My roots are in Floreat Park – carefree, happy, primary school days followed by a period in the ‘salubrious climes’ of Lesmurdie where I boarded at St Brigid’s College for the more serious pursuit of secondary education. I progressed to Secondary Teachers College, graduating as a teacher-librarian in 1970 and, was employed as such in senior high schools for three years, while completing my B.A. (Social Sciences). Then I moved on to Canberra and the National Library of Australia as a Reference Librarian, Later being appointed as Public Librarian for the South Canberra Region.
Canberra provided a stimulating work environment. Brisk, invigorating and, cold with beautiful avenues of autumn trees and heated political times as I witnessed close at hand the sacking of the Whitlam Government and, the turbulence surrounding the events of November 11th, 1975.
Homesickness brought me back to WA and I became Reader Services Librarian at Claremont Teachers College.
Now married to Roy Wilkie, I am enjoying country life to the full and am kept forever busy with three young children, Helen, Judith and, Gerald. Time permitting, I read, play temps and tinkle on the piano.
The Vacant Block
Ours was the other house in the street. The Floreat Park of thirty years ago was sparsely populated. The bush was our playground – site for tree houses, friendly gang warfare, kidnapping, a stimulus to our unrestricted imaginations – and the block next door, the focal point of it all.
The block provided a short cut to the bus, to the neighbours, to the shops. The road was never considered – it was through the hole in the fence and across the block.
Guy Fawkes night provided an occasion for neighbourhood families to meet. We gathered around the bonfire to witness the fireworks display and afterwards the cooking of potatoes in the coals
Last year, that only remaining block in the street was built on. I was sad in the realisation that so much of the past was fading and, I yearned for those happy times past when the concerns of adulthood and responsibility appeared so distant.
Cheese Popovers
Ingredients
1 cup self raising flour
125 g grated cheese
½ teaspoon slat
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 eggs
1 small cup milk
White Sauce
1½ cups milk
2 dessertspoons plain flour
Small quantity of grated cheese
pinch cayenne pepper
1 rasher bacon
1 small onion
Finely chopped parsley
Method
Mix all dry ingredients. Add beaten eggs and milk. Add cheese and melted butter. Stir thoroughly. Spoon 1 dessertspoon into greased patty tins. Cook in moderate to hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
Make the white sauce by thickening the milk with the flour. Add grated cheese and cayenne pepper. Chop and fry the bacon and onion and add to sauce. Add parsley. Spoon the sauce over the popovers and serve hot.