Writing songs for a crust

“George Zivkovic bemoans the omission of AC/DC, INXS, Cold Chisel, John Farnham, Kylie and even Joe Dolce from the first 10 songs inducted into Australia’s inaugural National Songbook (C8),” says Paul Koff of Glenhaven. “Surely, a greater omission is John Meillon’s rousing 1967 ode to Australian culinary prowess, Hot Pie and Tomato Sauce. Now that’s Australian!”

“I was discussing the demise of David Jones (C8) with my elderly mother,” says Jack Dikian of Mosman. “Apparently, she stopped shopping there when they removed the soda fountains and the haberdashery counter. I don’t know; this might be important information for the appointed administrators.”

“In a past era, among all the fashionable and elegant frocks, David Jones also ran a ‘used clothing’ section” writes Joan Gandy of Alstonville. “It was during World War II. I remember going with my mother to this shrine of elegance and purchasing two dresses to wear when I started business college. After years of school uniforms, they were so glamorous. These two frocks were admired by many friends and when asked where Mum had purchased them I could honestly reply ‘David Jones’ without elaborating any further that they were from DJs’ Clothing Pool (as that section was called) and were pre-loved. The original op shop.”

“As a country kid in Bega I can’t tell you the excitement I had with the arrival of the David Jones catalogue as I pored over the pictures of clothing,” recalls Anne Stearman of Downer (ACT). “I even have a memory of real bits of material being stuck on some pages, but maybe that is fabricated.”

“Apropos Ginger Nut biscuits (C8) being different in NSW and Queensland – yes the Queensland biscuits are thinner. But in Tamworth, where I live, we can get both types,” claims Gregory Nell. If you buy Ginger Nuts from Coles in Tamworth, they are the thinner Queensland variety. But if you buy them from a Woolworths here, they’re the fatter NSW variety, although both packets are identical. As the NSW variety is fatter, presumably you get less biscuits in a packet bought from Woolworths compared to a packet from Coles, although I have not checked, not yet anyway. Perhaps that is a task for this week.”