As the sun rose on another beautiful Melbourne summer morning, I sprang from bed full of excitement and anticipation. It was 1969, I had just turned 12 years of age, and I was about to embark on my first day of secondary school.

Yes I was about to begin my “tour of duty” with the infamous Christian Brothers. While I never did enlist in the Australian Armed Services I always recall my days under the erstwhile tutelage of the Christian Brothers as being akin to 6 years in the Military.

Here I was in all my glory, a portly pre-pubescent school boy with an accelerated growth spurt and a pimply profile.

I guess there would be prettier sights than 5 ft. 8 inch, 180Lb 12 year old in “Harry High pants “shorts complete with lily-white legs of speckled freckles, with  an ill-fitting grey suit coat bursting at the seams to cover an already burgeoning waistline. I was all proud as punch with a brand new school cap perched precariously on a mop of uncombed blonde hair.

Blonde hair that accentuated what could only be described as the classic Aussie “Boof Head.” A very large “Boof Head” that was the source of both pride and pain during my growing years,

Proudly I can reflect on the dubious achievement of having the largest cap size in the school. Size 7 and a half cap sizes are hard to come by. Especially for 12 year olds. 

Indeed  reflect is an apt word ,as I can recall some of my less than charitable school “mates” claims that the local Drive in Theaters had put in a Tender to my parents for the use of my forehead to screen the latest double feature movies!!

Although I can laugh today there were times when this scorn pierced my outer shell striking hard at my sensitivities.

Thankfully my Dad, a World War 2 veteran and 1960’s version of the Aussie Sensitive New Age guy was there to console me. 

“Don’t worry son” he would say “Your head’s not that big, it’s just in proportion to the rest of ya!

“Gee thanks Dad!”

Now that Dad had consoled me, I wiped away the tears and leapt upon my bike ready to face my tormentors with confidence!   But dear old dad’s advice wasn’t complete.

Pushing a crisp $20 bill into my hand he sent me on my way with some final words of paternal wisdom

“Go get em son, and by the way, don’t forget to pick up 4 lbs. of Granny Smith apples on your way home” he yelled.

“But Dad” I said” I won’t have room in my school bag to carry 4 lb. of Granny Smith apples”

“Well use your Bloody cap” he yelled

Ah Dad… A true blue example of the 1960’s New Age Sensitive Aussie Bloke”