General News
5 June, 2026
REMEMBERING: Days gone by
In my youth, dental care wasn’t always a priority, but in my family it was. I was lucky to have a good set of teeth. It is easy to understand that in my early teens I had one filling.
At the Saturday afternoon matinee I purchased a “Choo Choo” bar, a hard sticky toffee. After a few chews, out came the filling.
I was devastated. It felt like I had lost half my teeth. I kept it a secret until on the Monday I had it refilled by Dr Jacobs at no cost.
That filling has survived and still stays in place. That was the last “Choo Choo” bar I ever had.
This episode brings to mind the sweets that we were bombarded with in our youth.
“Squeaky Joe”, the proprietor of a local lolly shop called “Polly Waffles” “Wolly Poffles”. They, along with Violet Crumbles, were as popular as Cherry Ripes and Kit Kats.
I will reminisce about many things that were once part of our lives.
Rose Street, Fitzroy was dominated by the Colvan factory. Colvan chips were once all the go. My dad couldn’t go a week without buying Darrell Lea’s toasted marshmallows in coconut, as well as their Rocky Road. Malted milks, once the drink of teenagers, has become the milkshake (no malt).
Take-away coffee is in demand, although most outlets provide a dull version of the real thing. Bortoli, the pioneer of coffee in Lygon Street, would not approve.
Freddo Frogs and chocolate-coated Teddy Bears were family favourites and always the first to disappear from the sweets bowl.
Hotels had a variety of enterprising gents who sold their wares, ranging from bags of peanuts in their shells, to crayfish.
My host, Lou Maffescioni, had jars of pickled mussels and scallops on his bar shelf. He put them on the bar for his patrons for gratis.
Jack sold his home-made saveloys at the races. His hot dogs were legendary, even though he slit them with his thumbnail.
Liquorice blocks and straps were much loved. The blocks sold for four for a penny, and would blacken your teeth and tongue.
At the fairs and markets, the perennial favourites were jam donuts, fairy floss and toffee apples.
My mates and I had particular favourites. Battered burgers have disappeared, as have fish cakes. We all loved potato cakes filled with a thick slice of potato and smothered in salt and pickled onion juice.
At the Talbot Market, I watched as potatoes on a stick sold and sold and sold.
At lunch time at school you would see clusters of students swapping cards. A recently discovered set of football cards brought thousands of dollars.
The equestrian look became a fad and it featured johdpurs, corduroys and desert boots. The school yard was filled with students skipping. Last man standing was also a popular game. They chanted as they skipped, “Seashore, Marjory Dore!”
My cousin Lance had his hair permed in an “Afro” style and played the bongo drum. He adopted a “beatnik” persona and used the words “cool!” and “man!” in almost every sentence.
The “shanghai”, a potentially lethal weapon, was common and responsible for the demise of many a bird and window. Nona used one to save her fruit from the birds, especially her beloved fig tree.
Comics were prolific and were responsible for many of us learning how to read. Johnno’s brother, Jim, opened a second-hand comic shop and made a killing. The Phantom, Superman, Batman, Tarzan and all the Disney characters became part of our culture. Pristine copies are now very prized.
Long before the pavlova became our most popular dessert, meringues — especially the “Birds’ Nest” — were best sellers at the local bakeries and in the school tuckshops.
Aunt Pat and her mate, Pearl, were regulars at the “House, House” marquee. It was a bingo game with cash and goods as prizes.
Iodine and mercurochrome were essential for treating the constant abrasions incurred while growing up. Boils and carbuncles were treated with a poultice to extract the poisonous pus. Magnoplasma was essential for removing splinters and was applied on a poultice. It would remove them overnight.
Laptops didn’t exist. The change from the pen and ink to the fountain pen was a significant one. Lazlo Biro’s invention was a boon. It’s hard to believe that personal handwriting and letter writing have been downgraded.
A popular candy was the aptly named “Fags”. Children could be seen mimicking their parents. They have been discontinued for obvious reasons.
Early favourites were sold at the local bakery. Pies, pasties, sausage rolls and vanilla slices were special treats.
The pizza first appeared at “Toto’s” in Carlton. It, along with Nino Borsari, the champion Italian cyclist, established themselves in Lygon Street. It was adopted by the Italian immigrants and is now as Italian as any Roman villa. It all started in the sixties in Carlton.
Milano Pizza was the first outlet in the old wine salon. On Friday nights in particular it is difficult to find a parking spot in High Street. This continues a long-standing Australian tradition.
From the days of the Goldfields, Maryborough’s citizens have fostered a love of Chinese food and this continues today.