In the 1940s and early 1950s, most MW stations across Australia had late afternoon "Children's
Sessions" - the biggest following was the ABC's Argonauts' Club, was designed for kids from seven to 17, which ran until its abrupt closure in 1972, It was replaced by a new show for "teenagers", which I recall was pure
drivel.
One of my favourite programs in the late 1940s was the 3DB's Children's Session, compered by Jean Lawson.
With few resources, she broadcast for 25 minutes every week day. She was
most famous for writing and producing ‘The Fakermagangees’,
an infinitely long serial about a group of children, whose adventures became so wide-ranging that eventually they
travelled backward through time. I loved them!
I had the pleasure of meeting Jean in September
1948, when she started her European Holiday on board a cruise ship from Station Pier, Port Melbourne
With my mother, we met with Jean in her shipboard cabin and talked a lot about the Childrens' Session on 3DB. .
In May 1951, Melbourne broadcaster 3KZ had a contest for kids to send in essays about "Pets",
as part of the station's weekday "Childrens's Session".
I wrote a story, on behalf of my brother and myself, and we won the prize for the Best Essay!
This was a large-format photo in a nice frame. Still in good condition, 60 years later!
I remember that two photographers from the Aldor studio came out to take the photos in our
modest sized back yard in Auburn.
The pets shown are Cocky (galah), and Paddy (hound).
I remember the day well, as Cocky was digging his claws in and would have taken a piece out
of my ear!
We had to dress up for the camera shots with ties and good jumpers!
In the picture you see Paddy's kennel (right, red tinted), the vegetable garden through the wooden gate at the back.
At the right front you can see some cactus plants - some of these were brought to our house in Mont Albert when we shifted
here in 1959 and are still going strong. They are now two metres high, and their descendants are scattered around the garden!
