Living History

Saving for University

My first job was at sixteen as a ‘packer’ at Woolworths. We stood at the end of the checkout counter and packed peoples groceries into large brown paper bags. It paid $1.18 per hour. I worked on the school holidays and Saturday mornings from 9am until 12md. At that time retail shops were only allowed to trade Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm and 9am until 12md on Saturday. I walked one hour each way to get to my precious job.

I was the youngest of three sisters. They had left school at 16 years old and gone to work in retail and offices. My parents thought it was a waste of time girls staying at school, because your goal should be to find a husband and get married before you’re ‘over the hill’ at 21 years. So when I wanted to do science and maths at high school there was much dismay. Then when I wanted to stay at school with the goal to go to University there was complete fury. Eventually, after the school stepped in, I was allowed to stay at school if I paid may own way….hence the job at Woollies.

Gail, Lara, Victoria

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