This is the first of the 1970s and the 32nd book overall to be released in a series of 34 about life in Australia – one for each year from 1939 to 1972. 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 1970, President Nixon’s war in Vietnam, and now Cambodia, was getting unpopular in the USA and Oz, so we decided to take our 8th Battalion home. Melbourne’s Westgate Bridge fell into the water and killed 35
workmen. The Queen, Prince Phillip, and two kids came to Oz. They liked it, so the Pope came later. Margaret Court, John Newcombe, Shane Gould, and Raylene Boyle all did well overseas, and made us think we were world-beaters. Mick Jagger starred in “Ned Kelly”. There were 13 million people and 180 million sheep in Oz. The Indian Pacific made its first trip across the nation.
