boys were conscripted via a birthday lottery and by year end, 60 were dead. Joern Utzon ran up too many bills at the Sydney Opera House, so his resignation was accepted. President Johnson came all the way to Australia, roller games on TV were shockers, and our cemeteries were no place for the living. The year finished with a happy ending with the release from prison of William White, our most famous non-combatant.
