15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

16 March – 31 March 1973

Friday 16 March

I got up at 10 to 7 and had breakfast. Today I don’t have to go to BC. It’s now at 10.20 and I haven’t done hardly anything except Mrs Cole locked me out of my room by mistake.

I’ll meet Julie and Sue for lunch. We had a rather expensive lunch at Petite. Then I walked Sue and Julie back to Edwards, then I walked back to GFS.

I listened to my transistor and packed my bags to go to Janette’s. After that I had a rest for about 40 minutes then got up and had a shower.

I caught the bus to Janette’s at 10 to 4. Ian Parsons got on and so did a lot of guys from Trinity, I felt good!

I got to Janette’s about 4.05 and we just talked until 5.30 then she cut 2 inches off my hair. After tea Mrs Nelson cut my hair. It’s now a short pageboy. I’m glad instead of the rats ends it used to be.

We went to Club and played volleyball and other games then came straight back to Janette’s.

Saturday 17 March

Got up at 9.00 had breakfast then we went down the street. I bought some rollers and some round silver earings. Got back to Janette’s and curled my hair.

We had lunch then went to Putt Putt. When we got there they called us the skinheads.

Greg brought this story called Behind the Green Door and it was the most filthiest thing I’ve ever heard of.

Ian and Kenny came and we had a few games with them. I don’t know if I like the Ian as much as I used to.

Janette’s dad picked us up at 5.20 and we went back to her place and had tea. Packed my bags and then we went to Putt Putt.

We went into a tournament, halfway through the tournament I was coming first and in the end I came last. Kenny won, he got 35.

At 10.10 Mr Nelson drove me back to GFS and now I’m going to go to bed.

Note from Trenna at time of transcribing: Ian and Kenny worked at Putt Putt.

Sunday 18 March

I woke about 8.30, but I didn’t get up till about 11.30 and I went down and had some lunch. After lunch I walked over to Barby’s.

They said my hair looked nice. I helped Colin sort out a report which I said I would type for him. And then I played with Rebecca. She has got a pretty bad cough.

I watched TV. We had a really nice tea, fried rice. After tea Barby said we should go for a drive, but we couldn’t think of any place that we wanted to go so we decided to stay home and watch the Sunday movie “Chuka”. It was really good.

Alan drove me back to GFS and I got back just before 10.30. I’m now going to go to bed, I don’t feel like going to school tomorrow. I hope no one says anything horrible about my haircut.

Monday 19 March

Got up 7.30 and had breakfast. Met Julie and Sue at 8.40 and Sue yelled out that I had my hair cut and everybody looked.

Went to BC at 5 to 9 and everybody commented on my hair. School was the same as usual. I met Julie, Sue and Nicky at 4.10. Nicky liked my hair. We talked at the top of Plaza Arcade until 4.30 then I walked Julie to her bus stop, we sat and talked until 5.00 and then I walked back to GFS.

I had to walk past Derek, he was waiting for the 34 bus to come. Got back to GFS at 5.00. Had tea and then I just talked to Sue and helped her do her shorthand homework.

I watched Number 96, had some supper then I went to bed.

Tuesday 20 March

I woke at 7.00 intending to have a shower but I didn’t get up until 7.30. Had breakfast then went and met Julie and Sue, we talked for a while and then I went to BC. It was quite uneventful.

I met Nicky, Janette, Julie and Sue at 4.10. Janette had to look for a dress and Julie had to look for a skirt. Julie didn’t find hers but Janette found a nice dress in Capri Casuals and put it on lay-buy.

Then I walked Janette to her destination, which was Cecil Bros where she bought some shoes, just to wear with jeans. Then Janette walked me nearly all the way back to GFS. She caught her bus at Edwards.

I got back to GFS at 5.40. Had tea then I helped Sue do her homework. We went for a walk down the shop and I was being really stupid and gave a piece sign to this car, and it turned around and the two guys in it were calling us to go over to them, but we didn’t.

Went back to GFS watched Number 96 then went to bed.

Wednesday 21 March

I got up at 7.30 and had breakfast. I met Julie and Sue at 8.40. Just talked, Peter walked by with his girlfriend and they really like to show us they don’t like us.

BC was the same as usual. Met Julie, Sue, Janette and Nicky at 4.10. Sue had to leave early and catch her bus so then Nicky and Julie had to go off and look for a skirt.

So Janette and I went and had a look in the shops. Janette got her dress off lay-buy. We then walked back to GFS and Janette caught her bus home at the front of Edwards Business College.

I got back at 5.30 and then had tea. At about 7 o’clock Susan Anderson rang and asked me out for the weekend but I told her that I had already made other arrangements with Janette.

I helped Sue do her shorthand homework then Margaret, Sue and I walked down to the shop.

Sue really hates Margaret because she goes through her things. Went back to GFS and bed.

Thursday 22 March

I got up at 7.00 had a shower and then went down to breakfast. Met Julie and Sue at 20 to 9 talked for awhile then went to BC.

That was the same as usual, Gabby got a job. I had to do the teas by myself because Dorothy was away.

Met Julie, Sue and Nicky after school. We talked then I walked Julie to her bus stop. Derek Hamlyn walked by, he’s really beautiful and I like him better than Ian now.

Got back to GFS at 5.00 and just after, Jeannette rang to ask me to go to Putt Putt. I got to her place at 7.00. We went in a tournament playing with Ian, Bill and Kim.

Janette was really showing off. She hardly knew I was there, she was telling everyone how good she was.

Mr Nelson drove me back to GFS at 10.30. I found that Nancy and Jim had come to see me, they left me a note to ring Barb tomorrow.

Friday 23 March

My alarm went off at 7.00. I was going to get up and have a shower but I couldn’t be bothered. At 7.30 I got up and had breakfast.

Met Julie and Sue at 8.40 and was still in a bit of a bad mood with Janette for last night.

BC was the same except Dorothy wasn’t there to help do the teas.

I didn’t meet Julie and Sue after BC because they had to hurry home and get ready because they were going to the Police and Citizens.

When I got home I rang Janette but she wasn’t home and I got even in a worse mood with her than what I already was. She rang at 5.30 and I packed and got to her place about 6.10. At first I didn’t talk much, but not for very long.

We had tea and then left for Club at 7.15. We had a game of volleyball and just sat and talked. We drove a few of the kids home, not many came. They went to the Police and Citizens.

Then we went home, had supper then went to bed.

I rang Barb at morning tea.

Saturday 24 March

We got up at 9.00 and had breakfast then we went down the street and had a look at the new Coles New World, it was a hot day and it was nice to go into the air conditioning.

We bought an ice cream cake because we were having a party for Janette’s grandmother whose birthday it was yesterday.

We got back to Janette’s at 11.30 and at 12.20 we had lunch. Then after lunch Janette and I decided to go to the pictures.

We went to see The Poseidon Adventure and when we got there, there was a really long line waiting to get in. It was a really great film.

[GM: As I recall, this was screened in Cinema 1 located in City Arcade.]

When we were leaving, I saw Marie Lockyer, she was with a sailor who was really revolting.

We got home at 5.15, had a party tea with Jeanette’s Nanny and Grandpa. After tea we had a game called Masterpiece and a game of carpet bowls. Then we had a game of billiards and I won.

We had some supper then I packed my bags and Mr Nelson drove me back to GFS. And I got straight into bed.

Sunday 25 March

I got up at 8.00 went and had a shower and washed my hair. Went down to breakfast with Norma then I walk straight over to Barby’s.

Just as I got there Barby and Alan we’re just leaving. We got to the new house at 10.00. I helped unload the car and then went on a guided tour. It was really beautiful.

The Ipec Removals came about 11.00 and had to make two trips to get all the furniture into the house. I helped to unpack and put everything away.

We had lunch at 1.00 and then Rebecca went to bed in her brand-new room.

After lunch I helped Colin get settled into his room which is really the master bedroom. I tidied up the lounge room and then vacuumed.

We had tea, I helped Barby make it because she wasn’t sure how to use the grill.

I watched part of the movie then Barby and Alan drove me back to GFS. Barb gave me a book, “Rosemary’s Baby”.

Monday 26 March

Got up at 7.30 and went to breakfast. Left for GFS at 8.20 and had to borrow a $1.00 from Lynette because I hadn’t got my pocket money from Mr Hollinsworth.

Met Julie and Sue at 8.40 and they told me about the party they went to with Leigh and Greg.

Went to BC. That was the same as usual.

Met Julie, Sue and Nicky after school and we all walked Sue to her bus stop to see Joe Clark, a guy she caught the bus with.

I saw Derek on my way back to GFS. I got back at 5.00 and had tea. I received my five dollars from Mr Hollinsworth.

Sue and I went down to Fairlanes Bowling. We had a game of pool and had goes on the various machines. There was one game called the Grand National it was really funny and we kept on playing it.

We left at 8.30 and went to the shop. I bought a carton of yoghurt, then we went back to GFS and watched Number 96.

Then I went to my room and went to bed.

Tuesday 27 March

I got up at 7.00, had a shower then went to breakfast. Sue was in a pretty bad mood because Margaret had been using up all of Sue’s make up.

I met Julie and Sue at 8.45. They had to hurry to school so I left.

I got to BC at about 7 to 9 and was one of the first into bookkeeping for a change. BC was the same as usual. When I write this, I make it sound as though BC is really boring, being the same every day. But funnily enough, I’m still really enjoying it.

Met Julie and Sue at 4.15. We talked at the end of Plaza Arcade, then I walked Julie to her bus stop. I haven’t seen Derek for ages.

I got back to GFS at 5.00, had tea then after tea I helped Sue do her homework. Then Sue, Margaret and I went down to Fairlanes.

We were really embarrassed because Margaret had no shoes on and low jeans, black T-shirt and bare feet. She looked YUK.

Wednesday 28 March

I got up at 7.00 and had a shower, Sue again was in a really bad mood, she was trying to be shifted over to the new quarters to have her room by herself.

I met Julie and Sue at 8.45 we talked and then they walked with me for a little way then they went.

BC was the same except that I had to go to the Post Office for Mrs Blair to get some wage sheets. Other than that everything was just the same.

I met Julie and Sue at 4.15. As usual we talked at Plaza Arcade. Then I walked Julie to her bus stop.

I got home at 5.00 and had tea. Then when we went down to change our sheets Sue asked Mrs Cole if she could shift in with me because she just couldn’t get on with Margaret.

Mrs Cole said after while that she could, but not tonight. Sue was really scared to go back in the room while Margaret was in that mood.

Thursday 29 March

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

Talked to them until 5 to 9 then I went to BC. That was the same except that I have started a new thing in bookkeeping.

Met Julie and Sue after school and I walked Julie to her bus stop.

I got back to GFS at 4.45 and today Sue was going to move into my room. We moved before Margaret got home, thank goodness because she was in a really bad mood.

I then went down and had tea, then Sue and I went up to our room and put everything away a little bit more neatly.

Then I helped her do her shorthand homework. At about 7 o’clock Mrs Cole asked Sue and I to go down the shop and buy a pound of P olony, or two tins of Watsonia, only Watsonia, spiced ham for her dog Rastise, it was really funny.

We came home and had some supper and now I’m going to go to bed. I hope Sue is a better roommate.

Friday 30 March

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

When I was in B keeping I had a funny feeling. I got up at 10.25 and went to the toilet. I had blood on my pants and on the back of my dress, I tried to get it off, but I couldn’t. So I went back to GFS.

On the way I saw Sharon Towel and had to stop and talk to her for awhile. I changed into my Oxford Bags, then I went back to BC. Thank goodness no one said anything about my Oxford Bags and not having them on before.

I hurried home early and got back to GFS at 4.05. I washed my hair and boy did I have a stomach ache. I rang Jeanette at 5.00 and we decided that I’d go to her place for the weekend.

I got there at 5.45. Had tea then we went to Club. We had a table tennis tournament.

Came home, had supper then just before we got into bed Janette found that she had started her period too.

Saturday 31 March

I woke at 8.30 and sat in bed and read the end of my book, Rosemary’s Baby, it was really good.

I got up at 10.00 and still had a stomach ache. We had breakfast and just at about 11 o’clock Julie rang. Talked for a while.

We had lunch at 12.30 and at about 2.30 Jeanette’s grandfather drove us toPutt Putt. There was the State Championships on. At about 4.30 Ian and Kim came and talked to us for about five minutes then they left. We left at 5.15, and had fish and chips for tea.

We went to Putt Putt again at seven. Ian, Bill and Kim came. Kim was the only one who played with us, Ian and Bill were talking to this girl who serves at the counter.

Bruce and all those kids started a fight with these skinhead Pommies and nearly got caught by the cops.

We left at 9.00 went back to Jeanette’s had some supper and then a shower, then, which is now, I’m going to bed.

I saw a girl from BC at Putt Putt today.

Greg’s Comments

On Friday 16 March Trenna feels good when Ian Parsons and boys from Trinity College get on her bus. I’m pretty confident that is because she is starting to blossom into an attractive young woman. Also she would have been wearing groovy clothes and not is a school uniform.

Behind the Green Door apparently was an underground circulated porn story, that led to a landmark pornographic feature-length movie. It seems my sheltered life didn’t lead me down those paths. I hadn’t heard of either before I read Trenna’s diary.
In the interests of research I Googled it and found that both the short story and all of the movie are on the Internet (no big surprise there!)

On 23 March Trenna mentions the “Police and Citizens”. She is referring to a branch of the “Police and Citizens Youth Club“. Their Community Youth Centres still operate today.

“Coles New World” (24 March) was the first supermarket, as we know them today.