Notes: When writing a history which refers to people, it is not possible to properly explain circumstances without at least attempting to outline general situation, that is, not include a wider view of the political and social aspects of the history. I have therefore made an effort to 'balance the books', as it were.
The story of my life and that of my family continues, with our move from England to Australia in 1952.
In this section much is written regarding the state of the world in the 50s as seen by a 12 year old, and my changing views regarding religion and sincerity. I have not left these sections out because the reader may find them of interest. I wrote this piece more than 30 years ago and I am still trying to sort it all out having finally got most of it onto my computer.
Family History: Part 3
INTRODUCTION
In the 1900's economic trouble had begun for Britain. The demand for British products dropped off as other nations became industrialized. The Second World War had depleted Britain's power.
To raise cash, Britain sold off four and a half billion of its overseas investments and borrowed money from other countries. By the mid 50's the nation had recovered enough to end most wartime controls.
Britain emerged victorious from the 2nd World War, but impoverished. During the years of conflict her pre-war social and economic problems had become even more acute. When the wartime coalition government broke up, all the political parties put forward their promises of an energetic plan of reconstruction.
Churchill confidently expected to win the 1945 general election, but the voters turned to the promise of a far reaching fairer, more equal society, which was offered by the Labour Party. Labour won a landslide victory and Clement Attlee became Prime Minister. Over the following six years a welfare state was created, designed to look after people in poverty, old age and sickness; free medical treatment for all British people.
Recovery was very slow in the early post war years ('Austerity period') power cuts, rationing and other discomforts causing discontent, although like other European countries Britain did benefit from 'Marshall Aid' provided from 1948 by the United States.
In 1951, the conservatives won a narrow victory, and promised to end many of the controls and restriction imposed by the Labour Government. Helped by an upswing in the world economy the conservatives introduced the 'age of affluence'. During the 13 following years TV, washing machines and cars, former luxuries, became commonplace and the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told the people, "you've never had it so good". This however, would later be viewed as a period of 'Consensus'. (Both Major parties were agreed on fundamental issues) Few of Labour's important measures of 1945/51 were reversed.
The Conservatives maintained, (in essentials) the Welfare State and the mixed economy (mixing state and private ownership and control), subsidised unprofitable concerns that were regarded as socially or economically important, and continued to pursue the policy of full employment, keeping trade unions strong and wages high.
Surprisingly, the Conservatives, traditionally the party of Empire, kept up the process of decolonization, almost all of Britain's colonies, including vast areas in Africa, becoming fully independent.
On the other side of the world in December 1949, Chifley's Australian Labour Government lost office to the Menzies Liberal-Country Party Coalition. The election result heralded a swing to the right in Australian politics as the coalition parties began an immediate dismantling of a lot of the controls the Labour administration had placed upon the economy.
The media became convinced that Labour was too soft on Communism and it was the beginning of the 'cold war'. Socialism was the prime objective of the Labour party, and according to Arthur Fadden, (and in my opinion his view was correct), the Leader of the Country Party, 'Socialism was the 'Twin' of Communism', and was therefore a threat to Australia.
In 1950, the English Cricket Captain Douglas Jardine remarked that "Australia is... a nice place save for two things, the climate and the inhabitants." Elizebeth Webb, of Brisbane remarked that, "When it comes to the Australian way of life every foreigner I have met is completely at sea. To quote one - 'What is this way of life? No one tells me what it is! Yet always they tell me I must adopt it... perhaps I begin to behave like you behave in pubs. I drink beer until I am stupid. Or I learn to 'put in the boot' and bash the other fellow with a bottle... is that the way of life I must learn? Thank you no. I stay a bloody Reffo!"
Fear and insecurity resulted from the cold war atmosphere, leading to the acceptance of the re-introduction of compulsory national service. From November 1950 all 18 year old men had to undergo a three month period of basic training and thereafter attend month long 'camps' over a period of three years.
The name 'Nasho's was soon adopted for these part time soldiers.
Many complained that they were not old enough to vote but were old enough to go to war, which was a point with some relevance.
In 1949/50 nearly 240,000 'New Australians' received assisted passages to Australia in an effort to build the country into a strong an independent nation.
The Government introduced a law providing for the dissolution of the Australian Communist Party (April 27,1950), which meant that under the law Communism would be illegal. Any person 'declared' to be a communist - or a sympathiser - would be excluded from holding official positions in Unions or in a job in the public service or essential industries. It seems to me, that although this was a good idea, it questioned the principle of 'Free Enterprise'.
In June North Korea invaded South Korea and the United States went to the aid of the South, hoping to hem in communist China. Australian armed forces were also sent to the region.
The war proved to be a boon for Australian farmers for the price of wool rose dramatically.
Restrictions on petrol sales were lifted and the end came for butter rationing. In July, tea rationing was finally lifted. The rationing of food had continued since the war in order to prevent price rises and also to allow food to be exported to Britain, or so the people were told.
However a prolonged stretch of dry weather was destroying crops and killing livestock on the farms of eastern Australia. Bush-fires raged and the losses were enormous in Queensland and NSW. Farmers lost more than 16,000,000 pounds worth of land and stock.
In 1952 Australian's were elevating their status in the world through the sporting arenas. The Australian boxer Jimmy Carruthers had become the first universally acclaimed Australian World bantam weight boxing champion, defeating Vic Towell in Joanesburg South Africa, landing 147 punches in 2 minutes 19 seconds, which was how long the fight lasted. Towell had managed to throw one punch, which had missed.
Also in South Africa Australian batsman and spin bowler Ritchie Benaud had made his highest score of 122 runs, in Joanesburg. Benaud would be the captain of the Australian cricket team for many years, against England and other countries in test matches. He was the first player to take 200 wickets and score 2000 runs in tests scoring 2,201 runs at an average of 24.45 and taking 248 wickets at 27.03 each. He played a total of 63 Tests between 1952 and 1964, being Captain of Australia on 17 occasions losing only four of the matches played.
Politically it was a sad occasion, when the 'little digger' Billy Hughs died, and perhaps ironically, a future Labour Prime Minister who would be involved in much controversy in future years, Gough Whitlam, was elected into the house of representatives for the seat of Werriwa in NSW. Another man destined to play a future role in Australian politics, Bob Hawke, left for England, a Rhodes Scholar, to attend Oxford University. (1952-1955). A future entertainer of stage and television Rolf Harris, also left for England to study Art.
The book 'The Ridge and the River' written by Thomas Hungerford was acclaimed the best Australian novel written about WW2. In the world of literature Australia in the early times, took the form of letters and reports giving accounts of life in a strange and desolate land. To a great extent the writings were factual and designed to 'astonish' but also to inform those back home.
Most of the early novels were similar in form. The first, Quintus Servinton, written by Henry Saveray in 1830 was largely autobiographical, but was and is valuable as mainly a first hand account of the transportation system. Many 'visitors' from England wrote most of the other books, which were given imaginary accounts of strange adventures in a new land, about which they knew very little. They were in fact English novels, which were set in Australia. Two prominent examples of this were, "The Bushranger of Van Diemen's Land" by Charles Rowcroft (1946) and "Geoffrey Hamlyn" by Henry Kingsley (1859).
Many of the works of early writers came out in serial form, perhaps the two best known being, 'Robbery Under Arms' by Rolf Boldrewood, and the Melodramatic tale of convict life 'For The Term of his Natural Life' by Marcus Clarke.
Most Australians considered England as 'home' and the early novels reflected this attitude. Indeed women such as Mrs Campbell Praed, Ada Cambridge and 'Tasma' wrote with nostalgic yearning for the greater refinement and culture of England.
With the development of new nationalism in the 1880s, Australian writers found a new outlet for their work in the Bulletin which was established in 188,; it's editors, J.F. Archibald and A.G. Stevens becoming very influential. For the first time Australian writers began to feel proud of their distinctiveness.
Henry Lawson wrote stories and Ballads, including 'Them Geraniums' and 'The Drovers Wife', also Steel Rudd's well loved 'Dad and Dave' stories were collected, in 'On our Selection' in 1899. Miles Franklin published her sensitive account of growing up in the bush, 'My Brilliant Career' in 1901, and Joseph Furphy published his offensively Australian anecdotes in 'Such is Life', in 1903.
After the First World War Australian writers began to widen their range and establish reputations, but for almost fifty years there was the feeling that Australian writers were somewhat inferior, and they had to go over seas in order to prove their worth. This in fact was true in all other areas of the Arts.
This phenomenon has been called the 'cultural cringe'.
Many Australian writers established considerable reputations remaining in Australia, such as, Katherine Prichard (Coonardoo 1929), Vance Palmer, (The Passage 1930),Kylie Tenant (Ride on Stranger, 1943), Eleaner Dark, (The Timeless Land, 1941), Xavier Herbert, (Capricornia, 1938), Frank Hardy, (Power Without Glory, 1950). Others of the near future being Patrick White, (Voss, 1957) and other's who spent most of their time overseas, such as David Malouf, (Johnno, 1972). Earlier writers who spent most of their time overseas were, Martin Boyd, (Lucinda Brayford, 1946), Christina Steed, (For love Alone, 1944), Henry Richardson (The Fortunes of Richard Mahony 1917,1925,1928).
In the early seventies a new wave of nationalism swept the country bringing with it greater confidence in and recognition of the value of Australian artists. In 1973 Patrick White would be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature and Thomas Kenealy, widely acclaimed continued to publish a steady flow of novels set in a variety of locations in the world. The new writers would not be concerned with nationality, nor with being 'Australian' perhaps indicating that Australian Literature was coming of age.
The Early Australian Poets doted on the traditional forms and styles of the English Poets, simply adapting them to Australian subjects. There was nothing 'original' about their style. Many tunes were adapted from English and other folk songs. Among these was the song "Waltzing Matilda" said to be written by 'Banjo' Paterson. The tune is an English adaptation, and despite the general desire by Australians to establish that the words were written by Paterson, there is no proof to substantiate it. Indeed it seems strange that Paterson should write a verse to tune, for in all of his other works this has not been the case, and the style and rhythm of the song, does not fit with his established mode of writing.
The Australian Encyclopaedia, however states the following on the subject of Andrew Paterson;
In 1895, he (Paterson) spent some time in Queensland, and at a station, Dagworth, near Winton, wrote the Ballad "Waltzing Matilda" to the tune of an old English marching song; this was to become a national song of remarkable popularity, almost an unofficial national anthem.
And on the subject of Waltzing Matilda;
Waltzing Matilda, a song with words by Andrew Barton Paterson has become extremely popular, both in Australia and elsewhere. (Indeed we sang this song often at Spondon House High School in England, where in fact I learnt the words prior to arriving in Australia)
Dr Thomas Wood, an English musical authority, in his book "Cobbers" (1934) says of "Waltzing Matilda", "Here is a real folk song" This is not strictly true, for "Waltzing Matilda" is not a product of the people, but a clever pastiche of the folk idiom by a sophisticated town dweller who had a keen love of the outback.
Although "Waltzing Matilda" was written as late as 1895 there has been a considerable amount of controversy about its arriving. The most plausible version seems to be put forward by Sydney May, in his book "The Story of Waltzing Matilda"
He states that "While "Banjo" Paterson was visiting Dagworth station, near Winton, Central Queensland early in 1895, he heard Christine Macpherson, daughter of the manager of the property, Robert Macpherson, playing on an old autoharp a tune she had heard at Warrnambool (Vic) races in the previous year. This has been identified as a march 'Craigielea' arranged from an old Scottish ballad. 'Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigielea', which in turn was an adaptation of 'The Bold Fusilier', a song that was popular among Kentish soldiers going to Marlborough's wars. Paterson was so taken with the melody that upon learning that no one knew any words to it, he began to think out lines of his own in order to keep the tune alive."
I am personally not happy with this account of its origin, for to me there are too many postulations.
In 1826 the first book of Australian verse was published, it being by Charles Thompson and entitled 'Wild Notes from the Lyre of a Native Minstrel'. There were better known early poets such as, Charles Harpur (The Tower of the Dream 1865) and Henry Kendall (Leaves from Australian Forests 1869).
Balladeers, such as Adam Lindsey Gordon (Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes, 1870), A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson (The Man from Snowy river and Other Verses, 1895), Edward Dyson (Rhymes from the Mines 1896), Roderick Quinn (The Hidden Tide, 1899) and John O'Brien (Around the Boree Log, 1921). These poets wrote the frolicking verse of the outback towns and people that were easy to understand and were very popular.
In 1915, C.J. Denis wrote 'The songs of the Sentimental Bloke', which sold 50,000 copies in nine months. It was later published in England and America. Poets Christopher Brennan (Poems, 1913), Bernard O'Dowd (The Silent Land and Other Verses, 1906) and Dame Mary Gilmore (The Disinherited, 1941), were all aspiring writers of the early twentieth century.
Most of the early plays written in Australia were imitations of British plays, comedies and melodramas not really the kind of work one classes as Literature. The first play with an Australian setting was 'The Bushrangers' in 1829 and was written by David Burn, a Scotsman living in Tasmania, and was produced in Edinburgh. The more Literary verse drama by Charles Harpur, also called the 'Bushrangers' was published serially in 1835.
Many of the plays were commissioned or even actually written by theatrical entrepreneurs and showed stock characters such as the rugged pioneer facing the predictable hardships of floods, droughts and bushrangers. Cooper's 'Colonial Experience' and Sutherland's 'Poetical License' followed the same pattern.
The formation of small experimental theatres after about 1910 meant that drama began to be written which appealed to a small section of the educated middle class. In Melbourne, William Moore held 'Australian Drama Nights' between 1909 and 1912, and between 1922 and 1926 the Pioneer Players introduced the works of Australia's first serious dramatist Louis Esson (The Time is Not Yet Ripe, 1912). Other playwrights to follow included Sidney Tombolt, Leslie Hayler, A.H. Adams and Catherine Susannah Prichard.
In the 1930s, radio provided a new outlet for serious plays. Many competitions were run and the voluntary playwrights Advisory Board was set up. This assisted in encouraging better craftsmanship and also fostered experimentations with new techniques. Douglas Stewart's well known verse dramas such as 'The Fire on the Snow' (1941) and 'Ned Kelly' (1943) date from this period. Dymphna Cusack (Morning Sacrifice, 1943) also began writing at this time.
Aproximately 450,000 people lined the streets to watch the funeral of William Morris (Billy) Hughs proceed to St. Andrew's Cathedral and then to the Northern suburbs cemetery where he was buried. Floral tributes arrived from all over the world. He had died at his home aged 88, in Lindfield Sydney. The man had been Prime Minister of Australia between 1916, 1922.
Evidence of change after the war years was becoming widespread. Whereas people previously had the money to purchase a car but had to wait up to five years to get it, could now receive it immediately but had no money to buy it. People, who had the money to buy bricks to build with but could not purchase bricks, could now acquire bricks but lacked the money to buy them.
Night clubs, in the past a part of accepted life, were now in difficulties because people could not afford to visit them. On a brighter note, blackouts, which had been most frequent, were now less frequent and rationing was beginning to ease. The toll had been lifted on 'Tom Ugly's bridge in Sydney but the abolition of late transport on Sunday nights was causing great inconvenience to shift workers.