15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

16 July 1973 To The End Of The Year

Monday 16 July

Sue woke me at 7.30 and I very unwillingly got out of bed. Had breakfast and then got dressed and left for work.

It was really cold walking to work so instead of taking 15 minutes it only took me 10. Today a new girl is starting her name is Eileen she is about 21 and it’s pretty hard to understand her as she is Scottish.

Today was a pretty lazy day but I’ve been squashed up in one corner of the desk so as to make room for Eileen. I hope I get used to being so cramped.

GM: 17 – 25 July, no entries.

Thursday 26 July

Sue woke me at 7.30 and I got up very unwillingly. We had breakfast in the freezing cold and then I went back up to my room. Then I was told there was somebody in the front office for me.

I went down and who should it be but Sue (Butts). She came up to my room and we talked until 8.35 and then she left to meet Julie. I wished her a happy birthday for tomorrow, she is 16. I had to hurry and get dressed.

On the way to work I dropped my grey skirt in at the drycleaners. Work was the same as usual, except I did do a bit more typing than what I usually do.

I picked my grey skirt up on the way back from work.

I had tea which was pretty good for a change, then Sue went down to the sewing room and I dusted my dressing table and cleaned up the room. Then I had a shower and washed my hair and then did a bit of washing.

Sue and I snuck into Beth’s room and pinched some Quik now at 9.45 I’m off to bed.

GM: 27, 28 & 29 July No entries.

Sunday 29 July

Got up at 10.00. Did my washing and then had lunch at 12.30.

Watched TV then Sue came home. We talked and walked to the shop. Then we talked in our room had tea.

Caught the bus to Kentucky Fried. I saw Kim and Steve.

Monday 30 July

Sue woke me at 7.30 and I could hardly believe it was really time to get up. We had breakfast and then went up to our room.

I got back into bed and Sue packed her bag and then left for Tech. Then I got up and dressed and left for work.

Work was pretty much the same as usual except that I was much more busy. I walked home and got back to GFS at 5.15.

I had tea with Sue then we went up to our room.

GM: 31 July & 1, 2, 3 & 4 August, no entries. The next entry, Sunday 5 August it appears Trenna is spending the weekend at her sister Barby’s place.

Sunday 5 August

Rebecca came and woke me at 11.30 so I got up and made Colin and myself breakfast. Then I listened to a few records then after Barby put Rebecca to bed I had lunch watching TV.

I watched it most of the afternoon and then had a few games of chess with Colin. At about 5.00 Alan drove us to the shop and Barby and I got caught in the hail.

After a drive around we went home and had tea. Then I got my things together ready to go back to GFS.

Barby bathed Rebecca then brought her out by the fire to dry her and Alan yelled at her. What a fight. I was cursing Alan and he me and Barby was cursing both of us.

Then Barby broke up and was yelling and screaming. I was bawling.

Thank God Colin was there. I went in his room and we talked about moving into a flat together. He was going to drive me home but it was hailing so Alan did.

I got back in my room and cried myself to sleep.

GM: 6-10 August, no entries.

Saturday 11 August

I woke up at 9.00 and Sue told me what she saw at the drive-in last night. She got up and got dressed and then left for town to meet Paul as she is going to have a game of squash with him.

I got up and dressed and walked into town to look for a nice wool jumper but all the boutiques seem to have mainly summer or spring clothes.

It’s Helen Rice’s birthday today. I should really write to her. I bought a stick of lip savers today it’s spearmint flavoured and it’s meant to look after your lips.

I went back to GFS and had lunch then I went to bed as I have been smoking a lot lately and it has given me a really bad headache. Sue came back at 3.40.

We had tea then she got dressed she is staying the night at Paul’s. I had a shower watched a bit of TV had some supper and at 9.30 I went to bed.

That’s all I seemed to do today.

GM:12-14 August, no entries.

Wednesday 15 August

Sue woke me at 7.00 and we went down to a very cold breakfast. Went back up to my room and then Sue left for Tech. I slowly dressed and left myself to work.

Eileen came in this morning and I sort of felt sorry for her as Kathy gave her her pay and fired her. Other than that small mishap the day was pretty much the same as usual.

Walked back to GFS and found that we had finally moved back into the proper dining room instead of being out on the freezing cold porch. We even had a really good meal of pork.

Sue went out with Paul and I watched TV. She came home and read me a horror story.

At 10.30 I was told Julie was in the office. She had run away from home. And she thought she was pregnant. She was in trouble for wagging so much school.

I got to bed at 11.30 freezing cold.

GM: 16-19 August, no entries. See note below.

Monday 20 August

Sue woke me at 7.00 and we went down to breakfast. Then she left for Tech and I dressed and listened to the radio on which I heard Tiny Dancer by Elton John. I really like it.

Tuesday 21 August

Sue woke me at 7.00 although she needn’t have to as she had kept me awake most of the night with a bad cold, not that she could help it.

We had breakfast and Barbara, a new girl sat with us. She said grace to herself which is something no one does here, she’s really sweet.

Sue left for business college and I slowly dressed for work. I left at 8.45 and got to work just before 9.00.

The morning went pretty quickly as I did the morning tea and went to the shop. At lunch time I discovered I had started my period and I walked to the dental hospital where for the first time I was able to insert a tampon much to my relief.

I went back to a normal afternoon’s work except for the bad stomach ache.

I walked back to GFS and Sue and I had tea together. I had a shower and now I’m just going to go and have a cup of Milo then watch Number 96 and try to go to bed with this bloody pain.

GM: 22 -26 August, no entries.

Monday 27 August

Sue woke me at 7.30 and she didn’t seem in a very good mood. I had breakfast with her without hardly saying anything. I dressed for work and she stayed in bed as she is now on holidays lucky bitch.

Work was the same and the day slipped by quickly.

When I got back to GFS Sue was there in that same mood. We had tea and then she told me she was going to break up with Paul. I couldn’t believe it.

Then she told me something. She said that about March last year she went to Sydney with Paul and friends, that I knew, then she told me …

GM: At this point Trenna reveals some personal information about her room mate Sue Lee. I have chosen not to include it.

Shit I really felt horrible, I didn’t know what to say so I didn’t.

Paul rang tonight and I told him Sue wasn’t home. Jesus he was annoyed, I sort of felt sorry for him.

GM: 28 August – 17 September there are no entries.

Tuesday 18 September

Sue woke me at 5.50, I lay in bed while she dressed and packed her last bag. Then I walked down with her, the place was really deserted and when we got to the door it was locked.

The taxi came and Sue couldn’t get out. I woke up Mrs Cole but she gave us the wrong key.

Finally at 6.25 Sue left. I waved goodbye then I burst into tears. Jesus I really am going to miss her. I just pray she keeps in contact with me.

I went down to breakfast and then afterwards had a shower and dressed and left for work.

Work was pretty good, the day seemed to fly by. I walked back to GFS at 5.00 and then went to tea.

I had two letters, one was from Helen (birthday card) and the other was my cheque. I came up to my room after sitting at the table for 45 minutes.

I started sorting out some old clothes when I noticed my diary. I’m really lonely already. Please let Sue be my friend I don’t have any others, not real ones anyway.

Wednesday 19 September

I woke at 4.15 with a pretty bad case of diarrhoea. Then went back to sleep until 7.30. I had breakfast and then had a shower and dressed for work.

I met Cheryl on the way to work and we walked together the rest of the way. I had a pretty boring day, as I spent most of the time mailing out invoices.

I’ll get a rise in my pay tomorrow because of my birthday. I thought they had forgotten about it but luckily they hadn’t.

I got back at GFS at 5.10 and then made my bed and changed and went to tea.

After tea I went back to my room and read several magazines, then I had a shower and washed my hair. Then I shaved my legs.

It’s Janette’s birthday tomorrow, I guess I better ring her up seeing as she was so kind as to buy me a present for my birthday.

Well, it’s nearly time to watch Number 96. Then I’ll have supper and come up to bed in my lonely room.

I don’t know what I’m going to be like after another week.

Thursday 20 September

I woke up at 7.30 and and got up and at last had a decent size breakfast. After breakfast I went back up to my room and slowly dressed for work.

The day seem to go by very quickly as I had to get all of last month’s invoices and give them to Bronwyn. I got my birthday rise and a bit of backpay today so I got $31.12 which is what I needed.

I don’t know if I’m going to the Royal Show yet although I would like to go with Sue (Lee). I can’t believe how much I’m really missing her.

I got back to GFS at 5.15 and had tea by myself. Then I went up to my room and had a cigarette and just lay on my bed.

At 7.00 I went down and watched a bit of TV and paid my rent. Then I rang Janette and wished her happy birthday for today and arranged to meet on Saturday to go to town, not that I’m really excited about that.

I made myself a cup of coffee and now at 9.15 I’m off to bed.

GM: There are no further entries until December 8.

Saturday 8 December

I woke up about 10.00 and got dressed and went into town. I don’t know why I did go into town because I didn’t feel like being shoved from one shop to the other.

I bought a really nice leather bag $13.99. And I also bought some make up and green nail polish.

I came back to GFS had lunch and then went and put some of the nail polish on. I had a shower and washed my hair.

Then I watched TV had tea. Julie was meant to come at 7.00 but didn’t get here till 8.00. We caught a bus out to the Cottesloe Surf Club. On the way there these guys came running up the street and one of them picked me up.

Everybody from work was there. I met all the guy’s wives.

I had a lot of dances with various people. I got a bit drunk on Brandy and Coke and I knocked some glasses off the table when I tried to dance.

I don’t think Julie really enjoyed herself but I did. We caught a taxi back to Julie’s place.

GM: No entries until 15 December.

Saturday 15 December

I woke up at 8.30 and got up and dressed I got out all the money I possess which was about $36, I haven’t paid my rent for three weeks but not to worry.

I went into town and shit was it crowded. I bought most of my Christmas presents.

I saw Beth in town and on my way back to GFS Ruth and Kevin went screaming by in Kevin’s car.

I had lunch and then went up to my room and wrapped the presents. I watched TV and Julie rang and said she’d come around tonight.

Julie got to GFS at 8.00. We decided to go to the pictures but then when we saw the price we decided not to.

We walked around town then went to the Canton and ate ourselves sick. We got asked out by these really nice looking guys but seeing it was 10.40 we refused.

We walked up the [Hay Street] Mall and I freaked out in front of everyone, it was really fun. I walked Julie to her bus stop then home.

GM: And that was the last daily entry in the diary.

Greg’s Comments

Trenna mentions Sue Lee, her room mate going to “Tech” each day. I am sure she is saying Sue is going to a course at TAFE (Technical and Further Education). TAFEs were basically skills and trades based post-secondary education, below university level. I gather Sue was learning office/secretarial skills, despite being very talented and interested in fashion design.

On 15 August Julie visits Trenna unexpectedly. The next entry is 5 days later so Trenna provides no explanation of what happens.

I am still in touch with Tren’s friend Julie and asked her about this. Julie told me she had no recollection of this event, nearly 50 years ago, but was happy for it to be included as part of Trenna’s history (thanks for that Julie, I appreciate it). I suspect that the ever practical Trenna persuaded Julie to go back home, and that the pregnancy turned out to be a false alarm.

Tiny Dancer by Elton John is mentioned on 20 August. I was pleased to see this as I included it on my list of songs in my “Soundtrack of Trenna’s Life” post, here.

Sue Lee leaves, GFS for the second time on 18 September and Trenna starts missing her almost immediately. As far as I know, after 1973 Trenna never saw Sue again. However, Sue did leave a lasting impression. Trenna refers to her a few times in The Kitchen Tapes series. She also has Sue to thank for turning her on to The Rolling Stones.

Janette Nelson was another person that Trenna stopped seeing by the end of 1973 (as far as I am aware). Trenna explained to me that they just grew apart whilst Trenna was living in the city and fending for herself, Janette remained a school student living at home.

I do know for sure that Trenna regretted that the relationship just stopped. I know she was very appreciative of the generosity of the whole Nelson family, who lived in McMillan Street, Victoria Park.

On Saturday 8 December Trenna talks of being shoved from shop to shop. I believe what she is saying is that it was crowded as people were doing their Christmas shopping. In 1973 there was very few shopping options in the suburbs, and people would flock to the city to do their shopping on Saturday mornings.

The fact that there were so few shopping and entertainment options is also the reason that throughout the diary she talks about encountering acquaintances almost every time she leaves GFS. It really was like that in Perth in the early 1970s (and earlier I presume).

In the last entry where Trenna says “we walked up the mall and I freaked out in front of everyone, it was really fun” what she is talking about is acting weird in public to elicit a reaction.

She told me she would make funny noises and throw her arms around to see how Perth’s conservative population reacted. In sociological terms she was norm breaking, just for a bit of teenage fun.

1973 Diary Ends

That concludes the daily entries in the 1973 Diary. I think they give some interesting insights into 15 year old Trenna and to me give a huge contrast to the adult Trenna I knew (know?).

There is a little bit more material to publish that nicely fits into the “1973 Diary” category. I should be able to publish that next week. And of course, as I have often said, there is still loads of other material yet to come.

Thanks for your comments and feedback.