1954,55 & 56 FIRST EXPERIENCE OF WORKING FOR MONEY Part i

"The hub of the district's social life - Lidcombe's "ARCADIA" Picture Show
in 1954 I worked regularly at the Milk Bar just showing on the left of the photo.

My first experience of paid work was serving in a Milk Bar next to Lidcombe's "ARCADIA" Picture Show, about twenty minutes walk from home. (N.B. It was here that my Mum and Dad met in 1926/27) The Milk Bar was owned by the parents of my good friend Wallace Simpson ( it didn't occur to me until much later that this was one of those cute namings that have become so popular to-day). Mr. & Mrs Simpson were very pleasant and friendly people, but appropriately business-like.The Milk Bar lived on the Picture Show business and especially on Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday Matinees, there were of course, no movies on Sundays.

I served behind the counter during the pre-show period and intervals for the Saturday Matinees, and I think for occasional Saturday nights and Friday nights during the School Holidays. The shop was fitted out originally in the 1930s and little had been changed except perhaps the ice cream refrigerator cabinets which were at counter height  with six or eight deep circular recesses to receive the ice cream cylinders in various flavours. The non-refrigerated display cabinets were typical 1930s stuff  with a flat glass front up to counter height and then a further glass section sloping back away from the customer, not very high , so that we could easily reach across to provide the goods and take the money. On the wall behind us were shallow cabinets up to counter height and then glass shelves with a mirrored background.

Many of the product names are still around, some appear occasionally from some corporate attic and many are gone forever. But nearly everything was Australian made and I believe very many were Australian owned. Among those seemingly gone forever were Mastercraft Chocolates, Nestles "Winning Post"brand with its characteristic apple green box and oval picture of a winning horse and jockey crossing the winning post) and many others.

The feverish crowds as showtime approached, and even worse at the 15 minutes interval made for a frantic burst of activity. This required a lot of preparation if sales potential was to be maximised ( although we didn't talk like that). Milk shake containers were lined up with milk and the scoop of ice cream , awaiting only the flavour selection - these would only handle the initial "attack"by the hordes and after that the ladles into the refrigerated milk canisters would be flying with the occasional flying spill. Ice cream cones had to be dipped in chocolate well in advance to get the dipped chocolate to freeze. Soft drink cabinets had to be stocked hours before to chill the drinks. The till was checked for change. And we were ready Then , with gathering pace, seemingly in waves the assault came! Buses timed to arrive for the pictures would drop groups of 50 and 60 at a time and because of our location, we were the first Milk Bar of the three around the Picture Show that they encountered. It was hectic. Then it was over and we had to tidy up and set-up for interval. That was bedlam, as everyone was desperate to maximise their relaxation time by being first. It is great the way our minds go into "automatic"mode in such situations . They protect us from working through each transaction in detail, which would be exhausting. As it was, by the end of it all we were pretty well spent.

I enjoyed the work , and I think got to be pretty competent. The money could not have been huge, but I saved most of it ,as did Wallace, and by the end of the year we had enough to travel to Melbourne by train for a few days with my Mum acting as the responsible adult. All in all it was good experience well rewarded.

The Simpsons were very kind to me and I occasionally went with the family on "Sunday Drives". Their car was a 1934 Ford V8, which had belonged to Mrs Simpson's father I believe, but he- a former steam locomotive driver- could no longer drive. He suffered from senile dementia, poor man, and sat most of the day on the lounge looking straight ahead his lips trembling slightly, apparently having no more mental ability than to co-operate with those helping him up and to the table in response to the call "Daddy, Lunch/Dinner is ready..."

When I finished Third Year and was about to move from Lidcombe to Marist Brothers Darlinghurst next year(1955) Mum and Dad were keen that I should not be idle through the holidays and it was suggested that I should call on Father Lloyd the retired Parish Priest of Lidcombe who still lived in the Parish there.So I made an appointment and went to see this man who was a legend not only in the Parish but also in the Boxing fraternity of Sydney as its Chaplain ( I wonder if they still have one?)

Now a very old man, he was kind and thoughtful in receiving me and because of his many connection later was able to provide a contact with a Windscreen Wiper manufacturer in Wentworth Avenue near Central Station. I have always felt guilty that I did not take up the contact - I wasn't attracted to the idea of manufacturing work - sounds snobbish and unattractive but that was it - best to be honest.