‘Growing up today has nothing on my epic ’60s childhood’

My memories of my childhood are sketchy so I joined a group called ‘I Am An Old Ermington Kid’. I was hoping comments from others about the area might trigger a memory or two.

I recently posted a question asking if anyone would be willing to share their memories with me. The response was fantastic!

I think we all like to look back and think our childhood was idyllic.

Judging by the comments from members of the group, it’s easy to see Ermington, New South Wales was a bloody good place to grow up. From the massive community bonfires to sliding down grassy slopes with a bit of cardboard under your backside, and collecting bottles to cash in and buy lollies from the Corroboree Milk Bar.

Some remember the cake shop making the best vanilla slices, others took their pots to the Chinese takeaway to be filled.

There were memories of when the Queen came to Ermington; apparently Mum had us kids sitting outside the Golden Fleece Garage waving flags as the Queen went past Spurway Street. I wonder if she remembers my brother waving because he was wearing his Phantom ring.

I wish these memories were mine. In fact they are not, but I do remember sitting in front of a black and white television watching Rin Tin Tin.

It was a time when backyards were huge. At one stage Mum said we had a baby emu and a kangaroo in a big pen in one corner of the yard.The emu grew quickly and had to be moved on because the unsuspecting people that walked along our back fence did not appreciate an emu appearing and pecking them on the head. The emu and kangaroo lived out their days on a farm at Windsor.

Ermington was a big housing commission area. All of the very early houses were fibro, there were four different styles, and every house had kids.

My parents bought the house in the 1950s on a 40-year plan for £3,200 and sold it in the 1980s for $66,000 only to discover they still owed $3,000. I recently had a look online at fibro houses surrounding my parents’ house and they are now going for more than $1 million. Crazy stuff!

Share your stories about where you grew up and the memories you had.