JOURNALISTIC TEETH CUT IN SCOTT STREET
A QUICK perusal of the Gippsland Magazine, produced by the Dandenong and District Historical Society, brought back a flood of memories of the city I spent most of my working life in, a city I watched grow and prosper. It also created vivid mind pictures of my most revered street – Scott Street.
Number 1 Scott Street, on the corner of Dickson Lane, was where I started as a cadet journalist and desk girl in 1938, taking advertisments, proof reading, writing wedding reports, obituaries and general news items.
Not only did I work in Scott Street, but worshipped at and was married in the then Methodist Church, attended the doctor’s surgery in the days of Dr Alf Oldham, purchased floral arrangements to give on special occasions from Fay’s Flowers and, on very special occasions, dined next door with work colleagues at the Club Hotel.
Norm Bedwell’s garage was next door to the Journal office, and I can also recall Mr Bennett’s premises diagonally opposite.
In the very early days before other women joined our staff, it was embarrassing to use the Journal’s toilet facilities, so I used to walk up the lane next door to Mr Bennett’s premises and was befriended by the staff at the hotel facing Lonsdale Street. The staff would offer me sweet treats from the hotel kitchen and would stop for a chat.
The old Journal office in Scott Street had one step up to the front door, and underneath the floorboards I often heard and saw rats. However, I loved my time in the old office.
In 1973, The Journal moved to new premises on Frankston-Dandenong Road. A purpose built office was constructed on land purchased from Ray Lawless for $250,000.
GRAFFITI GONE
It’s wonderful to see the pride that I take in the City of Greater Dandenong is shared by other civic-minded citizens. I was pleased to hear that hundreds of people turned out to clean up graffiti in Hemmings Park on Saturday 15 March.
The army of volunteers were ably assisted by members of Victoria Police, Neighbourhood Watch and representatives of the council, including mayor Jim Memeti.
The smell of sizzling sausages and the squeals of delight coming from the free jumping castle gave the clean-up a festival feel.
Leaflets on how to clean-up graffiti were distributed to volunteers as the battle goes on against unsightly tags and other graffiti throughout the city. It is shocking to think that cleaning up graffiti costs council more than $500,000 a year.
The council offers special graffiti clean-up kits, which include protective gloves and glasses, and police urge residents to report graffiti vandalism immediately.
