15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

1 April – 15 April 1973

Sunday 1 April  

I got up at 8.30 and had breakfast. Thank goodness I didn’t have a stomach ache this morning. We went to Janette’s Sunday School.  At first we all just sat in the hall and sang songs.  Then we all broke into classes but no one came to Mr Nelson’s class so only 2 of us were in his class. 

I only had one April fool joke played on me. We went home at 10:30 and had some supper.

Jan and I made some little cakes with brightly coloured icing. We had lunch then went into Janette’s room. She finished reading my book Rosemary’s Baby and agreed with me that it was really good.

We talked about moving into a flat together when we were 18. 

Mr Nelson drove me back to GFS at 5 pm and I had tea right away.  After tea I cleaned out all my drawers and dusted my dressing table. Then I had a really good shower.

Sue came in about 8 o’clock, now I’m going to have some supper and then go to bed.

Tuesday 2 April 

I got up at 7.00 and had a shower. I put my green tie at the back dress on with my lime green top over it. I’ve been really good, because since last Tuesday I’ve worn a dress to BC.

Met Julie and Sue at 8:45. We sat at Julie’s bus stop and talked for a while then went to BC. I was sitting in bookkeeping when I was told to go and see Mrs Combes. She asked me if I wanted to go on an interview. 

It was in East Perth.  It took me quite a while to find the place. When I did get there one of the girls from BC was there waiting for the same interview.  

I was interviewed by a lady who seemed to be quite nice and she told me that she would tell BC in half an hour to say if either Julie or I had got the job. 

When I got back Mrs Combes told me that I had got the job, I just couldn’t believe it. I told Julie and Sue in the afternoon. 

By the way, on my way to BC I saw Barb and Alan. I’m going to bed now, I hope I’m not too nervous tomorrow.

Wednesday 3 April 

Today I started my new job at Girlock. I got up at 7.00 had a shower and breakfast. I left for work at 25 to 9. 

I got there about 10 to 9. I was pretty early, but better than late. I had to sort out invoices and then typed out the envelopes and mail them. I made the tea with Cheryl helping me. 

At lunch time it was raining so we just sat in the office and ate our lunch. The afternoon went quickly. 

I left at 5 to 5 and got back to GFS at 5:05. I told everyone about my job. I had tea then after tea Sue and I walked up the shop. 

On the way back she saw this guy walking in front of us, and realised it was Paul, her boyfriend. Then just as we neared GFS who should come out but Nancy and Jim. 

So they took me to a restaurant called the El Calib, Where we had a cup of tea. They were celebrating their 4 years of knowing each other. I took a photo of them and then they walked me back to GFS.

Thursday 4 April 

I got up at 7.00 and had a shower. Had breakfast and then I left for work at 20 to 9. I got there about 5 to 9 and started typing straight away. 

I did the same as what I did yesterday except that I was much faster on the typewriter today. I didn’t have much of a lunch. We all just sat in the office and had it. It was raining outside. 

The afternoon went really quickly and I got back to GFS at 5:05. Sue is in a bad mood because she had no mail. 

We had tea then afterwards we went up to Kaye and Ruth’s room. Ruth went out and Lynette came in and showed us this little hole in the floor where two floorboards could be pulled away. 

So we hid lots of Ruth’s things in it including her alarm clock. She came back and went mad looking for everything. At 10:30 the alarm went off and she found the hiding place. 

Now after a long wait I’m going to bed.

Friday 5 April

I got up at 7.15 dressed and went down to breakfast. I left for work at 8:45 and got there at about 3 to 9. 

At first I just finished addressing some envelopes, then I did some cheques. I’m really enjoying it. 

I got paid today, only for Tuesday and Wednesday. $8.61. 

Came home at 5:05 and had a really nice tea, roast chicken. Sue and I were dared to see if we would wear our slippers to the shop and we did, it was really funny everyone looked at our feet and laughed and quite a few also commented. 

Julie rang and asked me to go and see To Sir, With Love and Cactus Flower with her, I’ve already seen them both but I said that I would go and see them again with her tomorrow. 

Went up to my room and just sat around until supper time, then I went and had a cup of tea. 

Then Sue and I sat in the room with only one candle light and told each other scary stories.

Friday 6 April 

I got up at 7.00 and had a shower then went down to breakfast and left for work at 20 to 9. There weren’t many invoices left so I posted quite a lot of cheques. 

We had lunch down at the park. The afternoon didn’t seem to go so fast today. But finally 5 to 5 came and I rushed back to GFS. 

I got there just after five. I quickly changed into my Levi’s, then hurried to meet Julie and Sue. I was just walking along the Mall when Julie and Sue called out to me. 

They said To Sir With Love was not on so we decided to go and see A Reflection of Fear. There were only seven people in the theatre including us. The film was really weird but good. 

Afterwards we went and had a cup of coffee in The Forum. I walked Julie and Sue to the bus stop and outside the cathedral we saw David (Duck) Jamie and about 20 of the guys from school. 

They said hello, David for the last time because tomorrow he’s going to Fiji.

Saturday 7 April 

I got up at 7.45 and went down to breakfast with Norma. I spent about one hour telling her about last night and quite a lot of it was bullshit. 

I had a shower and put my Levi’s on. Janette came round at 9.30 and we went into town. 

I lay-buyed a grey skirt and she lay-buyed a pair of grey Oxford bags, and a pink, mustard and grey jumper, the lucky bitch. We had lunch in the Petite Restaurant then we walked back to GFS. 

Jeanette caught her bus outside Edwards. During the afternoon I just lay down and thought about David (Duck), would be on his way to Fiji by now and for some reason I was really sad, I nearly started crying. 

Had tea then afterwards Margaret and I went for a walk in town. I was really embarrassed. Then we went to the Fruitorium. 

Peter and his brother we’re really trying to con Margaret and I up. They succeeded with Margaret. 

They gave me four glasses of Bacardi and Coke and then turned out the lights and asked me to stay the night. I took off to GFS.

Sunday 8 April

I slept in to 11.00, then I got up and had a shower and washed my hair. Marg and I went for a walk to the shop (not the Fruitorium). Then we came back to GFS and had lunch. 

After lunch I went and watched TV until just before 4 o’clock then I went up to my room. 

Had tea which wasn’t very enjoyable. After tea I just sat around in my room then at 6.30 I went down to watch TV which I did until 10.30. 

I had supper and now I’m going to bed. I must say this is the most unexciting day I’ve had for a long time.  Well it’s a rest and I’ve got to work tomorrow.

Monday 9 April

I woke at 7.00 had a shower then I went to breakfast. Lynette was really annoying and we kept on making fun of Norma because she always smells and it’s really sickening. 

Sue left at 8.10 then I got dressed for work rather lazily. Work was the same as usual, I mainly posted the last lot of the invoices. 

I walked back to GFS and got there at 5.10. Sue wasn’t home so I waited for her then we went to tea. 

Norma didn’t sit with us, she sat with Diabolical (Sandra Dunn). After tea I sat around and waited until Sue had finished her short hand homework. 

Then we went for a walk and found a shop that we will be going to more often than the Fruitorium. We got back to GFS at 8.40. 

I watched Number 96, then had some supper, it’s now 10.30 and I’m off to bed.

Tuesday 10 April

I woke at 7.30. I had hoped to get up at 7.00 and have a shower but I didn’t hear my alarm. Went to breakfast then got dressed for work. 

Work was pretty much the same, I’m beginning to get a little bit bored, I hope they give me more of a variety in the work I am doing. 

Walked back to GFS. Got back at 5.10 and had tea. Helped Sue with a shorthand homework but I won’t be able to in future because now she has gone past the place that I learned up to. 

Then we went for a walk to the shop. The guy from over the road was there and he kept on making all these wise comments. 

We came home and I watched Number 96 with Lynette because Sue was too tired to come down. Had supper then went up to my room and read Sue’s True Confessions then (which is now) I’m off to sleep as it’s nearly 10.45. 

Wednesday 11 April 

I got up at 6.30 and had a shower. We went to breakfast at 7.00 as Sue leaves early for school today. 

I changed my sheets, got dressed and then left for work. Work was again the same as usual except Cheryl showed me how to do some of the filing outside, which I’ve decided I hate doing. So I hope I didn’t get given that job to do. 

I went with Cheryl to buy lunch as Helena was too busy. I got back to GFS at 5.15 and then we went down to tea. 

After tea we went into Ruth’s room and had a real cats’ session about Margaret because she’s always pinching everything. 

We walked up the shop and then came home and watched Number 96.  We had some supper then went up and I helped Sue do her homework for a while, then I got into bed and read for awhile and now I’m off to sleep at 11.00.

Thursday 12 April

I got up at 7.00 and had a shower then went down to breakfast. Then I went up and got dressed for work. 

Thursday, my first time of getting my pay for one week’s work. I mainly posted out invoices, I got paid $20.54. I was quite pleased as I had all of it to myself. I didn’t have to pay for anything. 

I got back to GFS at 5.10 and had a shower. Then I got dressed ready for Matron. At about 6.45 I was ready. 

Matron has bought a new car, it’s orange. We got to the Hollinsworth’s at 7.00 and until 7.30 we talked, mainly about my job and me. 

Then we had tea which was really beautiful. After tea I helped Mrs Hollinsworth do the dishes and then I tried on some skirts. I didn’t like them very much but I didn’t say so. 

Then Mrs Hollinsworth gave me some moonstone jewelery. They were really pretty, but a bit old for me. After tea Mr Hollingsworth played the piano for us and then Matron drove me back to GFS. And now, 10.30 I’m off to sleep.

Friday 13 April – Black Friday

I got up at 7.30. I had hoped to have had a shower but I woke too late. Had breakfast and then got dressed for work. Luckily I’m not too superstitious. 

I finished mailing invoices. I left work at 5 to 5 and when I got back GFS I quickly changed and packed my bags and caught a bus to Jeanette’s. 

We talked until tea and then we went to Club. We played table tennis and sang. It’s been just a normal Friday night with no really interesting happening or occasion to write about. 

We went back to Jan’s and had some toasted cheese sandwiches and now I’m off to bed.

Saturday 14 April 

I got up at 9.00 and got dressed and had breakfast. 

Mrs Nelson drove Janette and I into town. Jeanette got her Oxford bags off lay-buy.  After searching all morning I finally bought a jumper (pink) that I wasn’t even sure I liked. 

We went back to Janette’s had lunch and I changed into my Oxford bags and Mrs Nelson drove Janette and I into the theatre. 

We had to wait for ages before we were able to buy a ticket for The Poseidon Adventure. I’m sure that the film was the best film for being tense in that I’ve ever seen. 

I saw Maria Lockyer  with a sailor in town.  Mrs Nelson drove me back to GFS and I got ready for Nancy and Jim to pick me up to take me to Rebecca’s birthday party. 

They came at 7.00 we went straight to Barby’s. We played cards after Rebecca had gone to bed and Nancy, Jim and I finally left at 2.30. What a night. 

We drove back to Nancy’s flat and had a cup of Milo, now I’m off to sleep.

Sunday 15 April

I woke at 11.30 just in time to hear Marg and Dave leaving. I got dressed and went into the kitchen. Nancy and Jim had only got up awhile ago. 

We had lunch watching TV then Nancy finished doing the washing. After lunch we decided to go to the Clontarf Fair. 

When we got there it was really crowded but there wasn’t anything really worthwhile. We left there about 4.30 and on the way back to the flat we passed the Cannington Putt Putt so we decided to have a game. 

There was only Rob in the shop that I knew there. Jim took a picture of Nancy and I playing. I won the game. 

We then went back to the flat. We had tea watching TV then after the dishes were done we had a game of Scrabble, it was really good.  I had a cup of Milo for supper, then Jim and Nancy drove me back to GFS. 

It’s now 10.30 and I’m going to go to bed.

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Greg’s Comments

Trenna got her first job (other than a summer job she had at Boans Department store) at Girlock. I remember Girlock as “Girlock Brakes”. My recollection was that they sold automotive spare parts, specialising in car brakes.
Trenna often remarked to me that Girlock didn’t use most of the skills she had learnt at business college, and as a consequence she lost them. She felt she could have done a lot more for them.

On 5 April they cause a mini-sensation by wearing slippers to the shop. People remarked about it! What a conservative and formal society we were!

6 April. “The Cathedral” was undoubtedly St George’s (Anglican) Cathedral. It was always called “The Cathedral”. Perhaps in Catholic circles it was different, because there was a Catholic Cathedral in Perth too.

On 7 April, Trenna makes an exit from the Fruitorium, after being given 4 alcoholic drinks and being asked to stay the night. Trenna was 15 years old.

When Trenna refers to “Sue’s True Confessions” she is referring to Sue Anderson’s True Confessions Magazine.

If you have been reading this series carefully you may have picked up that Trenna has gone to The Poseidon Adventure twice, and each time she saw Maria Lockyer, from Craig House, with a sailor. I only noticed this after it was too late to ask Trenna about it.
There is no evidence that she was filling in the diary retrospectively, using her memory. My conclusion is that she did go twice, she saw Maria twice, and each time Maria was with a sailor. In those days it was extremely common to run into people in Perth who you knew, and it was near the end of the Vietnam war, and there were a lot of sailors from ships birthed at nearby Fremantle.