Wallingford Berks Line

HOME LIFE IN JUNEE IN THE EARLY 1900s by "Kit" Lovelock

Dad earnt 26/- per week. Rent was 6/- per week, milk two pence per pint, bread two pence per loaf, leg of lamb 1/3.

There was only tank water of which we had to be very careful. Baths were once a week when the whole family, five of us, were bathed in the one round tub of water in front of the fire after a kerosene tin of water had been heated on the stove. After us kids were bathed, mum had the last bath and then the water was taken out and put on the garden - "top dressing" - and then all of us were allowed to go out to play after the evening meal. We usually played around the old carbide lamps, which also attracted moths.

Our favourite pasttime on Sundays was listening to the local band on what we called 'Hospital Hill'. Original 'settlers' in the Junee district were Humphries, Penfold, Crawley, Blanch, Dobbyns and Charles Lovelock.

We had two doctors in the town. Dr Button, an old Oxford scholar whom we all adored. He was always on 'call' morning and night. In fine weather he rode a push bike. He drove a pony in a hooded sulky. He is the only person I can remember having one. He kept a groom for harnessing, etc. He wore white gloves, top hat and carried a cane. Then the motor car came which I can remember well as the whole town turned out to see this 'contraption' (as one old man sang out. He then added, "the b..... thing has cleared out without the horse!") I think the first car may have been McWilliams or J.S. Taylor according to Aunt Mina.

Dr Button on home visits followed the parents to the kitchen to oversee the sterilising of a table spoon in boiling water for use as a tongue depressor.

The wines were brought into Junee from the vineyards to the rail by horse and dray. One driver was called Charlie Lovelock.

A Day's Labour

1. Empty slops. The bedchambers (commonly called pots or po's) had to be used for night time as toilets were built so far away from the houses. The toilets themselves were emptied once a week by the local council 'night soil man'. Phenyl was commonly used as a disinfectant.

2. Empty the ashes from the grates and whitewash same, then blacklead and polish the stive.

3. Collect lamps. Refill with kerosene, trim wicks, polish globes ready for the night use.

4. Fire wood had to be cut. The chip box was always to be filled overnight to ensure quick lighting of the stove in the morning.

5. The laundry was usually done under the peppercorn trees (unless you were lucky enough to have a laundry) in round tubs on a stool and boiled in a cauldron or kerosene buckets over an open fire. Ironing was done by 'flat irons' heated on top of the stove or stood up in front of an open fire. Most homes had long white lace curtains and also short window curtains on rods to enable the long curtains to be tied back. These curtains had to be laundered and starched every few weeks as we had so many dust storms in those days. (Where has all the dust gone now?) Holland blinds were a guard against too much sunlight.

6. All 'used' water was poured on garden plants by bucket or by drainage. It was also used on many verandahs to keep houses cool. Verandahs were used by families at night and were protected from 'dust storms' by creepers, climbers such as Dolichos (pea plant), ivy, bougainvillea and grape vines. Parsley and mint were grown under fruit trees and there was always a lemon tree. Flowers such as violets, dahlias, chrysanthemums, bulbs, roses and all kitchen vegetables (potatoes) and Lucerne for animals were all grown.

Lifebuoy soap (the enemy of perspirations) was always on hand for use under the shower or all over wash. Zambuk and Iodine and Blue Bag were all on hand for accidents or bites from bees and insects.