Nothing Like Home

This was home for the Setu kids at 20 Everitt Road, Otara. It was a four-bedroom weatherboard house with a double garage and big front and back yards. We had the Temaras on one side and the palagi family on the other. My best friend lived right across the road, and it was just a quick 3-4 minute walk to Yendarra Primary School and a 10-minute stroll to Tin City (Otara shopping centre). Those were the days, full of warm childhood memories. There’d be over 20 kids hanging out in front of our house, all from the neighborhood, lol. It was safe and fun, and we didn’t have gadgets keeping us cooped up indoors all day... so boring!

My mind is bursting with cherished memories, both the good and bad! Don't get me wrong, we definitely didn't have a picture-perfect upbringing. I got the classic fasi's (hidings/beatings) with whatever was within reach—be it the belt, broom, or hose, haha! But honestly, I'm grateful for the way I was disciplined. It might not have felt great at the time, but as I grew up, I came to appreciate the impact it had on me as a young adult. It truly prepared me for the tougher, more challenging world outside of home. It helped shape my attitude and, in many ways, guided my decisions later in life!

We basically lived a very simple life. We weren't a rich family; Mum and Dad grew vegetables out back. I loved when Dad and I would sit in the garden with the hose, wash some tomatoes, and eat them straight from the vine. Yum, loved it. We had a full-grown golden peach and apple tree. We grew up having cats and dogs, and our neighbor's baby chickens running around our backyard. Oh, and the house duties—Mum used to show me how to clean the toilet bowl: behind, around, and inside it. She would be on her knees telling me never to be scared to clean all the yuck that comes with it... lol. I'm glad she did 'cause now I like to keep a clean house. We learned to cook, clean, do the laundry with an old wringer washing machine, and how to iron clothes. I'm talking 'bout laundry for nine people and Mum & Dad. The boys normally took care of outside, but somehow I always found my way out there too. I was a bit of a tomboy. It was all fun family times as far as I was concerned, and I loved it. I remember I'd follow my older brothers, climb up on the house and garage roof, and try to jump off. One time I did, and it didn't go well for me because I landed on my back. I felt like my heart stopped, and I was gonna die. Most of the neighbor's kids would meet outside the front of our house, and we'd play bulrush, races, tag, cricket—it was the norm back then in the '70s. How about shopping day? Mum had this old pram that was large enough to fit me, three others, and some of the shopping in it, lol, while the rest of the siblings walked. I also remember Yogi Bears, McKenzies, and always waiting outside the TAB for Dad to finish betting on his horses and the old fountain at the Otara Shopping Center. Oh, and I always enjoyed waiting for the milk truck and the clanging sound of the glass bottles or dropping the coins in the empty bottles.

Oh, the memories of my school days! I used to feel a bit shy about taking bread or cabin bread for lunch every day. Sometimes, I didn't have anything at all, and once, I even got caught sneaking lunches from other kids' bags. (Not my finest moment, but hey, I learned my lesson and had a good laugh about it later!) School photo days were another adventure. I missed out because we couldn't afford it, but one day, I cleverly slipped a forged note onto my teacher's desk and made it into the class photo! I was over the moon because I just didn't want to be labeled as the poor kid. Walking to school barefoot? No big deal! My older sister’s hand-me-downs were like treasures to me. Our house had its fair share of cockroaches, but they didn’t bother me after a while. If they crawled over my food, I'd just brush them off and dig in. When you're hungry, anything tastes good, right? And look, I'm still here! We never locked our back door at night, but nothing ever went missing—probably because there wasn’t much worth taking! Birthdays were a blast! Mum would send one of my brothers to the local dairy for an ice-block, lollies, or fish'n'chips, and wow, that was a huge treat! We all gathered around the dinner table, unlike today, where that family time seems to have faded away.

Parents today seem to have forgotten the magic of letting kids be kids. Encourage them to be creative, let them splash in the mud, dance in the rain. You don't need money to give your kids the best experiences; just spend more time with them. Build a homemade skateboard together or teach your daughter some basic sewing skills. I learned to hem my skirt at the age of 8 just by watching my mum work her magic on an old Singer machine. Let them dive into arts and crafts, even if they don’t become artists. It will spark their creativity and open up endless possibilities! Growing up in a Pacific Island, low-income family in Otara shaped the life I have now, and I am so grateful for it.

These memories are truly special to me. They’ve kept me grounded and remind me of where I came from. Learning to appreciate often comes from experiencing what it’s like to go without. So, reflecting on my childhood, the ups and downs, I always stay grateful because no matter where you are in the world, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE WHO HAS IT WORSE THAN YOU!

#Childhoodmemories #Oldschoolupbringing #Otara #OldSkool #1970s