July 2004 - Chewton.net

MEMORIES IN BLACK AND WHITE
Who can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on the day man landed on the moon? Well, I
can!
With the recent passing of one of our much loved locals, Alice Josephine Dennis, memories of my childhood, state
school etc. all came flooding back and I stopped for a while to reflect and remember what a bloody great childhood I
had right here in Chewton. (Center of the universe, you know!)
How excited were we at Chewton Primary School on that historic day. We knew something special was taking place,
what with everyone talking about the moon, astronauts, spaceships etc., but at such a tender age (all those who know
me can stop laughing now!) who cared? All we knew was that it was big, and everyone was talking about it.
After arriving at school that morning, Mr. Alf Mortar (now he was a real headmaster, but that’s another story)
explained to us that the whole school would be going down to Mr. and Mrs. Ron Dennis’ to watch a man landing on the
moon (live) on their black-and-white television. Wow! Excited? We were beyond excited. I think a couple of kids wet
their pants, some screamed, while others sat in silence.
Mr. and Mrs. Ron (Tonna) Dennis lived just on the corner opposite the school,
so as the time neared, we all formed assembly and Mr. Mortar, as only he
could, explained what a terrible fate would befall any of us who did not behave
in the appropriate manner expected of us. Back then, you knew you had to do
your best or else when you got back to school.
Not many families in Chewton even had a television then, and this made it
even more exciting. Not just watching history, but to actually see a TV in real
life!! When we arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis had cleared the lounge room of
most of the furniture. But yes, the wonderful TV was there for all to see. The
moment had arrived.
We were very orderly, all sitting on the floor. Isn’t that a great moment, a
whole school in someone’s lounge room (and well behaved out of fear after
Mr. Mortar’s earlier speech)? Mrs. Dennis turned on the TV. Most of us
were gobsmacked! This was the very first time some of us had seen live
television. The program started and all was quiet. Funny black-and-white images, snowy reception, but no one gave
a rat’s bum because we were watching TV. We were part of history, and we were sitting in Alice and Ron Dennis’
lounge room.
I can’t remember how long it went for, but my best friend, Fiona (Helen) Campbell and I sat there spellbound. It was
the absolute greatest day to us. At the end Mrs. Dennis passed around cookies she had baked for us to have. We
thanked Alice and Ron for their hospitality and quickly filed out of the lounge room with its black-and-white television
that we’d seen history made on.
Isn’t it funny how the brain holds such special memories for us to keep forever, and isn’t it great that lovely fuzzy warm
feeling you get when one of those memories comes at the oddest moments? At the end of that year, 1969, I was named
Dux of the School and my name is on the Honor Roll there, and I imagine for all-time. But even that was never as
special as sitting in Alice and Ron Dennis’ loungeroom, watching man land on the moon on their wonderful television,
with my best friend Fiona (Helen) Campbell - who I still remain friends with to this day.
Bettie Exon, Chewton (Centre of the Universe).
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