​This is a story about my first car.
 
To give a bit of background, I initially had most of my driving lessons in a Volkswagen Beetle which had 4 on the floor gears as well as a couple of lessons in an automatic Holden Torana prior to obtaining my license in 1971.
 
My first car was an Austin Freeway Super Six, grey and mushroom pink in colour with a registration of HRS 545.  This car cost me the princely sum of $295, which was quite a lot of money for me at that time

There was one minor problem with it though – it was 3 on the column and I had to have a piece of 6” high density foam on the seat just so I could see over the steering wheel.  What a lot of fun that was.
 
I also had my first car accident in this vehicle, in 1972 if I remember correctly.
 
While waiting for traffic lights to change at the corner of Station Street and Heidelberg Road in Fairfield, I was in the right-hand lane when another car pulled up on my left.  This lane was designed for traffic to go straight ahead or turn right also.  The left lane was for left turns only.
 
Once the lights changed, the driver of the car to my left also started to turn right.  There was a slight problem with this.  He turned a bit too sharply and ended up in cutting me off.  I had to make a split-second decision – drive straight into a metal pole with a cyclone wire fence or hit his car, which was a 1972 model Valiant sedan.  I decided to hit him.
 
We pulled up a bit further along Heidelberg Road and both of us got out of our respective cars to assess damage.  He was a big guy and, in my opinion, quite aggressive in his manner.  Seeing that it was a young female, I’m sure he thought that he could get me to break down in tears when he said that I had hit his car and why did I do that.  My response to him was that he tried to cut me off and that I really had no choice in the matter.  This was not what he wanted to hear apparently, but I was not going to be intimidated by him in any way.
 
The damage to his car was on the right rear panel while mine did not have a scratch on it.  I later found out that the Austin Freeway was built with double paneling down both sides.  Very fortunate for me.
 
I kept that car for approximately 18 months before trading it in on a smaller more manageable 4 on the floor vehicle.


Joan Brown
​July 2025

Victorian Goldfields Railway
 
In 2015, I wrote to a friend at the last known address I had and who had moved back to England to live.  He suggested that I might like to become involved in volunteering with Ballarat Trams.  I did this for a while, but found that I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I thought I would.
 
Glenn’s next suggestion was to volunteer with the Victorian Goldfields Railway.  I went along to their Christmas party, which was held on Maldon Station in 2016 and from then on, I was hooked.
 
I started volunteering as a First Class Steward, which involved serving cheese platters and drinks to those who booked in First Class.  The drinks were both alcoholic (beer, wine and spirits) and non-alcoholic (tea, coffee, soft drink, etc).  There were always 2 First Class carriages on the train – Macedon and Tambo, as well as at least 4 Economy Class carriages.  This would depend on the number of people who booked in Economy.
 
Working as a Steward required me to be at Maldon by 9am, so that we could get all the glasses on board and make sure that the fridges were stocked.  Finishing time was around 5pm, so it proved to be a very long and tiring day.
 
Apart from working on the train during running days (Wednesdays and Sundays, with Saturdays during school holidays), I also helped out on a couple of special occasions – wine tastings and movie nights.  Both these were extremely busy and we had, I think, 3 or 4 people trying to fit into an area that was about 8’ square.  Very squishy.
 
After doing stewarding for about 4 years, I learned that the person who was working in the shop/kiosk on Maldon Station was giving up this job and moving on to something else.  I thought it might be good to try it out, so I put my hand up and was then trained in how to operate this area.  The kiosk was only open on running days, mostly Wednesdays and Sundays, when there were staff to volunteer for this.  It appeared that a lot of Wednesdays were not covered, which is a pity, as it was a very good earner.  Items sold there included pies, pasties, sausage rolls, soft drinks, water, chocolate bars, lollies, books on various railways, VGR merchandise – hats, pens, hot/cold drink mugs, etc.
 
My hours of work were from about 10.30am until 3pm and I was usually the last person to leave the station, so I had to ensure that all doors and toilets were locked and that I didn’t take any keys home with me that I shouldn’t have.  I only did this once, but as I was 7km from Maldon. it was relatively easy to turn back and return the keys to their proper place.
 
I stopped working in the shop/kiosk about 2 years ago, but have remained a member since that time.
 
I must go back again one day and have a ride on the train, in First Class of course.
​
 
Joan Brown

​Dear Disneyland,
 
I first made your acquaintance way back in 1992 with my then boyfriend (later husband) on our first ever trip together.  You had been opened for about 27 years at that stage.
 
You were only the four lands – Frontierland, Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland.  You also had a robotic/virtual image of Walt Disney himself telling people how his dream came to life.  This was in an auditorium, but I was unable to find it again on my return many years later.
 
There were also quite a few little booths where photos could be taken of people dressed up as Civil War soldiers, ladies of a similar period, American Indians, cowboys, etc.
 
I remember there was the Disneyland Express train which ran around the perimeter and there was also a monorail.  We travelled on both of these.  I remember stopping at the Disneyland Hotel on the monorail where you could get a “pass-out” and then return whenever you wanted to on that day.
 
Another of your rides was Thunder Mountain.  We had no idea that it was a rollercoaster inside a very dark area.  When you broke back out into the light, there was a rather steep drop into water.  We only rode on you that one time.
 
People were required to line up to go on the rides and I found that everyone was very polite with no pushing or shoving.
 
I next saw you soon after you celebrated your 60th birthday (around 2016).  Things had changed quite a bit. The Disneyland Express and monorail were still there, but now the California Adventure Park had been opened and quite a lot of more new rides were there.
 
To me, the California Adventure Park is geared more towards the little kids and not so much as us big kids, but it was very interesting in seeing and experiencing this new area.
 
I remember standing in line for one of the Star Wars rides, when all of a sudden there was a very loud bang from behind.  Some people screamed in fright, others jumped and on looking around to see what had happened. I noticed a Stormtrooper standing next to a steel cabinet with his hand resting lightly on top.  I have no idea whether he used his fist or what to make the noise, but he certainly got people’s attention.
 
My fondest memory of my last visit was seeing the night-time parade, having not witnessed it on my previous trip.  It was really spectacular and something I would really like to see again.
 
I certainly hope that I may be able to do this again in the next couple of years, but who knows whether or not this will actually happen.
 
Until then…………..
 
Joan
 
 

Not long before my first marriage in 1973, my mother said to me that it wouldn’t last.  At the time, I didn’t ask her what she meant by that and now it’s much too late.  I wish I had asked her when I had the chance.  Perhaps she saw something in my future husband that I couldn’t, or perhaps wouldn’t, see.
 
He was a controlling sort of guy, wanting to know who I was spending time with and who I was talking to when he wasn’t around.  He also demanded that his dinner be on the table when he got home from work, saying that I knew precisely when that was going to be.  Problem with that was that he didn’t keep regular hours and would come home, it seemed, when he felt like it.
 
We both worked for his father’s wholesale grocery business.  He trained as a computer programmer and, as my previous employment involved typing, I was designated as the computer operator issuing invoices for the drivers when doing their deliveries, among other things in the office. 
 
Little did I know at that time that he had a girlfriend on the side.  His family and friends all lied for him and nobody told me the truth about his shenanigans.  This included the night our son was born.  I was told that he went to the pub, but he was with the girlfriend, who he married 3 months after our divorce became final.  I found out later that that marriage didn’t work out either.  Perhaps he was up to his old tricks.
 
In the end, I had enough of his bullying tactics and mental stress so I packed up my son and some things and walked out on him.  I did not regret this decision one little bit.
 
After another couple of failed relationships, I finally found success.
 
I was working as a volunteer on HMAS Castlemaine at Williamstown when one day, while on the gangway, a fellow came on board and said that he wanted to offer his services as a volunteer.  When he was walking away from me, my first thought was “hmmm, cute bum”, but I think I said it aloud.
 
It took quite a few months before we started going out together.  The main thing I remember about this is the fact that we went on a holiday to America together.  We both said that it would “make or break” the relationship.  Fortunately, it definitely “made” the relationship and it was a further few years before he proposed.  He did this while I was driving and nearly ran off the road, it was so unexpected.  We both said that we didn’t want to go through marriage again.  Famous last words.
 
We married in 1999 in Caulfield Park and had nearly 15 years together, until his untimely death in 2014.  He was too young, only 64.


Joan Brown
​March 2023

It would have been mid to late August 1988 when a friend’s father approached us and asked if we would be willing to man phones for “a day or two” down at Station Pier, in readiness for the arrival of the Tall Ships which were due to arrive early September.  We both said that we would like to do that.  Little did we know at that time that his “day or two” would become just over 2 weeks.
 
For our first couple of days, we started at about 9am, but once the ships were in port, our days started at 7.30 – 8.00am and usually didn’t finish until 9.00pm or later.
 
One of the most asked questions was “when can I see the American ship ‘Eagle’ and will she be open to the public” to which we had to say that she wasn’t in Melbourne, only Sydney and wasn’t going to be coming here at all.  Other questions included “what time can the ships be viewed”, “are they going to be open to the public”, “what ships are in port”, etc.
 
Some of the ships that did come to Melbourne were Juan Sebastian de Elcano (Spain), Dar Mlodziezy (Poland), Asgard II (Ireland), Leeuwin (Fremantle), Anna Kristina (Norway) and Falie (Netherlands).  The Juan Sebastian was rarely opened to the public, having an armed sentry on the gangway 24/7, while the crew of the Dar Mlodziezy were only too happy to show people around and “practice their English”.
 
On occasion, some of the crews would “practice” their skills climbing the rigging and furling the sails.  It was interesting to watch the speed in which these tasks were accomplished and there were quite a few gasps from the people watching.  Fortunately, none of the crew members slipped or fell during these exercises.
 
A funny thing happened one night.  A former work colleague of Jill’s had joined the Police and told us that at no time would we ever see her in uniform.  I was sitting facing the window when someone swaggered past.  I motioned for Jill to follow me outside, where we “sprung” Karen in uniform.  The poor girl wanted the floor to open up and swallow her.  We then had to explain the situation to her colleagues, who all thought it was quite funny, except for Karen, who was rather embarrassed by the whole incident.
 
It was sad to see the ships sail out of Melbourne, but it was a quite rewarding experience and one that will stay with me.


Joan Brown
February 2025