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Between nostalgia and amnesia: the legacy of Julia Gillard as PM, 10 years after her ousting

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-black-729708">Joshua Black</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a></em></p> <p>On June 26 2013, as she fronted the press gallery in Canberra after her removal as leader of the Labor Party, Julia Gillard was determined not to cry. In her prime ministerial <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0uhHuEw8LY">resignation speech</a>, she asked not for pity, but rather for a meaningful national conversation about gender and politics, specifically the politics of her demise.</p> <p>"It doesn’t explain everything; it doesn’t explain nothing. It explains some things. And it is for the nation to think in a sophisticated way about those shades of grey."</p> <p>Ten years after the fact, that conversation is ongoing. At times, it has been a progressive and sophisticated one. The events of recent weeks, including the puerile debate about Katy Gallagher’s <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/gallagher-faces-censure-motion-20230622-p5dirm.html">prior knowledge</a> of Brittany Higgins’ sexual assault allegations, and the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-15/peter-dutton-dumps-senator-david-van-from-liberal-party-room/102481814">allegations</a> against Senator David Van, remind us there is still a long way to go.</p> <p>However, it is worth pausing to reflect on what has happened to Gillard’s reputation over the decade. Why has it thrived? Is it all about gender? And if we have forgotten key aspects of the Gillard years, what does that partial amnesia say about us?</p> <h2>From ‘Juliar’ to feminist icon</h2> <p>For much of her premiership, Gillard was singularly unpopular among Australian voters. Her efforts to put a price on carbon (damned by critics as a broken promise not to introduce a carbon tax) proved electorally damaging, as did her failure to end the deadlock over asylum-seeker policy. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-line-has-been-crossed-gillard-acts-on-thomson-and-slipper-20120429-1xsiz.html">Controversies</a> surrounding Labor MP Craig Thompson and Speaker Peter Slipper (selected for the role by Gillard) further undermined her standing.</p> <p>There was much sexism at play. Her critics incessantly argued this was a woman not to be trusted. Critics of carbon pricing infamously dubbed her “Juliar” on their angry placards. Her body was objectified in the public domain, and the shock jocks of commercial radio questioned the sexuality of her then partner.</p> <p>One commentator, the irascible Alan Jones, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsaVpepMyA8">even suggested</a> the prime minister ought to be “put in a chaff bag” and drowned at sea. The shocking thing is not that these things were said, but rather that they were accepted as legitimate contributions to public debate by the community at large.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533611/original/file-20230623-24-4cz05p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/533611/original/file-20230623-24-4cz05p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=399&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533611/original/file-20230623-24-4cz05p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=399&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533611/original/file-20230623-24-4cz05p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=399&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533611/original/file-20230623-24-4cz05p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=502&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533611/original/file-20230623-24-4cz05p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=502&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/533611/original/file-20230623-24-4cz05p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=502&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The language used to criticised Gillard was often deeply sexist, and opposition politicians often did little to discourage it.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Alan Porritt/AAP</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Stories about Gillard’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/31/julia-gillard-did-not-commit-any-inquirys-counsel-assisting-says">alleged corruption</a> as a lawyer in Perth in the early 1990s also proved a distraction from the government’s agenda. Not until 2014 – in the witness box of a royal commission, no less – was Gillard finally able to clear her name.</p> <h2>The misogyny speech</h2> <p>The passage of time can make things seem as if they always were as they are now. But Gillard’s renowned <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihd7ofrwQX0">misogyny speech</a> was not an instant sensation in Australia. The context – a censure motion on the disgraced speaker Peter Slipper – was unpropitious, and when Gillard made her speech, the conservative press called her a hypocrite who now played the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/gillard-reveals-true-nature-in-playing-gender-card-20121010-27cnq.html">“gender card”</a> for political expediency.</p> <p>The speech’s global impact was immediate, but only after Gillard’s removal from power did it capture the hearts and minds of some Australians. New developments – the sexist attacks on US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016, the #MeToo movement beginning in 2017, and latterly the backlash against gendered discrimination and abuse in parliament house – gave it further acuity in the following years.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ihd7ofrwQX0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>A decade after its muted reception in Canberra, the speech is circulated on TikTok, featured in stage productions, and in 2020 it was even voted Australia’s most <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/feb/07/julia-gillard-misogyny-speech-voted-most-unforgettable-moment-in-australian-tv-history">“unforgettable” television moment</a>.</p> <p>Though not always enamoured with the way it dominated her political legacy, Gillard ultimately leaned in to it, as the saying goes. She started a podcast called A Podcast of One’s Own (a clear nod to Virginia Woolf), published two books about women and leadership, and established the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, and latterly the Australian National University.</p> <h2>Star status</h2> <p>As prime minister, Gillard was regularly criticised for her “wooden” media appearances and her cautious approach to public engagement. It is ironic, then, that her transformation from untrustworthy politician to venerable feminist advocate depended on the media and celebrity industries.</p> <p>It began with a series of ticketed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoCpHkPr8lE">public talks</a> in venues such as the Sydney Opera House with longstanding feminist advocate, author and historian Anne Summers. Gillard’s memoir, <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/my-story-9781760893330">My Story</a>, and a high-profile book tour followed in 2014.</p> <p>In her advocacy work as chair of the Global Partnership for Education she also rubbed shoulders with celebrities such as <a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/celebrity/interviews/rihanna-and-julia-gillard-the-unlikely-friendship-between-a-global-superstar-and-our-former-prime-minister/news-story/3263d3e95e6d9780c0535b8cfea8840d">Rihanna</a>.</p> <h2>The policy legacy</h2> <p>Several of the Rudd-Gillard government’s policy initiatives were unravelled by their successors. The <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-10/gillard-reveals-carbon-price-scheme/2788842">$23-per-tonne carbon price</a> was repealed by Tony Abbott’s government, as was the (clearly deficient) <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/FOI_2247.pdf">Minerals Resource Rent Tax</a>. The National Broadband Network, the rollout of which began under Gillard, was dramatically reimagined by Malcolm Turnbull as communications minister and then as prime minister.</p> <p>Some of the less-savoury aspects of Gillard policy legacy have been forgotten for more convenient reasons. Gillard herself has not often discussed her government’s revival of mandatory offshore processing for asylum seekers in Australia. The cutting of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-julia-gillard-forever-changed-australian-politics-especially-for-women-138528">single parents’ benefit</a>, on the very same day as Gillard’s misogyny speech, has earned perhaps not enough discussion. It is her <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-16/julia-gillard-same-sex-marriage-feminism-debate/102290962">failure to support</a> same-sex marriage as prime minister that now draws the most condemnation from pundits.</p> <p>But policy legacies have also played a huge part in the revival of Gillard’s public standing. The Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings was a hugely important initiative. It earned Gillard significant credit across the political spectrum when its findings proved so damning.</p> <p>The NDIS, largely overlooked in media coverage in favour of “carbon tax” and “deficit”, has become a sacred element in Australian social and welfare policy. The subsequent policy debate has not hinged on the design of the scheme, but rather how best to fund it.</p> <h2>Between nostalgia and amnesia</h2> <p>There is a dissonance in the way Australians talk about Gillard today. Her magnanimity is respected, her embrace of a life after politics admired. Above all else, Gillard’s status as Australia’s first woman prime minister and now a global women’s ambassador prevails. As a rule, she does not parade her views on contemporary politics before the public, except at a conceptual level. (Her memoir was perhaps the exception.)</p> <p>But when commentators refer to the decade of egos, ambitions and failed leaders, they are increasingly likely to elide her name entirely. It is a disservice to the historical record, and to Gillard herself. She was a fierce combatant in parliament, and endured a period of intense conflict within the Labor Party. Her victory over Kevin Rudd in February 2012 – one of their many spills and shadow contests – was larger than any ballot that Rudd, Abbott or Turnbull ever contested.</p> <p>People have been quick to wipe their hands clean of yesterday’s sexism in order to make Gillard yesterday’s heroine. But they ought to be careful that, in the process, they do not erase her from other political histories.</p> <p>To segregate her story as one of women’s leadership while neglecting it in wider histories of Australian politics and policy would, in its own way, be an act of sexism.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/208283/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-black-729708">Joshua Black</a>, PhD Candidate, School of History, National Centre of Biography, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/between-nostalgia-and-amnesia-the-legacy-of-julia-gillard-as-pm-10-years-after-her-ousting-208283">original article</a>.</em></p>

Legal

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Shoppers left feeling nostalgic over new chocolate treats

<p dir="ltr">Chocolate lovers are in for a treat with Cadbury’s new range hitting supermarket shelves.</p> <p dir="ltr">The confectionary giant’s new “slices” range may feel quite familiar to some, especially those who often follow their sweet tooth into well-stocked bakeries, which makes perfect sense when considering the new blocks are inspired by the likes of crackle, hedgehog, and mint cream slices. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cadbury.com.au/brand/cadbury-slices">The Cadbury Slices</a>, which carry a price tag of $5.50, are described by their makers as being “inspired by iconic Australian bakery slices and mixed with our iconic Cadbury chocolate to create a new way to enjoy icons, perfect for sharing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">They were an immediate hit with the masses, with one social media snack reviewer even declaring one of the new blocks to be “up there with some of my current favourites”. </p> <p dir="ltr">In a video posted to her Instagram account, she could be seen entering a Woolworths supermarket to pick up the new range, and outlined her journey before reviewing the goods. </p> <p dir="ltr">She did not, however, try the Old Gold mint cream, noting that she wasn’t really a fan of mint chocolate to begin with. </p> <p dir="ltr">First up was the Caramilk hedgehog, and after explaining the “classic Aussie no-bake slice”, she described how the block had a Caramilk base and contained almonds, toasted coconut, and rice crisps, before noting that she “absolutely loved the taste”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Next came the block “inspired by a chocolate crackle”, which also featured rice crisps and toasted coconut, and “definitely resembled the chocolate crackle flavour”. She noted that it had that “recognisable Copha taste”, although she didn’t believe that was one of the ingredients. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It was so delicious,” she surmised, “and I hope this one stays around for a while.” </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr7-qyFJS1q/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr7-qyFJS1q/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Snack Reviews Aus (@snackreviews_aus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Her joy at the range and their nostalgic flavours were exactly what the company had been aiming for, and as Paul Chatfield - vice president marketing for ANZ Mondelez International - told <em>news.com.au</em>, “the new Cadbury Slices range, features a variety of familiar and nostalgic flavours that Cadbury and chocolate-fans alike will enjoy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We know Aussies share fond memories of bakery slices and hope they too will build new memories with family and friends as they share a Cadbury Slices block.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram </em></p>

Food & Wine

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The future of travel is looking bright … and feeling luxurious

<p dir="ltr">A new report from Luxury Gold, experts in the realm of boutique luxury travel experiences, has shed some insight into what hopeful holidaymakers can expect to find on their next once-in-a-lifetime trip.</p> <p dir="ltr">Whether your interests lie in unique experiences you can brag about at every dinner party for the rest of your life, taking home a special piece of your dream getaway as your own personal treasure, or exploring locations most could only ever dream of setting foot in, Luxury Gold have you covered. </p> <p dir="ltr">And while some may be a little unsure at the prospect of luxury travel during a cost of living crunch, Luxury Gold have actually reported a 150% increase in bookings since 2022, and expect almost one in six Australians over 18 to spend $10,000 on their next big break. </p> <p dir="ltr">With that in mind, it has never been more important to know exactly what you want to get out of your holiday - and where to find it. Luckily for us all, Luxury Gold are experts in the field of Luxury Small Group Journeys, and are on a mission to redefine the idea of the New Golden Age of Travel.</p> <p dir="ltr">As managing director Toni Ambler explained, “a holiday is more than ‘just a holiday’ for modern luxury consumers, especially post-pandemic. Instead, it’s an opportunity to grow, learn and soak in experiences that will change us for the better. It’s travel that’s more purposeful and curated, as opposed to ‘in-and-out’ or flash-in-the-pan holidays.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our customer base has always expected to have one-of-a-kind experiences on their trip. ‘The New Golden Age of Travel’ report underscores this notion, but also shows that we’re seeing a return to this nostalgic essence of what travel used to be in the golden age, where consumers crave curated experiences, souvenirs that matter, and activities that expand our minds.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And when it comes to <a href="https://www.luxurygold.com/en-au/experience/curated-experiences">those curated experiences</a>, Luxury Gold have noted that consumers aren’t just looking to spend their money on flights and a destination before calling it a day, in a trend they’ve named ‘Touring on Top’.</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, they want an experience out of it all - one unique to where they’re visiting, and one that ticks every box they could ever want to fill, with a trip and itinerary designed specifically for them and their interests - even the most niche of the bunch. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Post-pandemic, we've seen a lot of change in the way Australians travel and why they are travelling. The rise of the travel advisor is key to this, as clients want end-to-end experiences and touring is the perfect example,” Global Brand and Marketing Director for Luxury Travel Associates Anna Burgdorf said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Instead of booking flights, accommodation and activities on their own, more and more Australians want this process to be seamlessly managed and that means finding a trusted advisor that can undertake this process of collaboration with them … booking a tour simply takes the guesswork and stress out of the booking process. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Whether visiting Travel Associates or speaking with a travel agent, these experts work closely with the customer to understand their unique needs and <a href="https://www.luxurygold.com/en-au/experience/concierge-services">custom build a package tour</a> that works for them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Essentially, people want human service, and they want someone who’s going to understand - and respect - every last bit of their holiday desires through the entire planning process. </p> <p dir="ltr">American Express have reported that 59% of people would like to work with a travel agent to get the personalised trip of their dreams, while GWI have found that 77% of luxury travellers would rather spend on an experience - or products for one - that comes hand in hand with a sense of community. </p> <p dir="ltr">A rise has occurred in the number of community-oriented trips taking place in the travel sector - with those seeking both the community experience of those they’re taking with them, and those they’re meeting along the way - as people realise what it is that’s important in life, turning their attention to experience, and not only things. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, it can be hard to come home from any trip - especially when it’s not just the trip of a lifetime, but also one entirely for you. </p> <p dir="ltr">That’s why it can make all the difference to bring a little piece of it with you, especially as travellers are searching for those crucial tangible experiences - or, as Luxury Gold have found, ‘Tangible Nostalgia’. </p> <p dir="ltr">As Toni Ambler explained, holidaymakers used to be able to show off their passports and the various stamps they’d collected within, boasting of their adventures with some proof over where they’d explored in their journey across the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">But now, trends suggest that it’s less is actually more, with Toni noting that “it’s more about the quality and unique experiences we’ve had over volume.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Additionally, people don’t just want something to pop on their shelf and forget about, instead reaching for something that evokes the same feeling as the passport boasts, or throws them right back into a moment from their trip, bringing memories to the forefront every time they’re around their treasured keepsake. </p> <p dir="ltr">For example, The Maker Hotel have released perfumes designed to remind visitors of their time living it up away from home - scents that will keep the good times coming, and won’t see those souvenir funds going to waste. </p> <p dir="ltr">TravelPulse have also revealed that music plays a major part in the travel experience, too. So the next time you’re overseas - or even exploring what’s on offer at home - make sure to compile your very own playlist, so the sounds of your experience will never be far from your ears.</p> <p dir="ltr">And as Planet 9 Private Air believe, remaining true to your destination has never mattered more to travellers, as “from the locavore culinary trend to a focus on locally made crafts and artwork, the luxury travel industry is discovering its preference for high-end goods and services sourced from the destinations they represent.” </p> <p dir="ltr">To read the full report and learn more about Luxury Gold’s six travel trends, visit <a href="http://luxurygold.com/en-au/travel-trends-report">luxurygold.com/en-au/travel-trends-report</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Luxury Gold [supplied]</em></p>

International Travel

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See inside Roger Federer’s teenage bedroom

<p dir="ltr">While Roger Federer’s adult life has been filled with fame and success on and off the tennis court, a throwback photo has revealed that his teenage years were more similar to most of ours than we might expect.</p> <p dir="ltr">A photo of the tennis maestro’s bedroom has been doing the rounds on social media and shows a 17-year-old Federer grinning for the camera with bleach-blond hair, some spots, and wearing a baggy Nike sweatshirt.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-80512efe-7fff-5421-80f7-aa93133a3cae"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The future World No. 1’s bedroom walls were covered in posters of his teenage idoles, including Pamela Anderson, and NBA stars Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A 17-year-old Roger Federer with pin-ups of Jordan, Pamela Anderson and a Macedonian flag 🇲🇰 in his bedroom in Basel 😀 <a href="https://t.co/IPEIqzV9sw">pic.twitter.com/IPEIqzV9sw</a></p> <p>— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) <a href="https://twitter.com/gigicat7_/status/1584598092065648642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Other items dotted around his room included what appears to be an Akubra hat, along with the Montenegrin flag, a mini basketball hoop and a collection of trophies.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just five years after the photo was taken, Federer would win his first Major at Wimbledon in 2003.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans were quick to share their thoughts on the photo, with many sharing lighthearted jokes and commenting on how normal the future star’s room looked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Lol i like the 90s randomness of it all,” one person shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Looks like any normal kids room at the time,” another said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Really been living up to his two as the blandest white guy on earth since day one,” a third teased.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The GOAT with my country’s flag 😍,” one fan enthused.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for his bleached locks, one fan dubbed it his “Eminem phase”, referencing American rapper’s iconic bleach blond hair which he had during the 1990s and 2000s.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-845b454f-7fff-8174-435d-f678f04b1e2a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Ultimate nostalgia property up for grabs

<p dir="ltr">A historic corner shop - complete with its own 1950s-style diner - has hit the market in Maldon, Victoria.</p> <p dir="ltr">Built around 1866, the three-bedroom property was previously known as Bushells corner store, with the original Bushells signs still visible on the facade.</p> <p dir="ltr">A barn-style outbuilding has been transformed into a 50’s-style diner by the current owners, retrofitted with a burger booth, bar, vintage stools, and plenty of memorabilia, including posters of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe and a jukebox.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rob Waller, an agent from Waller Realty who is managing the sale, said he grew up in the town and has fond memories of buying lollies at the store with his grandfather in the late 70s.</p> <p dir="ltr">He added that all of the fittings in the garage were included in the sale, with the option to add the memorabilia as an extra.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The (owners) are really into ‘50s cars, it became a bit of passion of theirs that grew and grew,” Mr Waller said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They said over the years they invited neighbours and friends in on a Saturday night and got burgers from the local shops and sat in the booth … I’m sure they would have had <em>Rock’n Around The Clock</em> playing on the duke box.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The main residence includes three roomy bedrooms, a home office, a dining and living area, a separate kitchen, with high ceilings and wooden floors throughout, and a basement cellar in original condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was the old shop cellar and we think someone has made it bigger at some point … the walls have the old pick marks where they dug the cellar,” Mr Waller said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s great for storage, especially for things like wines and preserves.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He added that the vendors made the difficult decision to sell after owning the property since 2005.</p> <p dir="ltr">With a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-maldon-140098651" target="_blank" rel="noopener">price tag of $1,295,00</a>, Mr Waller said that it would likely suit someone looking for a tree change or a “weekender”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fac55862-7fff-c904-7e1a-83a0ee888bad"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

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Readers respond: What was the best thing about how your parents raised you?

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We asked our readers what the best thing about how their parents raised them was, and their responses were inspiring and overwhelming! Here’s what you said:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kayte Cole:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I had the love &amp; support of a beautiful mother who taught me respect , manners &amp; to care for others, great work ethics, unconditional love &amp; a family bond that will never be broken ….I could go on forever but these are just a few that come to mind.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cherry Kemp:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I asked my Mama if I could have a picnic. She made me peanut butter on saltine crackers, and put sweet tea in a Mason jar with a lid and gave me an old towel. I spread the old towel in the back yard, and had myself a picnic. That was a sweet memory for me.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ali Maleckas:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The importance of Family ties ♥️ Visited family every weekend growing up and celebrated every important event with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins Have tried to instill these values in my four own children and two stepchildren with little success Currently many of them don't speak and have little contact I wish it was different but accept their decisions Keep myself happy by keeping in touch with the them and the extended family as much as possible 😍</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sue Harris:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Learnt.Respect. Manners Honesty and treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rachel Wright: </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">To respect others and treat each person as you will like to be treated.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">JillnGary Smith:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genuine care &amp; lots of love...they taught us all the most valuable traits that make decent human beings. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gail Kraal:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was inspired by their great work ethic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sue Blatchford:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Respect for others and their property… particularly your elders</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stacia Hannum:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I could count on my father no matter what. In his last years, he could count on me, no matter what.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dot Wilde:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">to have respect and manners ,to always be polite, Mums favourite saying (It doesn't cost anything to be polite)</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marcia Delgado:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The unconditional love and respect for all individuals.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Julie Hargreaves: </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">They taught me honesty, respect, love, and to do the best I can.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mike Jones:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">To be content with what you had and to respect others. They taught me the importance of good manners and to never forget where I came from.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Julia Santos:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">My mom was very knowledgeable about plants, especially medicinal properties of herbs and spices. It awakened a desire to learn more. My dad was very hardworking. Very self reliant. Strong work ethic. Honest and fair. My parents were the best. 🙏❤️🙏</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pauline Godschalk:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">To be respectful, to believe in myself, and to help the less fortunate.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Julie Abbot:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">We were taught good manners and to help and respect other people, particularly our elders. We have a close knit family who love each other.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kathleen Couch:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">To care for other people.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Linda Taylor:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Respect for others,treat them as you wish to be treated.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rosemary Maybury:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">They taught me good manners and to be self reliant and strong! bless them both.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vicki McCarthy:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just being my Mum, she always made time to sit and listen to whatever it was I wanted to talk about, she also always made the time for anyone who needed someone to talk to and had a never ending supply of hugs for everyone.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></p>

Family & Pets

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Beyond Bluey: why adults love re-watching Australian kids’ TV from their childhoods

<p>Due to the COVID-19 extended lockdowns this year, as well as greater accessibility on streaming services, many adults have been returning to their childhoods via nostalgic kids’ TV viewing.</p> <p>As part of our research project, <a href="https://www.actcresearch.com/">Australian Children’s Television Cultures</a>, we surveyed over 600 adults about their viewing habits — and it turns out some viewers never forget the joy of the television shows that they raced home to watch after school.</p> <p>Many survey participants confessed they had simply never stopped watching children’s shows in the first place. Australia’s own <a href="https://actf.com.au/news/view/17433/7-australian-kidsa-tv-shows-that-parents-will-love">Dance Academy (2010-2013)</a> was frequently mentioned in the responses as a show that even adult viewers “can watch… anytime and feel connected with,” as one respondent put it.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427087/original/file-20211018-18-l9c9vw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427087/original/file-20211018-18-l9c9vw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="The cast of Dance Academy." /></a> <span class="caption">Australia’s Dance Academy (2010-2013) is popular with adults today.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB</span></span></p> <h2>Streaming Nostalgia</h2> <p>For those who didn’t keep their old VHS tapes or DVDs, it has been the advent of streaming services, from YouTube to Netflix, that has enabled viewers to rediscover their cherished kids’ shows of old. Nearly two thirds of adult respondents have revisited Australian children’s shows in recent years, most often via online clips and streaming services.</p> <p>In our survey, <a href="https://theconversation.com/round-the-twists-fans-grew-up-and-their-love-for-the-show-grew-with-them-167695">Round the Twist (1989-2001)</a> emerged as the favourite Australian children’s television show to revisit, with Lift Off! (1992-1995), Lockie Leonard (2007-2010) and <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/there-s-a-55-year-old-bear-in-there-happy-birthday-play-school-20210708-p587xr.html">Play School (1966-)</a> also highly placed.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427090/original/file-20211018-38329-zawqys.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427090/original/file-20211018-38329-zawqys.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">Lift Off! (1992-1995) is a popular show for adults to find clips from on YouTube.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB</span></span></p> <p><a href="https://actf.com.au/news/view/18318/14-ozkidstv-series-to-stream-on-netflix">Netflix has licensed a swathe of Australian kids shows</a>, among them Round the Twist and Lockie Leonard. Our survey showed that these classic programs not only turn up as recommendations on Netflix kids’ profiles, but in adults’ recommendations as well, whether or not they have children. Indeed, <a href="https://cstonline.net/family-watch-together-tv-netflix-and-the-dark-intergenerational-fantasy-by-djoymi-baker-jessica-balanzategui-and-diana-sandars/">Netflix has been keen to license and commission nostalgic content</a> with intergenerational appeal.</p> <p>While there’s nothing new about adults getting swept up in nostalgia for childhood viewing, the streaming era has made it even easier to pass on these family viewing traditions.</p> <h2>Kids’ shows in lockdown</h2> <p>The heightened nostalgic urge to <a href="https://cstonline.net/reuniting-with-friends-during-a-pandemic-by-simone-knox-and-kai-hanno-schwind/">return to old TV shows</a> has also been linked to the COVID-19 lockdowns many of us have recently been through, or indeed are still experiencing.</p> <p>In our survey, many respondents mentioned the lockdown made them more likely to revisit children’s TV from their youth. As one survey respondent noted, “in these strange and chaotic COVID-19 times, I’ve been really feeding into the nostalgia.”</p> <p>Nostalgia emerged as a term in 1688 to describe a <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/when-nostalgia-was-a-disease/278648/">disease</a> primarily associated with soldiers longing to return home, even though upon their return, home was never quite the same. The word itself reflected this bittersweet combination, forged from the Greek nostos (homecoming) and algos (pain). In popular culture, nostalgia is frequently associated with warm and fuzzy feelings, but, as <a href="https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii14/articles/timothy-bewes-an-anatomy-of-nostalgia.pdf">Svetlana Boym influentially suggests</a>, nostalgia is also a type of grieving for a past that has been lost.</p> <p>Returning to kids’ TV is a way of both grieving for and celebrating our own <a href="https://library.oapen.org/viewer/web/viewer.html?file=/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/25965/1004118.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y">past childhood</a>, as well as a pre-COVID world we used to enjoy. In other words, nostalgia is not as simple as we might at first assume.</p> <h2>Family viewing</h2> <p>Our survey responses indicate families have been uniting across the divide of lockdown restrictions and closed borders to watch old kids’ TV shows together:</p> <p>“In lockdown, it’s provided a connection point for my family” by rewatching Round the Twist and <a href="https://actf.com.au/education-programs/id/188/">Sky Trackers (1994)</a>, one respondent noted. They explained, “we talk about what we remember, and tell jokes about it consistently through messaging services.”</p> <p>Not only parents but also grandparents and babysitters revealed they enjoy sharing beloved shows from their childhood with the next generation. This strategy <a href="https://cstonline.net/intergenerational-spectatorship-doctor-who-at-the-beach-by-djoymi-baker/">isn’t always successful</a> given tastes and expectations have changed, with today’s kids finding some old shows “bonkers” or describing the special effects as dated. As one parent from the survey notes, “having children now, I want to show them some of the shows I loved (whether they like it or not!)”</p> <p>Many of our survey participants discussed this shared viewing across generations, but also just among other adults. So as it happens, kids’ TV isn’t just for kids.</p> <h2>Unifying a generation</h2> <p>Beyond family members, our participants are finding connections with their own generation on social media through old kids’ shows they still enjoy. Even young adults are already feeling nostalgic.</p> <p>“I have loved <a href="https://punkee.com.au/h20-just-add-water-tiktok/77899">watching on TikTok people recreating some of the iconic scenes</a>” from H2O: Just Add Water (2006-2010) and Blue Water High (2005-2008), one participant told us. They explained, “When scrolling through the comments of these videos there’s often hundreds of other young Australians that relate as they had the same fond memories of these shows which I feel unites us.”</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427091/original/file-20211018-22-105e8dz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427091/original/file-20211018-22-105e8dz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">H2O: Just Add Water (2006-2010 has become a popular worldwide meme on TikTok, and has spurred many people to revisit the series.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMdB</span></span></p> <p>With so much content now spread across broadcasting, cable and streaming television services, it’s uncertain whether today’s kids’ TV will offer this same sense of <a href="https://www.flowjournal.org/2020/03/streaming-comes-across-the-sky/">communal nostalgia</a> to future generations — though <a href="https://theconversation.com/an-idealised-australian-ethos-why-bluey-is-an-audience-favourite-even-for-adults-without-kids-168571">Bluey (2018-)</a> is surely a contender. Bluey is already the focus of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blueyfanmemes/">popular memes</a> and a successful <a href="http://www.blueypod.com/">recap podcast</a>, so perhaps the show is a contemporary vehicle for adult viewers’ nostalgia about growing up in Australia, albeit in a new guise.</p> <p>Ultimately, our research indicates that engaging nostalgically with kids’ TV has been an important means of social connection during the pandemic, both between adults and within and across different generations.</p> <p>Although nostalgia was initially defined as a ‘disease’, today it is combating the division the pandemic has created, with locked down audiences using streaming services to reconnect with their favourite kids’ TV and each other.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/169727/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/djoymi-baker-1269345">Djoymi Baker</a>, Lecturer in Cinema Studies, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jessica-balanzategui-814024">Jessica Balanzategui</a>, Senior Lecturer in Cinema and Screen Studies, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joanna-mcintyre-333903">Joanna McIntyre</a>, Lecturer in Media Studies, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/liam-burke-109751">Liam Burke</a>, Associate Professor and Cinema and Screen Studies Discipline Leader, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/beyond-bluey-why-adults-love-re-watching-australian-kids-tv-from-their-childhoods-169727">original article</a>.</p>

TV

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The benefits and trappings of nostalgia

<p>In his song <em>Time Was</em>, counterculture singer <a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/time-was-lyrics-phil-ochs.html">Phil Ochs reminisces</a> about a past “when a man could build a home, have a family of his own. The peaceful years would flow; he could watch his children grow. But it was a long time ago.”</p> <p>To Ochs, simpler times were better: “troubles were few…a man could have his pride; there was justice on his side…there was truth in every day.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/phil-ochs-mn0000333634/biography">Ochs</a> recorded <em>Time Was</em> in 1962, when he was just 22 years old. He had yet to witness the most tumultuous parts of the 1960s – the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the polarization wrought by the Vietnam War, and the civil rights and feminist movements.</p> <p>Half a century later – with the rapid, dramatic consequences of social and political upheaval, with technological advances that have radically transformed our daily lives – some might similarly find themselves longing for a time when “troubles were few” and “there was truth in every day.”</p> <p>Constantly being plugged into the internet and social media <a href="http://akademiai.com/doi/abs/10.1556/2006.4.2015.010">is thought to be associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression</a>. Online messaging and communication <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-news-sites-online-comments-helped-build-our-hateful-electorate-70170">have created misunderstanding and divisions</a>, and many feel as though <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270006660_The_dark_side_of_social_networking_sites_An_exploration_of_the_relational_and_psychological_stressors_associated_with_Facebook_use_and_affordances">they’ve lost control over their privacy</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.prri.org/research/survey-anxiety-nostalgia-and-mistrust-findings-from-the-2015-american-values-survey/">A recent poll</a> even revealed that a majority of Americans think that America’s culture and way of life have mostly changed for the worse since the 1950s.</p> <p>But what effect does this longing have? Is it a useful psychological tool or a perilous trapping?</p> <p><strong>A bittersweet longing</strong></p> <p>In life, change is the default, not the exception; transformation is baked into every aspect of our world, from physical growth to scientific progress. Novelty, meanwhile, is an antidote to boredom, stagnation and satiation.</p> <p>Nonetheless, people long for stability. Change can threaten well-being, especially when it requires a new set of skills to meet new demands. Stress can accompany unexpected or extreme change, since our ability to control situations depends upon a reasonable degree of predictability. (Imagine not knowing if a stone would fall or rise when you let go of it.)</p> <p>Nostalgia is a bittersweet yearning for the past. It’s sweet because it allows us to momentarily relive good times; it’s bitter because we recognize that those times can never return. Longing for our own past is referred to as personal nostalgia, and preferring a distant era is termed <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261582221_Historical_and_Personal_Nostalgia_in_Advertising_Text_The_Fin_de_siecle_Effect">historical nostalgia</a>.</p> <p>Although nostalgia is universal, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15575331_Nostalgia_A_Psychological_Perspective">research has shown</a> that a nostalgic yearning for the past is especially likely to occur during periods of transition, like maturing into adulthood or aging into retirement. Dislocation or alienation resulting from military conflict, moving to a new country or technological progress can also elicit nostalgia.</p> <p><strong>A stabilising force</strong></p> <p>In the face of instability, our mind will reach for our positive memories of the past, <a href="https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/pollyanna-principle/">which tend to be more crystallized</a> than negative or neutral ones.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23646885">In the past</a>, theorists tended to think of nostalgia as a bad thing – a retreat in the face of uncertainty, stress or unhappiness. In 1985, psychoanalytic theorist <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-5922.1985.00135.x/abstract">Roderick Peters</a> described extreme nostalgia as debilitative, something “that persists and profoundly interferes with the individual’s attempts to cope with his present circumstances.”</p> <p>But contemporary research, including my own, has contradicted this maladaptive view.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wildschut.me/Tim_Wildschut/Home_files/Sedikides,%20Wildschut,%20Routledge,%20%26%20Arndt,%202015,%20European%20Journal%20of%20Social%20Psychology.pdf">A 2015 study</a> showed that nostalgic reminiscence can be a stabilizing force. It can strengthen our sense of personal continuity, reminding us that we possess a store of powerful memories that are deeply intertwined with our identity. The person who listened to his grandpa’s stories as a little boy, played youth baseball and partied with friends in high school is still that same person today.</p> <p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Krystine_Batcho/publications">Research I’ve conducted since 1998</a> has shown that nostalgic memories tend to focus on our relationships, which can comfort us during stressful or difficult times. Although we’ve become independent and mature (perhaps even a bit jaded), we’re still our parents’ child, our brother’s sibling and our lover’s confidant. In developing a retrospective <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-010-9213-y">survey of childhood experiences</a>, I found that remembering that we experienced unconditional love as children can reassure us in the present – especially during trying times. These memories can fuel the courage to confront our fears, take reasonable risks and tackle challenges. Rather than trapping us in the past, nostalgia can liberate us from adversity by promoting personal growth.</p> <p>My studies have also shown that people with a greater propensity for nostalgia <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24027948">are better able to cope</a> with adversity and are more likely to seek emotional support, advice and practical help from others. They’re also more likely to avoid distractions that prevent them from confronting their troubles and solving problems.</p> <p><strong>Nostalgia’s fine line</strong></p> <p>But for all its benefits, nostalgia can also seduce us into retreating into a romanticized past.</p> <p>The desire to escape into the imagined, idealized world of a prior era – even one you weren’t alive for – represents a different, independent type of nostalgia called <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261582221_Historical_and_Personal_Nostalgia_in_Advertising_Text_The_Fin_de_siecle_Effect">historical nostalgia</a>.</p> <p>Historical nostalgia is often concurrent with a deep dissatisfaction with the present and a preference for the way things were long ago. Unlike personal nostalgia, someone who experiences historical nostalgia might have a more cynical perspective of the world, one colored by pain, trauma, regret or <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-010-9213-y">adverse childhood experiences</a>.</p> <p>Nonetheless, from a treatment perspective, <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2753/RPO1061-0405490306">reports suggest</a> that personal nostalgia can be used therapeutically to help individuals move beyond trauma in the aftermath of violence, exile or loss. At the same time, someone who has endured trauma, without proper treatment, could become subsumed by a malignant form of nostalgia that leads to a perpetual yearning to return to the past.</p> <p>Ultimately, when we focus on our own life experiences – falling back on our store of happy memories – nostalgia is a useful tool. It’s a way to harness the past internally to endure change – and create hope for the future.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/77766/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Krystine Batcho, Professor of Psychology, Le Moyne College</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/the-psychological-benefits-and-trappings-of-nostalgia-77766"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Mind

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How being nostalgic makes you healthier

<p>The sound of waves crashing on the shore, the smell of freshly baked biscuits, the chorus of your favourite rock song, these are all triggers for us to become nostalgic, to look back sentimentally on something in our past that holds deep personal meaning. But rather than just pleasant daydreaming, being nostalgic can have positive effects on our wellbeing.</p> <p>Studies have shown that people who are nostalgic are more confident, are more likely to maintain healthy relationships, have a greater sense of self-worth and are more optimistic about the future. Being nostalgic can also help counteract loneliness, which is a precursor to poor mental health.</p> <p><strong>So how does nostalgia work?</strong></p> <p>Nostalgia expert Krystine Batcho, professor at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, said nostalgia works on a psychological level by "helping a person maintain stability during times of change" and "helping them cope during times of adversity."</p> <p>"What nostalgia does is that it reconnects a person to their own history. It gives them a sense that even though so much change is going on around them, something stays the same – and that is very comforting, because change can be stressful," said Batcho.</p> <p>"People who are nostalgic are more likely to have a healthy sense of confidence and self-esteem and they’re also more likely to be interconnected socially," added Batcho, whose research involved developing an inventory test to measure the likelihood an individual will become nostalgic. </p> <p>According to Batcho, nostalgic people have healthy coping mechanisms that make them more willing to seek advice and emotional support from others and they are also more likely to engage in active problem solving – behaviours that have positive implications for those individuals’ health.</p> <p>"What we know from the health literature is that it’s very important to have a social support system in place when an individual is battling diseases that need a lot of treatment," she said. "Having a social support network can even be helpful in a preventative kind of way, because people who are connected socially are more likely to join a health club, a sports team, or monitor their diet or exercise progress because others are doing it with them."</p> <p>So what can we do to indulge in a bit of our own healthy daydreaming about days long gone? Below are the five ways you can use nostalgia to boost your wellbeing.</p> <p><strong>1. Have a nostalgic ritual<br /></strong></p> <p>The longing for a real something or someone from your past falls under the banner of 'personal nostalgia.' It could be for a loved one, a pet, place, school, a song, a possession, or any number of things. This kind of nostalgia is 'bittersweet', Batcho said, because it is a blend of ambivalent emotions – memories that are 'sweet' such as 'I liked my life back then' but also memories that are 'bitter' like 'But my brother was a real pain'.</p> <p>Interestingly, reliving the bitter as well as the sweet memories gives us a powerful tool to deal with hardships because it allows what Batcho calls 'positive reappraisal'. That’s where we see the good and the bad together, in turn helping us to see the positive in our present day hardship.</p> <p>To tap into your sense of personal nostalgia, try creating a ritual around something meaningful in your past and set aside some time to experience that ritual. It could be digging up old photographs on a quiet Sunday afternoon, reading a poem that you once liked, writing about an event from your past, or even reminiscing with a childhood friend over coffee.</p> <p>Batcho advised there is no hard and fast rule to what you should reminisce about or how often you should experience nostalgia, but "it should be used as frequently as is needed."</p> <p><strong>2. Hold a get-together and reminisce<br /></strong></p> <p>Sharing your nostalgic memories with others is a good way to nostalgise, said Tim Wildschut, associate professor within the psychology department at the University of Southampton, UK.</p> <p>Strapped for ideas about what to do? Think about how you can infuse something whimsical or retro into your next get-together with friends or family as a talking point for memories. You might like to set a historical theme with a dress code from a bygone era, or hold a vintage high tea with comfort foods from the past, or even ask everyone to bring a photo of themselves on their 21st birthday. </p> <p><strong>3. Let the music take you back</strong></p> <p>Both Wildschut and Batcho agreed that music is one of the best ways to experience nostalgia. "Listening to music gives the same benefits as writing about memories," Wildschut said.</p> <p>To find out which music will wind your mental clock back, think about the songs from your past that may have held special significance at landmark moments in your life. Was The Beatles' number playing when you had your first kiss? Was your first dance at your wedding an Elvis song? Play them as often as you like. While you’re listening, remind yourself why they mean so much to you and pay attention to lyrics that give you a warm, fuzzy feeling.</p> <p><strong>4. Do something childish - just for fun!</strong></p> <p>Doing things we did when we were kids can also be a useful strategy for dialling back to the past. "It might only be that a person has to go all the way back to the time of their childhood to when they felt safe and secure, and more importantly, really loved for who they were to find examples of problems that were dealt with earlier," said Batcho.</p> <p>Some ideas to bring out your inner child include colouring in, finger painting and swinging on swings in your local park. Chances are, if you feel a tad awkward about the behaviour as an adult, you’re heading down the right path.</p> <p><strong>5. Anticipate a loss (but enjoy the moment)</strong></p> <p>Anticipatory nostalgia is a type of nostalgia currently being investigated by researchers. This is when you feel nostalgic for the loss of something before you have even lost it – consider the example of a parent who might put a child on a bus for the first time and realise that one day their child will be so independent that they won’t need them anymore.</p> <p>Although tinged with some sadness, Batcho said this type may prove to be personally beneficial because it "reminds you to value and treasure being in the present moment, because it's true that nothing lasts forever."</p> <p>To experience this kind of nostalgia, think of the things in your everyday life that you highly value such as the coffee shop down the road that makes your favourite coffee and imagine a time when you will no longer have these things. Afterwards, remind yourself that you still do have them and make a point of enjoying them.</p> <p>What are the things in your life you are most nostalgic about? Join the conversation in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by <span>Dominic Bayley</span>. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/health/wellbeing/can-being-nostalgic-really-make-you-healthier.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a></span>.</em></p>

Mind

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Just how good were the ‘good old days’?

<p>Just how good were the ‘good old days’?</p> <p>Less than one in five of today’s population is old enough to have any real, or memorable, experience of our previous age. Were they really the ‘good old days’, or have we fallen victim to rose-coloured glasses and nostalgia?</p> <p>So, what was it like back in the day? What kind of lifestyles did we have from the late 1890s to the mid-1960s? In general, it goes as follows.</p> <p>A desire to own a home, preferably on a quarter-acre block, was core to the then household, which was more likely to be a family household (that is, with children) than today.</p> <p>Owning a house signified security, freedom and modest wealth. Incidentally, the concept of a ‘quarter-acre block’ (just over 1000 square metres) for the family was promulgated by Captain Arthur Philip, the nation’s first governor some 230 years ago. He deemed the quarter-acre block to be the minimum amount of land on which a family could be reasonably expected to be self-sufficient, allowing room for some livestock, a vegetable garden and a modest dwelling and outbuilding(s). Today, of course, just the house, garage, swimming pool and BBQ could fill the entire quarter-acre block!</p> <p>Dad went to work while mum stayed at home with the children, assuming home duties. Married women were virtually barred from the workforce in the Industrial Age. Even in the early 1960s, barely five per cent of the entire workforce consisted of married women.</p> <p>Men had long careers in the Industrial Age; and most stayed in the one style of occupation all their lives, if not the one industry, trade or craft. Longevity of employment became common, especially with the emerging paternalistic and hierarchical corporations; and doubly so in the public service. The legendary inscribed gold watch was one of the prizes for a long and faithful career with the one firm; and only a lucky few enjoyed a pension.</p> <p>My own father said to me in the late 1950s, when I was entering tertiary education, that I had a choice between a good job for life in the public service, where I would possibly face boredom and frustration, or a job in the private sector, with less security but possibly a higher salary and promotional prospects.</p> <p>This was, undoubtedly, a tad too simplistic. But, as it turned out, I took the latter option, and went one step further into the even riskier realm of starting my own business.</p> <p>In these ‘olden days’, swearing was discouraged; and any discussion of sex was a complete no-no. The rule about sex was simple: none before marriage, and sparingly thereafter. Not that many ever took that seriously.</p> <p>The average family size was three to four children. Contraception was either non-existent or primitive, and was frowned upon by some religions that militated against smaller families.</p> <p>Just about everything in and around the house was do-it-yourself (DIY); and children were expected to buck-in and help with more rostered tasks than today. This made for busy mornings, evenings and weekends for all. A list of the standard household chores from those days would make you want to go and lie down from exhaustion before you even got started!</p> <p>It was not until 1927 in New South Wales that men got Saturday afternoon off from work; and they would have to wait another 20 years, until 1947, before they got all of Saturday off.</p> <p>Free time and leisure was a precious commodity for most of the Industrial Age. More often than not, men would stop off at a corner pub after work. Closing time was 6:00 pm, so the final dash to the bar at around 5:50 pm could get ugly. There were no bottle shops; and women were not allowed in main bars, if they entered the pub at all.</p> <p>It may shock some to know that sick leave was entirely at the discretion of employers back then. Today, many employees see the statutory two weeks’ sick leave as extra holidays, or days off during the year.</p> <p>Sport involved fierce loyalties to teams, especially football of whatever code. Playing sport yourself, however, was an expensive business in terms of gear and membership fees — especially for golfers. So, most opted for swimming and fishing in summer. Borrowed or shared sporting equipment was common.</p> <p>Sunday was a special day. For much of the Industrial Age, it was the only full day free of paid work. Women still cooked and cleaned on a Sunday — however, there were still plenty of jobs for the men to do around the house. (So much for the Sabbath, when resting was the Biblical dictate.) Churchgoing was much more common than it is these days, and an opportunity or requirement to dress up. A midday Sunday roast was yet another ritual, even on the hottest days in summer.</p> <p>As with chores, entertainment was mostly do-it-yourself. Radio played a big part in leisure time when it emerged in the 1930s, as did television in the 1950s. But board games, playing cards and reading were common; and, for children, playing outside was more the norm.</p> <p>Cinemas appeared early in the last century, and were popular with all.</p> <p>Holidays were rare, as said earlier. Less than half of Australian families actually went away for holidays each year. One week’s annual leave was standard almost until the Infotronics Age began in the mid-1960s: a far cry from today’s four weeks, or Germany’s six weeks. Staying with friends and relatives was popular and even necessary, given the financial constraints of those times. For similar reasons, camping and, later, caravanning was also popular.</p> <p>One thing that was increasingly valued in the Industrial Age was education. Compulsory education to age 15 — the ‘intermediate certificate’ — had been introduced in 1901; but completing high school, let alone going to university, was not common. The necessity of lifelong learning and education was not yet a concept.</p> <p>What about technology in the home? Electrical equipment — including radio, television, washing machines (but no dryers) and electric sewing machines — became more common mostly from the 1930s, in the latter half of the Industrial Age. The rotary clothesline (the Hills Hoist) was a godsend to women, as was the Victa lawnmower to men; both of which also arrived toward the end of Industrial Age.</p> <p>Today, we might feel nothing but sorrow for our grandparents: what a life. The oldest members, however, can be forgiven for having some fond memories and nostalgia. Any suggestion that those were the ‘good old days’, however, is misplaced. I, for one, have no desire to go back to those lifestyles: Today is the good old days, as far as I’m concerned.</p> <p><em>This is an edited extract from </em>The Future for Our Kids<em> by Phil Ruthven, available at all good book stores including Dymocks, Readings or online at </em><a href="https://www.wilkinsonpublishing.com.au/book/future-our-kids"><em>Wilkinson Publishing</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Is nostalgia good for us?

<p><em><strong>Barbara Binland is the pen name of a senior, Julie Grenness, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is a poet, writer, and part-time English and Maths tutor, with over 40 years of experience. Her many books are available on Amazon and Kindle.</strong></em></p> <p>How do you connect with your past? Now we are in our golden retirement years, we can improve our attitudes by reflecting on times gone by, so long past. Who shaped your life today?</p> <p>Nostalgia can be a bittersweet experience, but it can also be positive. Reminiscing on the past can improve our mood, like old songs, old movies, old sporting heroes, or old favourite stories.</p> <p>We are the living legends, like time capsules. Nostalgia in any form can raise our spirits, to realise some parts of our identify which never change, despite the 21st century.</p> <p>We can recollect on our memories and friends, now gone.</p> <p>Nostalgia can be like a tapestry, or the threads of our days, old and new.</p> <p>Over60, do you like to reminisce? Food for thought…</p> <p align="center"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">I REMINISCE</span></p> <p align="center">I reminisce by this railway siding pond,</p> <p align="center">Musing on rail relics rattling on,</p> <p align="center">Recalling lives and times bygone,</p> <p align="center">The lonesome call of distant steam trains,</p> <p align="center">Eras that may never come again,</p> <p align="center">I see they’re gone nowhere in particular,</p> <p align="center">Replaced by planes and transport vehicular,</p> <p align="center">I imagine queues on foggy platforms,</p> <p align="center">Awaiting the misted trains’ shadow forms,</p> <p align="center">Standing by, expecting the status quo,</p> <p align="center">I blink my eyes, where did they all go?</p> <p align="center">Looking backwards along yesterday’s track,</p> <p align="center">I’m no kid any more, get off my back,</p> <p align="center">I reflect and reminisce,</p> <p align="center">Nostalgia is for the times we miss,</p> <p align="center">I’ll reminisce by the railway siding pond,</p> <p align="center">I recall the times and lives bygone,</p> <p align="center">As ghosts of rail relics keep rattling on…</p>

Mind

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Remembering all that mum did during my childhood

<p><em><strong>Kath Williams has worked in sales, education, social work and programme writing. She is currently living in Nelson, New Zealand, with her partner, Peter, working in mental health and has begun her next book, “Growing up in the 1970s – Life after High School”. </strong></em></p> <p><span>“Were you born in a tent?” Mum would say. </span></p> <p><span>My reply would be, “No.” </span></p> <p><span>Mum would then say, “Well, shut the door behind you.”</span></p> <p><span>Having an enquiring mind as a child growing up, it was natural for me to ask questions, and after asking the ‘why’ questions for what must have seemed like an eternity, the final answer <span>would always be mum’s, “Because I said so, that’s why.” End of question time!</span></span></p> <p><span><span>I bet all this sounds so familiar to my generation who grew up in the 1960s. I can still hear my mum saying it to me today. We didn’t always get on with our family, but when times were hard and we needed each other, family were always there.</span></span></p> <p><span>Family in the 1960s was all about growing up as a unit. As a family, we ate together, we laughed together, we cried together, we argued together and we loved together. Our mums were the centre of our world. In my Facebook group<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheNakikids/info/?tab=page_info"><span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">I Remember When - Growing up in the 60s in Taranak</span>i</span></a></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span></span></span>a place where people can share memories about the 1960’s, Warren Sole describes his childhood as: “LOVE... we had bucket loads of it from our mum! And we worshipped the ground she walked on. It certainly made me who I am today and I wouldn't change it for the world... Mauriora Kautou.”</p> <p><span>Why just mum? Well, back then dad was the breadwinner. He went to work and bought home the wages, or as we used to say, “Dad bought home the bacon.” </span></p> <p><span>Another group member, Jacky, said her dad used to joke and say, “Mum had to stay at home to make sure the house didn’t burn down.” It never did. The ‘breadwinner’ back in the day was for those people who didn’t work but would attend contests in which the prize was always bread. </span></p> <p><img width="500" height="448" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27981/dad_500x448.jpg" alt="Dad" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>This photo is of my Dad when he worked as a Linotype Operator at the Hawera Star, then at the NZ Herald.</em></p> <p> </p> <p>Many mums also worked part-time though. Some children simply got left on their own to fend for themselves while mum went off to work. Sharon’s mum “cleaned the National Bank, and she would bike to work.” Sharon added, “But I was under 10 and she would leave me and my brother home by ourselves until Dad came home.” </p> <p>Mum did everything. Mum was “the chief cook and bottle washer”. Mind you, that soon changed, because when we were old enough, one of our chores was to wash the dishes, dry the dishes and put them away. Most nights, my brother and I could be heard complaining, “Mum, I did them last night. It’s not my turn.” Mum would then have to sort out who did what again!  </p> <p>And it is true. Mums really do have eyes in the back of their head. While my brother and I argued over whose turn it was, and I pulled out the usual ‘poking tongue out, making faces at him’ routine, Mum, without moving a muscle would say, “If you keep making faces like that, the wind will change and your face will stay like that.”  Hmmm, “What wind?” I would say. </p> <p>Mum: “Don’t answer me back, and don’t use that tone with me, young lady, just do the dishes. NOW!” </p> <p>Discussion ended. Mum: 1, Me: 0! And then being a girl, I did what all girls did for years, I sulked. </p> <p>Mum did the raising and bringing up of the children and dad paid the bills and ruled the house with an iron fist, as the saying goes.</p> <p>Did your mum have to work to help support the family? What was your childhood like? Share with us in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Find more information at Kath Williams’ website <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://thewritingdesk.weebly.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong></span></em></p> <p><em><strong>If you have a story to share please get in touch at <a href="mailto:melody@oversixty.com.au">melody@oversixty.com.au</a></strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/09/bad-side-of-decluttering-family-home/"><em>Why decluttering the family home can be a bad thing</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/remembering-the-1960s/"><em>A walk down memory lane: Growing up in the 1960s</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pioneering-family-in-australia/">A day in the life of a pioneering family in Australia</a></em></strong></span></p>

Family & Pets

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A walk down memory lane: Growing up in the 1960s

<p><em><strong>Kath Williams has worked in sales, education, social work and programme writing. She is currently living in Nelson, New Zealand, with her partner, Peter, working in mental health and has begun her next book, “Growing up in the 1970s – Life after High School”.</strong></em> </p> <p><img width="216" height="216" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25357/kath_216x216.jpg" alt="Kath" style="float: left;"/>It was the 1960’s; the era of the mini-skirt, Twiggy, hippies and flower-power, hipster trousers, psychedelic drugs and colours, words like “groovy” and expressions such as “Peace, man”, and the height of anti-Vietnam War protests. Even in our small town, in a country far away from the centre of things, we listened to songs from the musical Hair, Elvis’ latest hit In the Ghetto, and everything that the Beatles put out. Dances with strange names like the Stroll, the Mashed Potato, the Twist, the Hitch Hike, and the Swim. TVs arrived on the scene, men landed on the Moon, the Wahine sank, and we changed to decimal currency. What an era of changes we were a part of. It was so memorable.</p> <p>Corporal punishment was still in schools, parents smacked their kids, and the only rule we had in our young lives was, “If you go outside to play after your jobs have been done, be home before dark.” Growing up as a child in the 1960’s was magical! A decade of freedom, friendships, fun and, above all else: Family.</p> <p>So I decided to write a book about growing up in that magical decade, filled with memories, photographs and stories, aptly titled “I Remember When-Growing up in the 1960's in New Zealand” (although Australian counterparts are sure relate) which was officially launched in April. It’s been three years in the making and I’m exhilarated and happy it’s finally finished.</p> <p>How did this all begin? A conversation with my eldest granddaughter Brianna, 10, two years ago, went something like this:</p> <p>Brianna, “Nanni, what was it like being a kid back in the olden days?”</p> <p>Myself, “The olden days? What do you mean dear? I am not that old”</p> <p>Brianna, “Well you are really, Nanni. I mean that was like over 50 years ago. That is old.”</p> <p>And to rub salt into the already very open wound, she said, “And what did you write on, and with what, and was it hard using an abacus?”</p> <p>I was absolutely gob smacked with her questions. I had never thought of myself as being old. Oh, out of the mouths of babes! I duly answered her, and thought to myself, crikey, she has no idea what it was like 50 years ago. The seed had been planted. The writing of the book had begun.</p> <p>My name is Kath Williams, Kathryn when my Mum wasn’t happy with me, and I am currently living in Nelson although I am a Hawera, Taranaki girl. In my heart still a girl, maybe not so much physically. My eldest son is always telling me not to forget my inner child, I just have to be careful when she pops out sometimes.</p> <p>After recovering from the shock of my granddaughter thinking I was old, I set about starting two Facebook pages inviting friends to like the pages and to begin collecting their memories. Each day I would write a new status update or post a photo from the 1960’s. The response was huge, and the pages grew. Friends told friends about what I was doing, and they told their friends, and so on it went. I could only work two days a week at a paying job as I was diagnosed with Lupus Disease when I moved to Nelson to write the book.</p> <p>For me, the book was a personal journey, trying to recapture my childhood through other people’s memories. I had forgotten so many wonderful things that happened to me growing up. Oh, some of the stories were just so funny and everyone could relate to them, or come up with their own story.</p> <p>I now have a book that I am proud to have written and can leave to my own children:</p> <p>Victoria, Neil, Rachel and Scott, and their children: Brianna, Isabele, Austin, Maddi and Piper, in the hope they have a better understanding of just how much fun and freedom we had as children growing up in the 1960’s.</p> <p>So come and join me on my Magic Carpet Ride back in time to the 1960's where it all began and let me share our memories with you.</p> <p><em>To join Kath’s Facebook page, <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheNakikids/info/?tab=page_info" target="_blank">click here</a></span>. </strong>Visit Kath’s website <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://thewritingdesk.weebly.com/" target="_blank">here</a></span>.</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>If you have a story to share please get in touch at <a href="mailto:melody@oversixty.com.au">melody@oversixty.com.au</a></strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/how-to-find-your-balance-as-a-grandparent/"><em>How to find your balance as a grandparent</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/parents-beliefs-about-failure-are-crucial-for-kids/"><em>Parents’ beliefs about failure are crucial for kids</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/how-to-pass-family-history-onto-grandkids/">How to pass family history onto grandkids</a></em></strong></span></p>

Family & Pets

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Best kids’ TV shows from the 50s

<p>Today, it seems there’s hundreds of shows dedicated to kids – <em>Play School</em> to name just one – but back when we were little there wasn’t quite as much choice. Aside from a few short-lived local children’s shows, most of our entertainment came from the US of A. Here are some of our favourites.</p> <p><em><strong>Lassie</strong></em></p> <p>Who could forget this legendary pooch? One of the longest running series of all time, Lassie was one of the first TV shows to hit our screens and continued to air until the mid-‘70s. Each week we were treated to a new adventure with the Rough Collie and her animal and human companions.</p> <p><strong><em>Dennis the Menace</em></strong></p> <p>Based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham, <em>Dennis the Menace</em> followed the mischievous antics of Dennis Mitchell, a well-meaning but trouble-prone young boy and ran from 1959 to 1964.</p> <p><strong><em>The Mickey Mouse Club</em></strong></p> <p><em>The Mickey Mouse Club</em> was a huge hit in Australia when it first broadcast in 1956, when television was introduced, and ran through the 1960s despite ending in the US in 1959. The variety show hosted an ever-changing cast of “mouseketeers” and has been revived twice since.</p> <p><em><strong>Felix the Cat</strong></em></p> <p>The creator of this iconic character has always been a bone of contention between the US and Australia, but ultimately it was the Yanks who took the reins and created this popular TV show, which followed the cat’s cheeky adventures.</p> <p><strong><em>The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin</em></strong></p> <p>Another four-legged star, Rin Tin Tin bounded into our hearts as the companion of a young orphaned boy being raised at a US Cavalry post. The series ran for five seasons and starred Lee Aker, James E. Brown, Joe Sawyer and Rand brook alongside the German Shepherd.</p> <p><em><strong>The Huckleberry Hound Show</strong></em></p> <p>It’s the show that introduced us to such characters as Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, Snagglepuss and more.<em> The Huckleberry Hound Show</em> aired from 1958 into the early ‘60s and followed the well-intentioned, Southern-accented hound on his many adventures.</p> <p>Which of these shows was your favourite as a kid? Tell us in the comments below!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/05/8-things-only-people-who-grew-up-in-1950s-will-remember/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">8 things only people who grew up in the 1950s will remember</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/04/where-are-the-cast-of-mash-now/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>MASH: Where are they now?</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/04/5-classic-tv-series-to-revisit/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 classic TV series to revisit</strong></em></span></a></p>

TV

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The story behind the Little Golden Books

<p>Who doesn’t remember the Little Golden Books? <em>Scuffy the Tugboat</em>, <em>The Poky Little Puppy</em>… today there are more than 1,000 titles in the collection (both original stories and Disney classics) and billions have been sold around the world. But how did these iconic book first come into our lives?</p> <p>Before they were introduced in 1942, books for children were often difficult to read and expensive - $2 or $3 each at the time (or $30 - $50 in today’s money). That’s when the Artist’s and Writer’s Guild’s George Duplaix teamed up with Simon &amp; Schuster and Western Printing in an effort to create a high-quality, low-cost book series for children.</p> <p>The first 12 stories, including <em>Mother Goose</em> and the wildly popular <em>The Poky Little Puppy</em> (which remains the highest-selling Little Golden Book), were released in October 1942 for 25c apiece. They have remained affordable ever since, now retailing for $5.00 each. (NZ: $6.00)</p> <p>Duplaix’s books were a huge hit, racking up 1.5 million sales within the first 5 months alone, thanks in part due to the fact they were readily available not only in book stores but also supermarkets and other shops. The publishers soon struck a deal with Disney and later Sesame Street, opening up the possibility for hundreds of new stories.</p> <p>If you still own any of your childhood Little Golden Books, you may be surprised to learn that you’re sitting on a goldmine. First editions of the original 12 stories can fetch more than $100 if in good condition, and limited edition titles can also fetch you a pretty penny. <a href="http://www.orilliapacket.com/2012/11/02/little-golden-books-have-made-the-rounds" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Click here</span></strong></a> to find out if your Little Golden Books could make you money.</p> <p>Which was your favourite Little Golden Book as a kid? Tell us about it in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/05/encouraging-children-to-read/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to encourage your grandchildren to love reading</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/04/best-childrens-books/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 all-time best children’s books</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/03/best-selling-books-of-all-time/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Best selling books of all time</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Charity group to bake 104 Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake cookbook cakes

<p>The <em>Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake</em> cook book has been a staple in generations of family birthdays. Everybody has a favourite from the book – perhaps the piano, the train, the popcorn duck or the tennis racquet? With so many fantastic options to choose from, it was hard to pick which one should be made for the big day.</p> <p>Well one mother’s group from Canberra wants to bring back those nostalgic memories as they attempt to make all 104 cakes from the cookbook in the same room on May 7, a feat that has never been accomplished before.</p> <p>Christine Spicer, the president of PANDSI, a support group for Canberra families suffering from post- and ante-natal maternal depression, hope the birthday cake challenge will help fundraise for the group which supports around 250 families in the region.</p> <p>"We need Canberrans to bake a cake from the cookbook and bring them along and we'll sell these through a silent auction," she says.</p> <p>"It's not done on professionalism, we just want people who love the cakes, love the books. The cakes will be judged on love and flair. We'll have a professional category, which will be 10 cakes and these will be stunning. These will be sold via live auction."</p> <p><strong>If you want to sign up and bake one of the cakes, you’ll have to register on the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.pandsi.org/pandsi-cake-off.html" target="_blank">PANDSI website here</a>.</span></strong></p> <p><em>Scroll through the gallery above for some of our favourite cakes from the cookbook.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2016/02/childhood-favourite-desserts-that-will-make-you-nostalgic/">3 childhood favourite desserts that will make you nostalgic</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/10/how-to-create-a-family-cookbook/">How to create a family cookbook</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/03/australian-womens-weekly-childrens-birthday-cake-book/">Our favourite cakes from the famous Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book</a></em></strong></span></p>

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