15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

15 -28 February 1973

Thursday 15 February

Got up at 7.00 had a shower and breakfast. Left for BC at 8.15. Met Julie and Sue at 8.40.

BC was the same as usual. Met Sue at 4.20 after waiting for about 15 minutes. She said Julie had to leave BC early, and she had just seen Murray Benton and was hiding from him.

We went and had a drink. I asked for a Sprint and I got Frist.

Then we went and looked in Myers and had a real laugh about some of the clothes they had in there. It was really funny. They had run out of stock and there were fashions from about 1970.

Got back to GFS at 5.45 and had tea. Rang Janette at about 7.15 and planned the weekend. I’m just going to have my shower and then go to bed.

Friday 16 February

Got up at 7.00, had a shower and left for BC at 8.10. Met Julie and Sue at 8.40, we didn’t talk for long.

I got to BC at 9.00. Bookkeeping was okay. We now get out at 20 to 1 for lunch every Friday.

On the way walking back to GFS I ran into Julie and Sue and we just talked for about 10 minutes. I got back to GFS at about 4.20 and packed my bags.

I left for Janette’s at 10 to 5 and got there about 5.20.

We had tea then went over to the Youth Club. I felt really stupid because I didn’t know anybody.

We then went to Putt Putt and Graham and Murray came with us. We left Putt Putt at 9.30 and went back to the club hall for supper then at 10.00 we went back to Janette’s to bed.

Saturday 17 February

Got up at 9.00 and we had eggs and sausages for breakfast.

We left Janette’s place at 10.00 and went to town.

We stopped in at an auction and I got a comb for free. Got back to Janette’s at 1.15 then we left for Putt Putt at 2.00.

We had pretty good fun. Mr and Mrs Nelson picked us up at 5.30. We went home and had a game of billiards, then tea.

I packed my bags and we left for Putt Putt at 7.20. When we got there John came up to me and asked if Janette would go round with him, he was only 13. So she kept on staying around with him so I went off in a shitty mood.

On the way back to Janette’s at 9.30 she tried to apologise but I wouldn’t listen. Mr Nelson drove me back to GFS at 10.10. I went to my room and cried myself to sleep.

Sunday 18 February

I woke up about 8.30, but didn’t get up till 11.30. This is the first part of a weekend that I’ve stayed at GFS. Went down to lunch at 12.10. We had curry and rice.

At 12.45 Nancy and Jim came to GFS and at 1.00 we went for a walk into the city and we stopped to have a drink at the Forum. Nancy told me that Barby had found a job.

Came back to GFS at 2.10 and now I think I’ll have a shower.

My roommate has just come, she seems a bit of a dag. At about 7.20 me, Lynette and Norma went to see a concert in Supreme Court Gardens. It was pretty good but they thought it was too loud.

I saw David McDonald and Jamie Wetherall there but they didn’t see me. Looks like I’ll get no peace tonight she’s sure to yap all night

[GM: Through the magic of Google, and the Western Australian State Library Service I can see that it was a “Top of the Pops” concert, presented as part of the Festival of Perth. https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/ephemera/pr109601970.pdf ]

Monday 19 February

Got up at 7.30 and Lynette was already up. Went and had breakfast. Met Julie and Sue at 8.30, we talked about the weekend and then went to BC.

At lunch I had to buy a packet of Disprin cause I had a really bad headache.

Met Julie and Sue at 4.05 and we went to the Dungeon Markets. Noone was there so we went over to Petite and had a drink.

Got back to GFS at 5.15 and had tea. I’m now thinking of going over to Barby’s.

I had a shower then walked over to Barby’s. On the way this guy started to talk to me, he wasn’t anything beautiful but he was okay.

We watched the premier episode of Number 96. It was really good. Colin drove me back to GFS. *

It’s now 10.35 and I am going to go to bed. Colin nearly got caught for stopping at a bus stop outside GFS.

Tuesday 20 February

Got up at 7.15 had breakfast and left for BC at 8.15. Met Julie and Sue at 8.35. We talked for awhile then I left at 10 to 9.

Got to BC at 9.00. I find bookkeeping quite interesting at the moment. I had morning tea by myself. (I saw Katrina and Lynn on my way to BC). Typing was pretty boring.

I had lunch by myself. I don’t know where Kathy got to. At lunchtime I went and bought some clothes pegs.

Shorthand wasn’t much to comment about.

Met Julie and Sue at 4.15 and Carol and Maryanne also came and talked to us for awhile.

Got back to GFS at 4.45 and did a whole bundle of washing. I got a letter from Helen and I’ve just finished writing a four page letter to her.

I have to have a shower now and then I’ll watch Number 96 and then go to bed I think.

Wednesday 21 February

Got up at 7.15, my alarm was meant to go at 7.00 but it didn’t. I wore my green tie at the back dress then went and scraped my ankle on the stairs, it sure hurt.

I had breakfast and now I’m going to leave for BC. Met Julie and Sue at 8.40.

At lunchtime I found out that I had started my periods, four days early. Met Julie, Sue, Nicky, and Janette. We talked at the end of Plaza Arcade and we saw Keith Merton and Peter Graphorn, Robert Sefton and none other than Murray Malski.

Janette walked me back to GFS, then I walked her to her bus stop. I had tea then took the hem of my Oxford bags down, then watched TV, after that I had a shower, now I’m off to a sleepless night with this stupid stomach ache.

Thursday 22 February

I woke at 2.00 and had a really bad stomach ache and I didn’t get to sleep till about 3.30. Went to breakfast at 7.30.

Left for BC at 8.15. Met Julie at 8.45 and then Sue at 5 to 9. Then went to BC. It was just the same as the previous day.

Met Julie and Sue at 4.15 and we talked at the end of Plaza Arcade, and watched all the beautiful guys go by. Sue and I went to Boans and I bought a packet of Modess.

We saw Faye Costaralis and Lynette Graydon. I walked Sue halfway back to her bus stop.

I got back to GFS at 5.15 and had tea. After tea I had a shower then went and rung up Jeannette to see about this weekend.

It’s now 7.30 and I’m going to try to do a bit of bookkeeping, and shorthand homework then have supper and go to bed.

Friday 23 February

I got up at 7.00 and had breakfast. Left for BC at 8.15 and met Julie and Sue at 8.40.

I got to BC at 9.00. Bookkeeping was alright, Chrissy had to go to the dentist so I had to sit by myself in typing.

At lunchtime I gave some money to the blind and got a little badge. “Model of 1972” came at 2.00 and gave as a talk for about half an hour.

Saw Sue and Julie and Nicky on the way back to GFS. I left GFS at 5.15 and got to Janette’s at 5.45.

We had tea and then left for club. We played volleyball, and Graham Morris was there and he actually spoke to me. I couldn’t believe it.

We left at 10.00 and took some of the kids back to their houses. We went back to Janette’s had some supper and then we went to bed.

Saturday 24 February

I got up at 7.45, and had breakfast. We left for the hall at 9.20 and the bus for Rockingham left at 9.30. We got there at 10.45 and we just mucked around.

After lunch Jan and I went trampolining. We left Rockingham at 4.15 (Mr Nelson drove Jan and I back). We had tea and then went to the Fremantle Putt Putt, it was not really good.

At 8.00 we went to the Cannington one. Michael Stewart was there, and he kept on talking to us. There were a real lot of nice guys there.

When Janette got to the 18 hole Peter got everyone’s attention on her and she had to push the ball into the hole with her nose. It was a real scream. Then we went home and had supper and then bed. (The Rolling Stones concert today).

Sunday 25 February

Got up at 7.45, we had breakfast and I borrowed one of Janette’s skirts and we left for the Sunday school.

Graham Morris was there. We just watched films on New Guinea then we went home at 10.30.

I had a game of billiards. We had lunch at 1.00 and then at 3.30 I went back to GFS.

I just laid around and had a shower. I got another letter from Helen. Had tea and after tea I cleared out my drawers and looked at and sorted out my clothes in my cases.

I cut my nails and they feel really funny because they were long before. I’m really stiff from being on the tramps yesterday and my elbows have got horrible sores on from the tramps.

Well I’ll watch TV I suppose and then go to bed (Lynn just got back from the weekend).

Monday 26 February

Got up at 7.00 and had breakfast. I wore my Levi’s today.

Met Julie and Sue at 8.40 and they said that the Rolling Stones concert was really good. B college was the same as usual.

Kathy wasn’t too happy as she told me she had broken up with her boyfriend (Larry). Met Julie, Sue and Nicky after BC and we talked for a little while at the top of Plaza Arcade.

I got home at 5.00 and found that I had got a letter from Matron. I had tea, then from my window I watched some guys from the flats over the road muck around with the telephone booth.

When they had gone I rang up Mr Hollingsworth. He came to GFS at 7.30 and gave me my $5.00 pocket money.

I watched Number 96 then, which is now, I’m going to go to bed, and I haven’t even had a shower yet.

Tuesday 27 February

I got up at 7.00 and had a shower and went to breakfast at 7.40. I met Julie and Sue at 8.40 then went to BC.

Halfway through B keeping Mrs Combes asked me into her office and asked me if I wanted to go for an interview, but I had my Levi’s on so I missed out on getting a job and Christine got it instead of me, but never mind.

I finished my periods today thank goodness. I met Julie and Sue after BC at 4.10. We just talked for awhile then I walked Julie back to her bus stop then I got back to GFS at 5.05.

I had tea then I just stayed in my room. Then I had my supper and went up to my room and then some reading and then I went to bed.

Wednesday 28 February

I got up at 7.00 and had a shower, breakfast and then at 8.10 went to meet Julie and Sue. We met and then I went to BC.

It was Gabby’s birthday today. At lunch a girl called Dorothy came up and started to talk to me. She said she knew me from when I went to gym at Legacy House. I couldn’t remember her.

She had to help me do the teas. She is not as much fun as Christine.

Met Julie and Sue at 4.15 and we talked for a while then we went home. At lunchtime I rang up Dr Lamb and made an appointment with him on 13 March.

When I got back to GFS I had tea then I went and watched TV. I tried to ring up Janette but I couldn’t get through to her. I had my supper then I went to bed.

Greg’s Comments

* The premier episode of Number 96 was apparently on 13 March 1972 for most of Australia. About 11 months earlier than in Perth. The reason, I believe, was that in Perth in 1972 there were only 3 TV stations, ABC2 (owned by the government), TVW7, and STW9. Number 96 was aired on Channel 10 in the Eastern states, and Perth didn’t have a channel 10.

Here is a link to that first episode that Trenna (and separately, I), watched on Monday 19 February 1973.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A5gbkw3Z4g&list=PLOIrQbtkjIG2NN1PHykLmUhRGq0MkF_Ci&index=99

To go directly to the next instalment in The 1973 Diary, click here.