Tinaroo – A Life in Words

Leadership Camp, Day One (1 February)

Published on February 1, 2015 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

Sunday 1/2/87

I still had my cold. It was really hot once we got to school. Altogether we took heaps of stuff. Mark sat next to me on the bus.. mucked round. After discussion on arrival, we put up our tent. I was so hot. It was overcast. [Perfect conditions to increase humidity] We went for a swim and just mucked round. I was cold, then not etc.. [ooh, feverish?] tonight we had bush dancing. Boring! [Hmm, that’s not what you wrote in the scrapbook…] Mark was rather unenthusiastic Kept looking for me (??) I kept looking at him Later; after lights out, Mark [privacy omission] came to our tent. Mark didn’t seem ‘interested’. But it was good getting with [just kissing, people!] him. [privacy omission] Mark spent his time worrying about being caught too. I daresay that night was bad for the teachers – kids swapping tents etc. Probably got to sleep around 3:00.

[My scrapbook begins to include more text, more detail: I tried to record everything I could recall. But – not surprisingly – there’s minimal personal disclosure, since, unlike my diaries, I was expecting people to read this. It was as much for public (friends etc) as it was for personal posterity…and ‘processing’ of course.]

Erica brought the eski over early – we packed it & luckily, were able to put it on the lorry that the school had hired from the Fishers [our neighbours] to take equipment up, along with our tent. Excitement mounted as people arrived & assembled at Croswell Hall. It was very hot. Our group had a massive pile of gear! (then again, so did some others (not to mention any names, Steven, Mark & Brent) We loaded the remainder of our gear & scrambled onto the bus to get the best seats. Waiting ages in the still heat till we finally got under way. Music, muck-around fights & food all the way there. Once off the bus, people frantically begin to grab gear & best tent spots, but, called for an assembly first, many people had to give up their chosen sites. [From memory, there were separate tent site zones for the girls and boys. Not really surprising.] After putting up the tent, (a very long, tiring task – we were one of the last groups to finish) [I’m fairly sure we had one of the largest tents there, however…] there was freetime. We all went for a (very short) swim, then stood watching some of the guys playing cricket. After our dinner, the air horn was blown- signalling assembly under the covered area. Bushdancing was the activity & almost everyone enjoyed it! [Aha, almost everyone…] For some, this was the longest night (ie. the latest) [….oh? I wonder who…?]

Womanhood & Power Cuts (11-17 February)

Published on June 13, 2013 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

Monday 11/2/85

Today was boring, I s’pose. Just normal, Day 5 lessons (YUK!). Quite hot, too. Sarah H hung around us at big lunch. God it’s hot right now! I’m sweating – boiled!!!!! Mrs Westerwald picked on me in German, again. I couldn’t help being cheeky!! Raiders of the Lost Ark is on TV, now. Yes, the movie. What a surprise!! I’m sooo hot – Can’t think. If I remember anything else that happened today, I’ll write it in later!!

Tuesday 12/2/85

Mima dropped Glenn. Power strikes (I mean power cuts) all day today. Stupid electricity board. It’s not FNQEB this time, but SEQEB. Yes, they’re rationing our electricity! BUGARS! [All Queenslanders will remember the stoush between the Unions and The Bjelke-Petersen government at this time. There were state-wide electricity disruptions for many weeks. I didn’t – and honestly still don’t – know the gory details behind it all. I simply mimicked my parents’ attitudes. Oh, and hated being without power….as you do.] Didn’t do much work today. Was tired. Got Thursday’s history notes from Kel. Still don’t know how to get started in my english. Wrote a poem this arvy – don’t really like it, but can’t get an essay started. Will just show him (Mr VS) the poem tomorrow…….. Not too exciting – yes!! In art, have tables now & Tina & Erica sit opposite Fi & me – talkabout LAUGH!! So funny is Tina!!!!! [Bit of a girl-crush on the popular girl!] Early-ish nite to-nite!

Wednesday 13/2/85

A Life in Words — Imagine these handlebars (but with front & rear brake lines) on men’s racer bikes & you have the trendiest bike in 1984/5

This was no ordinary day. I got my periods. Yes, finally. I never thought I’d see the day!! As “mother” said to me, “Welcome to womanhood, Liss”. S’pose!! Mrs Westerwald picked on me AGAIN! I think I’m her guinea pig, now (me & Lucy & Lisa F) Mr Van Slooten was away in history – in art Tina, Erica, me & fi had more fits of laughter over smiles, sinus & Kyrene’s (Erica’s sister’s) habits! Got seats on the bus, thank God! Lucy got off with me & after arvy tea, I walked her to music (she goes to a lady in Cassowary St.) She came back later & we both walked to speech. Mima’s got butterfly handles on her bike now! [I’m not talking your modern racing handlebars, I’m talking the high bars that roadster bikes used to have. See pic→]

Thursday 14/2/85

VALENTINE’S DAY. Power cuts continue – last nite, tonite (& days) – probably go on for weeks!! Getting worse – could end up with a complete black out. Today was cool & wet (overcast). Was boring in school, again. Nothing exciting ever really happens. Took home Fiona U.’s “Smash Hits Yearbook”. By the time I’d finished ready thru’ it, it was on dusk. Did little HW, didn’t really have much. Late night again, due to HW & blackouts. 1hr on, 1hr off now…… Geoff took mum to lunch; no choccy’s (DAMN!) Hate stupid electricians. Think they’re so cool. Well, Joh’s gonna show ’em!

Friday 15/2/85

Today was boring again. Power strikes are getting worse. Boring science; pes actually did a handstand (with Justine’s & Sarah H’s) help! Ms Westerwald didn’t actually pick on me today! HIP HIP HOORAY!! Behind in Hist. notes…. At lunchtime, walked ’round & then mucked about with Julia & Jodie. Jodie T. (not Jules’ friend) hates Fi or so Fi thinks. This arvy looked thru’ magazines. Petra is staying. Late nite….. with my radio, I went through AM trying to pick up all the stations – some Japanese!!

Saturday 16/2/85

Today, made “Barbie doll” clothes. My 2 ‘barbies’, I want to keep for my kids when I grow up, and until then, I’ve decided to make clothes for them & keep them fashionable & on display!! [Hmm well, two spanners in the works there: those dollies are long gone and I have had no kids to which I could give them, should they still be in my possession] Made 2 tube dress/skirts today, 1 boob tube & a pair of ski pants / Otherwise, I read magazines, till Mim & Fi came round about 4:30. Rode to Stratty (on flat tyres) & all pumped them up while the electricity was still on… rode around till 6:00, was fun! Late night tonight (hoping to be so tired that I sleep in) Boring.. Jules is at Dad’s. Wet & rainy today. Periods still!

Sunday 17/2/85

Woke early-ish DAMN! & sat making more barby clothes (a shirt from a sock, a glove & tog bottoms) Then mima rang. Went to Tinaburra! Not the actual block, but where there was a pontoon like on the old Coke ads $2.50 for ¼hr – Rip off! But Nyree, Liam, Ryan & Rebecca I. were on it & had been for 2hrs! (Just from the $2.50!) So we went on it (Yes, I swam – didn’t bleed much at all!) TREADLY FUN!! (except that we only got 40 mins) Stupid old man – Jock! [I’m not sure if this was his name or an insult. Most likely the latter.] Anyway sunbaked & read. (Got quite burnt) At lunch, the man went away so we swam out to it – & swam under the floats. We were under the tramp. part. Man came back & we were severely skinted!! After had a go on the water toboggan – TREADLIER!! At home, mum had an accident – forgot the car was in 1st – drove straight thru’ to back yard – broke the table & the bird got away (cage severely bent) Lateish nite – strikes are worse.

Hormones & Accused of Theft (21-27 January)

Published on June 10, 2013 by Elissa Coxen3 Comments

Monday 21/1/85

Today woke 7:30. Rang Dad. He said he’d pick me up, but be late. When he came, stayed for coffee, while I dressed & gathered my gear. Started cleaning drums 9:30. Finished After lunch – 1:30. Did 75; 25c per drum = $18.75. Then at 2:00, did 2hrs labelling work = $8. Total – $26.75. Had BIG lunch! Mum came & took us home at 5:00. At home, relaxed. Mandy & Bill came & looked at the house. Heath is bigger & more beautiful, now! After they, left, had a bath (scrubbed chemical-free!) [shudder to think about all those chemicals I was exposed to now…] dins & watched TV all night. Am gonna watch “Dick Emery Show” soon. Geoff had a haircut. Skint! [Skint: the replacement word for ‘shame or embarrassment’. I have no idea how this word, which actually means “lacking funds” came to be used in this context. Unless someone decided lack of ‘face’ (as in ‘losing face’) was an acceptable ulterior meaning?] Rang mima. She forgot to ring

Tuesday 22/1/85

Today was hot because spent most of it out of the house. Woke 7:00 to the sound of a bobcat. Our yard is now quite very level!! Today went to town with mim & Jules. Took my $20. Looked around town for shorts. A few good options, but I didn’t buy. Was upset, [in other words, threw a tantrum] so mum (after getting petrol) drove us out to Earlville, where I finally bought a pair of yellow shorts $9.95 from ambition & a$5 lime green T-shirt from Rockman’s. On the way home, treated me & Julia to a choccy eclair & cream bun (for jules). At home, drew & mucked around. Nana then Petra came. We played cards. She went home. Watching “Prophecies of Nostradamus” [Aha! There it is. This was not the first time I had watched a documentary about the ‘great prophet’…I was fascinated by him or rather, his predictions.] Is eerie. Scares me.

Wednesday 23/1/85

In the bath last night, I cut myself twice with a stupid razor & gave up shaving. In bath just cried & cried for no reason. Kept saying “why me? why me?” Haven’t cried for ages…….[This kind of stuff happened on occasion. With hindsight, I would put it down to those wild teenage hormone fluctuations.] Today, thought I slept in, but woke at 7:30. Went to do grocery shopping & I spent $5 dollars “click” just like that! Bought iced doughnuts. Sickly’n’fattening. After, Petra & Anette M. came around. Later Margie. We just played cards all arvy. Had to get ready to go to Nana’s. I stalled. Rang mima. She wasn’t there. Pol answered. 5mins later she rang me. Not allowed to go to Green [Island]. Her mum said “why pay to get burnt?” Nana minded us while mum was at a National Trust Meeting.

Thursday 24/1/85

Today, Julia woke me at 6:30, to tell me that Oikaze (our biggest goldfish) was dead. [Interesting name…I wonder where we got that from? I don’t remember it at all] Got ready early for Brewers to take me to the beach (Trinity Stinger Net) Was fun there. Did not stay long at all. Went for a 20min walk, 20min swim then walked to the shop for an iceblock, where Mr & Mrs B. picked us up. Went back to mim’s. Spent all afternoon in the pool! Estimated 6hrs swimming today! Came home & ate. Had a long bath, to soothe the ole’ sunburn. Just watched TV. Rang mim 8:30 Are going to movies tomorrow. I must also get a haircut & Kevin Shorey will teach me to change my earrings correctly.

Friday 25/1/85

Mum woke us early. Dunno why but was too early cause was ready to pick up everyone at 8:00, when we were supposed to go at 9:00. Beka came, too. (Bitch) “The Last Starfighter” was a great movie!! Saw Liam & his friend, Adam. Also Toni & Angela Bitches, too. After, walked around all day. Boring! Got skinted 2 times. Williams the Shoeman I knocked over a shelf of shoes & in Sportsgirl I was accused of stealing. [I vividly recall this incident. I had found a dress I loved in a crowded rack of clothing on sale, and ‘hid’ it under another item of clothing on the same rack so that no one would potentially find my treasure & buy it from underneath me. As we all left the store, the manager came running after us & directed me back to the shop where she began her interrogation. I’m non-confrontational so was probably in shock at first but I recall professing my innocence and revealing the buried dress. I can’t remember if the others had come back in the shop as well or waited outside, but I was truly mortified and embarrassed – despite not being technically in the wrong.] BAD DAY. Got home around 5:00 Mum was at Freshy hairdressers. I couldn’t get in the house. Had a bath, watched TV & the movie. Was O.K. Julia went to the doctors yesterday ‘cos lately she’s been getting black marks on her pants. Dr D. said she has her PERIODS. [I truly thought my sister would not want this private information shared, so called her before transcribing, to check. She laughed her head off and said “I don’t care…it’s FUNNY!”]

Saturday 26/1/85

AUSTRALIA DAY. Had a dream about Andrew Ridgeley Last night – yes, the spunky partner to George Michael in Wham! It’s funny – I could actually see his features clearly. Normally you don’t see people’s faces, you just know they’re them in the dream. And now, when I look at the poster, I feel I know him thoroughly, like an old friend (I think I love him.) I’m nuts. [You said it!] Today, mum went to the Cairns City Place for the Aussie Day Celebrations. I went to Fi’s, then mim’s at 10:30. Watched “Sahara”. Lazed around until Glenn came. Went to the spare block on the top of Blue Hills Cres. Liam & Adam came up. After, went to Fi’s, then Freshy Creek, then the spare block again. After, went home. Clarke’s came for drink. early nite

Sunday 27/1/85

Woke late, lazed around. Got 10-11 hours sleep last night. Good, huh?! Went to Tinaroo Dam today. Invited mim & fi. Laughed & talked on the way up. When got there, saw Rachel & Kate C. Felt the water. Went & sat in car, mim read while fi & I changed radio stations looking for good songs. Had lunch then continued in the car. Was windy & overcast, but eventually decided to swim. Strong rip in the dam, but had great fun. Was freezing out of water. Packed up when got out & went to a ‘maze’. [I only vaguely remember this maze, and have no idea where exactly it is/was. If anyone else can recall it, please let me know.] Was treadly. Got lost, but eventually got out. Really dudish! [Another new word! I don’t even remember this one. I can only guess that it’s another word for …cool?!] After, went to a pub, but we still sat in the car. Laughed had fun on way home. Early night again.