July 2006 Bored?? Never!! Recently whilst on our regular weekly shopping trip at Keperra, a young girl, possibly eight years of age, was heard to remark to her Grandfather (or he may have been her father) “I’m bored - I want to go home.” My mind quickly raced back to my early days and the thrill of going to the shop - not the elaborate shopping centres we now can visit - and our once a year birthday trip to ‘town’. The birthday trip usually involved being taken to the Regent cinema, where at interval an electric organ would ascend from the floor beneath the stage and a great session of community singing would take place while the words to the song appeared on a slide which was projected onto the screen. How could a child be bored? Do children not play with dolls anymore, or play cowboys and indians or even with toy cars in the dirt? Did I have such a priviledged childhood? My siblings and I were taught to make toffee fudge, honeycomb, marshmallows and to cook on the old wood burning stove, as well as being able to create all types of craftwork. Bored? Never! To lay in front of the radio of a Sunday evening and listen and enjoy the various plays presented by the Lux Radio Theatre was greatly anticipated all week. I recall, as a young boy, being taken by my father to the old Cremorne Theatre at South Brisbane for the Saturday afternoon matinee. Great shows such as The Desert Song and many others! After seeing tenor Donald Smith ‘sealed into a tomb’ in Aida I was most concerned, until my father took the time to convince me it was only play-acting (or as my grandson now explains it, showing-off) and I need not be concerned. The Gap was no place to be bored! The creek became our play area and most young folk had chores to do, such as feeding the poultry, collecting the eggs, cutting oats from the cultivation, and many an enterprising lad grew lettuce, radish, carrots, celery and the like, for which there was a ready market. The two local churches, Methodist and Church of England, offered interesting activities and the commencement of local Scouting in 1951 was another outlet, indeed many locals were never bored, there were always horses to ride. An occasional visit to the Ashgrove Cinema and, when it opened a little later on, the St Johns Wood Ambassador Cinema, were eagerly anticipated events - no time to be bored! My sister Dorothy recently sent me a book she had purchased at a stall in Kingaroy, entitled “God’s Work First - My Life with Ivan Alcorn” by his wife Iris. A segment of the book covered the arrival of the Rev. Alcorn into our district as the Methodist Minister for the circuit, which then included churches at Ashgrove Avenue, Ashgrove Tram Terminus and The Gap - with Oakleigh included later on when homes were built in that area. All three churches were seeking and raising funds to erect new premises and Rev. Ivan was a young, energetic man with great skills leading his parishoners. Iris relates that he soon had everyone excited and working hard to raise money, she makes special mention in the book of the “Mock Wedding” held circa 1947. The invitations read: (name) your presence is requested at the wedding of Miss Iona Aged Woodchurch to Mr Lofty Brickirk, to be held at The Gap Progress Hall with reception to follow in the grounds of the Methodist Church. Please wear period costume. What a still-talked-about event! A four wheel German waggon was hired, driven by the father of the bride (John Missenden) a 6’2” man mountain, accompanied by demure bridesmaid (Richard Speechley) dressed in a lime green night dress and a hat of red tuille adorned with garlands of flowers, flowergirl (Walter Vinter) who wore a picture hat with ringlets (made of rope) around his sweet face and carried a flower basket which, as were the brides and bridesmaid bouquets were created from local wildflowers. Most guests got decked out in period dress at the Church and walked along Waterworks Road to the Hall, where almost all Gap residents turned up for the occasion. Waiting at the hall was the happy groom (Ron Pointer) who, with best man (Colin Fanning) were dressed in their Sunday best, complete with boater hats. The comedian of the whole affair was the Parson, who rode on a wobbly bicycle in over-tight shantung trousers, bowler hat and umbrella, topped off with an enormous false moustache. A great, fun time was had by all, Iris noted, however the cost of hiring the waggon was almost as much as it would have cost to hire a Rolls Royce! Truly, no child or adult was ever bored in our suburb!