February 3, 2019

Predictably a slower writing week with the kids and teachers all back at work, but the draft hit 57,000 words so it continues to take shape, 1949 being the focus year.

Research took me into fascinating spaces, including the Collingwood Carlton game on August 6 at Victoria Park, a low scoring affair in windy and wet conditions that saw Collingwood win by 3 points and move to the top of the VFL table.

Also of interest has been research into 'little Italy' - Carlton and Lygon Street and the Italian residents. One fascinating fact I unearthed was the 1948 legislation that led to people in Australia becoming Australian citizens on January 26 1949. Prior to that date, all so-called Australians were actually British citizens because no Australian citizenship existed. Post-1949 changes, Australians were technically dual-citizens of Australia and Great Britain.
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Research also led me into the TB wards and treatment for returned service people post WW2, and I discovered my father actually spent almost 8 years recuperating from his bout of Scarlet Fever and Rheumatic Fever that left him with a bad heart for the rest of his life. He contracted the illness in 1944 while in Darwin and was not repatriated from Daws Park Repat until 1952. I received his war record transcript last week.

The target this week is to finish the 1949 chapter and move onto Mum's adventures in Tasmania. Let's see how things develop.