AVALON JOBS. And the Avalon Beach RSL.  What's this, you'll see. We had moved to Newport around 1960, a fair bit of pressure had come from yours truly. We rented premises in Newport and I would travel into Riley St. by the bus and underground railway to St. James station and walk to work from there. At some stage I had made inquiries at the Avalon RSL club to learn the hospitality trade. The club at this time was a corrugated iron building slightly west and north of its present site, plans were in the pipeline to build a bigger club and hence the building today. I learnt tray service and cellar work and then worked weekends for some extra money. Slowly as the new club began to take shape and I am doing casual duties in the old, a trust in me was indicated by the Manager, Mr Jack Carter. He suggested that the Directors would be prepared to offer me a training course in several Hospitality subjects if I would be prepared to accept permanent employment. I explained that my indentures would be finalized early 1961, this fitted in with their plans. Must check the dates there seems to be an overlap, talking to myself. Any way I gave notice to Repetition and commenced work full time with Avalon RSL. The premises were still in the construction stage, although there were many preliminary jobs to be completed. We prepared the bar and the cool rooms, we begun stocking store rooms and I commenced studies at East Sydney Technical College. My subjects initially were the Cellar man and Storemans Course, followed by the then Patron Care, and a basic Book keeping course. And getting paid for it. The big day arrived and in the technical sense I was assistant to the Manager, my first adult wage since starting work 7 years ago.----- THE JOB OF DAILY AUDIT. And so the great day arrives, THE AVALON BEACH RSL CLUB is opened for business. From the start the business is successful, many social events are planned and I find the complete change in profession interesting. Down the track I will become qualified in 55 hospitality subjects, I will teach these subjects at TAFE and many other training venues, I will find employment in many organizations, and still that bloody "I" word. WE trade in food and wine and entertainment to the largely cosmopolitan citizens, WE begin to attract more and more members. MY job begins at 7:00 am, the place has been cleaned by one of the many employee's who will filter through the premises. Beer lines are cleaned and flushed, the re-stocking begins and the daily audit is carried out, I mean daily!!, every item sold, the amount of bulk beer dispensed less the ullage is calculated must fall into the guidelines. Never known a club or pub to do this as regular. Any shortfalls will be suspected as pilfering. We weighed the kegs, but here is the rub. An 18 gal wooden keg may have a factor of 3% up or down, the main thing was to be consistent. Every bottle of nipped sprit or Wine / Fort.Wine was measured and compared to the cash register till rolls, and yes it took some time. A professional Cellarman insured that gas pressures, flow rates and temprite temperature were correct, we allowed some very low figure for wastage. Also, a good bar person will be an advantage. For a short period my duties were to count the contents of the bar tills, the bottle shop tills and to provide service for the early birds, the rosted bar person would arrive at 11am and then I would commence the ordering and complete re-stocking. Five days a week, some Saturday and Sunday mornings, some night work on the tray and Farley took home 50 dollars a week plus o / time. The pokies were given a daily count, mostly Jack Carter and one or two of the Committee men would count the cash, and now here is a story before electronics. The "One Armed Bandits" were all mechanical, you placed a single coin in the slot and yanked on the handle, you played for the "Gold Award" and any other pays. There were days when I assisted counting the "Pokie" money. On a very auspicious occasion when counting the tills before opening one day, amazement, some of the two bobs, (20 cent) pieces made a very dull noise on the bar top when dropped. They were put to the side, and reported. Jack ushers me to the office and he asks for my compliance in secrecy in an embezzlement matter. A gang of counterfeiters have been responsible for flooded the "pokies" with dud coins. He shows me the main safe, 5 boxes of crappy coins are evident, 500 pounds worth of lead and another metal, sorry. For me it only means one thing; these dudes walk into the club, buy some 2 bobs and proceed to play the contents of their pockets. You win some you lose some. Possibly a jackpot comes their way. For a while many questions go answered, the metal content of the crappy coins is greater than the face value, answer: the metal has been nicked. The coins are only used in vending machines and "pokies", why; no reliable method of weighing the coins has been invented yet, and the coins are very accurate in appearance, except; the year of production, they were all from the same year. "YANKING AND THE YO-YO". It was not known then, but it can be assumed that another method of beating the Pokies was the "Yanking the Handle" method, and Avalon RSL may have been a victim; A well known group of Australians had developed a mechanical method of arranging the ‘Gold Awards'. They were discovered in Las Vegas mid 60's using this system. Not these guys but some friends of mine demonstrated how it was done at a well known northern beaches club, they maintained they had invented it first; To use the technique a very busy and loud environment was needed, the machines were all mechanical; Firstly, you played the machine normally, eventually a ‘Gold Award' would appear in the first window. This was where the ‘Yanking' started; Secondly, with a method of pulling down hard and quick and short, about 1 / 3rd of the travel of the handle, you could hold the first reel and commence the spinning of the other two. In time the second ‘Gold Award' would appear, it was locked into place. Thirdly; This has taken a couple of minutes, several of the ‘Gang' will be crowding around the machine, the handle is ‘Yanked' until the last ‘Gold Award' appears ‘ Jackpot' and call the Payout person. This system was only used on occasion at this club, and only one jackpot was claimed a night. There will be many attempts to cheat the pokies, including drilling a tiny hole in a coin, attaching a length of cotton or fishing line. You inserted the coin, it engaged, you pulled the handle and retrieved the coin, put back in and have another go. This was called ‘Yo Yo' and will appear on modern day electronic machines when a particular problem occurs. THE GRAND OPENING, AVALON R.S.L.   AVALON BEACH RSL CLUB, why have you not got the history of your club on your website, that is, to cover my forgetfulness? Was it 1962 when the new premises were opened? Well it will all be reveled. A huge day has been planned, we hope we have good staff, over 30 people have come and gone since opening, I have interviewed and hired some 5 cleaners alone. Huge amounts of food have been ordered, Jacks job, Champagne by the box is in readiness, white wines and red await the patrons. Some body of authority will open the club, the licensing people will be in attendance and all is ready. And it all goes well, every one enjoys a great night except for two people; first story, the Licensing man is ushered from the premises and thanked for his kind words. His car is at the front entrance and the weather is rainy and blowy, he reaches the car and seems to forget something. He races back to the front entrance, the door is closed. With head down and his hat on he hits the door with his full force and smashes the front entrance. We are watching what could have been the French Revolution, you know, Madam Guillotine, he plunges through the glass door unscathed, shocked but unhurt accept for sore head.  Second story is not quite as dramatic, but be ever watchful. During the course of the night a bar person was frequently observed leaving the premises and going to his car, lifting the boot and closing it. Jack's attention was requested in this matter to discover a boot full of spirits' and wines, you are now in the Army, a left tenant say we. One final recollection, the huge amount of left over food, there were plates and plates of food with hardly a bite mark. The following morning my job was to pile all of this food, boxes and paper out the back, cover in sump oil and petrol, use a mop soaked in petrol and alight and pelt on the reeking pile. The area was about 6 yards in diameter and 2 yards high.   THE DOM. I learnt so much from the RSL, met many wonderful people. One young couple came to a night time function, of course I was only 22 my self, but guys get it right when you entertain your partner. They had a good time, dancing and wining and dinning, you could tell they "had a thing going on".  Farley was the Sommelier that night, he knew the difference between a good and not so good wine, all Australian Wines are the former. Here is my logic; "wine is good plonk, plonk is good plink, plink puts you on the plank, plank is what they carry you out on". And so its time for after dinner Liqueurs, the young fella politely beckons my attention and proceeds to order; "Could I have a DOM and a BENIDICTINE for my girl friend", I returned with 2 identical liqueur glasses each containing identical liqueurs, he looked very pleased with himself and thanked me generously, he knew non the wiser when I exchanged glasses. We would frequent the Club some Saturday mornings, a game of pool and a glass of lemonade. I had this habit of "bower birding" stuff of the beach after the beach goers had gone home, towels and kids spades and buckets, AND thongs, you know like flip flops. When any of the boys needed the latter my locker was at their disposal, there was a dress code at the Club     I think 2 years sees me out, had many experience and notable was how my new fiancée Shirley and me were given a wonderful staff party, we were presented with presents and wished happiness by Jack Carter and the Committee members and staff. When the big day arrived for Shirley and me to marry, Jack offered at cost the catering arrangements; I would provide my guests on this occasion the wedding supper. I hav'nt left yet.  JOHN D.FARLEY AND THE MILK RUN, THE GHOSTS, THE BLOWN VOLLEYS AND ME MATE "PANCHO". My good mate Phil, AKA "The Monkey, The Sherriff, Kempy, my best man" owned a milkrun. And I hated him for it. On many occasions he would awaken me at the time of early morning when even the birds haven't riz, "Farls I ‘ve slept in, give us a hand, I won't forget you". Now a bloke was pretty fit then, and his run was expansive, mostly Nth. Avalon and environs. To catch up on time we ran, harder than normal, to service his clients. And so I would begin my real work. I devised THE PLAN; Phil mentions one day that a Milk run is up for grabs, it takes in the area from Plateau Road to Avalon down Barrenjoey Road, some residences in Avalon, up Avalon Parade, Hudson Parade to Hilltop Road and the little shop, down to Clareville Beach and the store, (and the Bloody Torpedo), around past the Navy Base, (and the Bloody Torpedo), Taylors Point and around the corner. The run includes; Barrenjoey Road to George Street, down George, John Street and all of the side Streets to Careel Bay. A 110 gallon run, don't know how I did it, I'am puffed now!!!. Yep, this will be my revenge on the "Monkey". Negotiations are formalized, notice is given to the RSL and I am not very a popular boy, although, an altercation had occurred, I refused to relent but if the protagonist ventured outside!!. Has any body written their memoirs? This is the best time I've had since I bumped my uncle when he was shaving with a cut throat razor. Most of these clichés, thanks Brian you good man. It is bringing me closer to reality and life lived with so many good people, it helps to acknowledge the good times and take away the sad things. But always remember. A milk run was operated by real men and an occasional woman back then, you could not be on the road before midnight, served your house holders before 7.30 am, served the shop keepers and off the road at 9am. A 110 gallon run represented 800 to 1200 pints of milk a day, Christmas and holidays the clientele rose alarmingly. They wanted milk and cream, they wanted my favorite, ice cream mix and they wanted it now. 25 miles a day we drove and run, not like you slackers today. No social life, 7 days a week. Mona Vale was the "Dairy", you backed your truck into the dock and there awaited you dairy products, duly supplied by members of the "Ice Carters and Dockhands Union". If you were a minute early you waited. On your way to Avalon, you stopped at Central Road and dropped of Shirley, we were married then and had been to party, changed out of my party clothes, donned my shorts and top, pulled on my Manly socks and my damp Volleys. There is a memory problem here, were they Tennis Shoes or Volleys?, Volley, if you sponsor me they will be the latter, and away we go.  Pulled into the loading dock one morning, no milk!, "hey boys where's the good stuff ", the boys tell me that membership of the 'Ice Carters and Dockhands Union' is required before supply can take place. The manager was very sheepish when questioned. I am self employed, I lease this run and will buy it soon, I am not an employee. "Doesn't matter thems Union rules". Paid up with reservation, got my supplies and off. What can you do.  Most mornings were uneventful, slowly you progressed through your customers', many you would seldom meet, I say slowly but my legs were going flat out. The wire crates and glass bottles were a problem for some, although later I was informed they found the noise a welcome reminder of somebody watching over them, "but when are getting plastic crates?" You had cash money for goods, but mainly a credit arrangement was arrived at and you had weekly, fortnightly or in some case monthly accounts. Each customer had a secret hidey hole, to protect my colleagues' no information will be offered. This is another story. Another story concerns the nocturnal habits of the milkman, no way is this a suggestion of extra curricular activities true, are you with me? I knew lots of people before being a milkman, would I associate with strangers, emphatically NO. PANCHO ME DOG. During the first couple of days of commencing my milk run this black and brown cattle dog and I formed a liaison. He came up to me and began wagging his tail, this is around midnight up the top of Barrenjoey Road at the top of the Golf Course. For two years he would greet me EVERY MORNING in this locality, never knew his real name, he told me I could address him as "PANCHO", AND THIS I DID. I would bring a bowl and when a break occurred he would receive some milk and share my sandwiches. He had some problems, did Pancho, and cats weren't his favorite people. He would go missing on occasion and reappear up the street, then he finds a cat and his incessant barking must have awakened half the street, the sound of garbage bins being upended and peoples voices rent the night. On occasion inquiring customers' would say, "did you hear the commotion last night, people should keep their dogs tied up", oh yes "Mrs. Van De Waller I agree I' am sure". Pancho knew the run backwards, he could cut through properties, leap fences and generally chase cats. Just in passing, Pancho would not proceed untill he had a sniff of "My Volleys", this allowed me in his personal space and no doubt gave his head a good cleaning out. When we greeted, you could tell he was well looked after, a bit of a cuddle and you can tell he just had a wash, he had a collar with no ID. At the completion of activities he was crap. That collar restrained him from decimating 6 Navy Commandos one dark and rainy night: We are up the end of Avalon Parade, several bottles of milk will be delivered to a customer. Pancho is in the middle of the road barking franticly and looking down the road towards Avalon, and here are the Ghosts. THE GHOSTS, and that bloody torpedo again. Turning to that dog, doesn't belong to me, quickly I can see a group of 6 people dressed in absolute black striding up the Parade, they appear to have bulky objects hanging of their person and Pancho is going berseque. My first reaction is where can I run, my second reaction is to race and grab his collar and await the stand off. These Ghosts approached, Pancho and me are in a state panic, they are all young blokes and now is this "The Russians Are coming?". Pancho and me are the first defenders of Australia. Things happened quickly, mainly because I have run out of anecdotes and verbs and stuff, "how ya going bloke we are on way to blow up the BLOODY TORPEDO BASE", and "we landed onto Avalon Beach from a Submarine, our mission is to subdue the base with no hostages". (Can I keep a secret? Pancho and me were soldiers of the night). They did too, but not before a little chat sitting on the gutter and a couple of bottles of cold milk and Pancho giving his best wishes, he also commented that the Alsatian guard dogs liked a lamb chop, the Commando's had some better stuff. So of they trotted we never saw the black ghosts again, this little epic can be corroborated, but it came from me first. I have waited many years under the secrecy act to relate me and Pancho's story. Later I will refer to my Commonwealth Security Pass.  2007-10-24,   OTHER MILK RUN STUFF AND HOW PANCHO HELPED TO CATCH A THIEF. We did a couple of houses in Avalon proper, another a dark and windy night a muffled bang was detected at the Super Market in Old Barennjoey Road. A tree?, followed by another bang. Pancho drew my attention several moments later to a Holden Ute leaving the area, the local Security man was notified and the Police arrested a person at Newport very soon. The Ute was laden with frozen foods and other stuff, a large sum of money was discovered. The intruder had stacked heaps of boxes around the safe and blew it, hence the muffled bang times two. In all weather, through wind and rain, 24 days straight was the record, my clothes fell of me, my sponsors'; "Dunlop Volleys" will let me tell you their footwear stood the test of the inclement conditions. 'They had sole man', I ran, and jogged fast 10 miles a day, I served more milk than tennis players served 'aces' in their life time They supplied me with many pairs of their tennis range, regrettably mildew and being constantly wet were a failing, but then, was Wimbledon played in the rain?, but as a tennis shoe and a builders shoe they exist to this day. In fact, we in the S.E.S. are issued with black DUNLOP VOLLEYS, originally for FLOOD BOAT CREWS, THEY ARE SUITABLE FOR STORM AND WATER DAMAGE operations. We call them Deck Shoes "designer wear" by Dunlop "Volle˜". References are made in your Web Site mainly directed at sports people, what about the Avalon Milk Man?                                                                         Only kidding about the 'sponsorship', they were beaut, my wife hated them. I used to throw them in the washing machine, sand and grit would go through everything. You will throw up your arms in disgust when washing machine is mentioned, I am so very sorry, just to add insult to injury my several pairs of Vollys would receive a coat of "Whiting" every 3 months or so, whether they needed it or not.  ME MINNIE, ME MORRIS COMMERCIAL "J" VAN, ME 1200 CC DATSUN OVER BORED A 55 COPY, THE 7 PLY TYRES, TWIN THROAT NIKKI CARB, 3 COATS OF BAKED ENAMEL MILK VAN. WE are talking 1962, probably mentioned the cherry red Mini 945 cc little car, a little bigger than the 850cc. When the contracts' were exchanged a suitable vehicle was needed. A Morris Commercial "J" Van was my first choice, grey in color. It lasted until 2 / 3 trips daily to the Dairy became too costly. Had no problems mechanically. This leaves me with no alternative but to trade in the Mini on a larger capacity purpose built vehicle. THE CHERRY RED MINI. Phil had taught me how to drive in his column change "FJ" Ute, we went around back streets to save the cost of a Learners Permit, initially. And driving lessons. Eventually, a permit was obtained and we proceeded to Chatswood Motors to pick up the little mini, CPO306. I had negotiated a deal earlier, (650 pounds?) Well, Phil drove the east west car and some south north too, I had to drive the UTE home to Newport? A couple more lessons in the mini and off for a License at Manly Police Station. I am certain a Police Sergeant escorted me for the test. Well up comes this steep hill, we stop and I am directed to reverse park downhill. Can you believe reverse gear would not engage? The police man ushers me out of the car, he has 4 or 5 attempts to get the floor change into reverse, finally he gets it into gear, "It's very stiff", he comments, "Let me show you how to do it". Phil, did we try reverse gear? Very soon we are back at Manly, 24 questions later and down to the registry office and here comes another road statistic. Drove the little beauty all over, Shirley and I went to Bega, her home town Young and we drove to Ulladulla for our honeymoon. We would get in the car and drive to the Blue Mountains, Windsor anywhere. Petrol was quite cheap, can't remember the price, but crumbed cutlets were 12 pence each. But this page is all about AVALON JOBS. THE DATSUN. Been shopping for a milk truck today, Capitol Motors in William is the go, they build a milk canopy on the chassis of the Datsun 1200 cc single cab, the motor is an over bored Austin A55 motor, a twin throat ‘Nikki" carb and for a small motor could  haul a genuine 2240 pound load easily. The ‘small truck' tires were 8 ply back and 7 ply front, had a problem with this. (3) coats of baked enamel, Ming Blue in color, a heavy duty starter motor AND I AM SOLD. A very good offer for our mini is made. I shall return, and I did. At 83 mph through the Wakehurst Parkway she was flying to her destination, but, as I stepped from her for the final time, shock horror, a wheel bearing seal had given up the ghost and there was grease all up and down the rear guard. Oops. "No matter", here's the keys for the Datsun. Now back to work. CHRISTMAS & MONEY, MY REVENGE ON KEMP, SPIDERS, "BIG TOE LITTLE HOE", & THEIVES. My new truck hardly missed a beat, Pancho was miffed, he was very suspicious of the new truck and greeted me likewise, "was I still allowed to ride in the front", Health Inspectors; the "Statute of Limitations" has passed. One load, 2 at Christmas and fuel costs plummeted, except for those tire tubes, instructions ? well what? I assumed 40 psi was the go. For the first week 2 tubes were replaced, Avalon Tyres saved me, "do you know that 75 rear and 60 front is recommended?". Had a small problem with the starter motor, imagine the start and stopping, the rotor bushes were graphite bronze, soon changed to give it ‘balls'. Now for the money. Avalon's population grew dramatically over Xmas, many holiday people. However, the people from the Nth Shore had their holiday homes in Avalon, Clareville, Taylors Point and just about all over. I had been alerted TO THIS FACT and was told that at about a certain time go and see the holiday people and set up security proceedings, good advice. Can you imagine driving around my milk run in late evening looking for cars and signs of new arrivals, observing a bunch of milk bottles sitting on the front path, WITH A 10 POUND NOTE AND A NOTE SAYING; "dear milko here for 6 weeks please could you call". Don't go down the track of dishonesty and temptation, 10 pounds was nearly half my wage. A short walk to the front door, introduce myself, arrange a suitable depository or an account. For a few late afternoons this was your security. The spin-offs? Peace of mind, money in the bank and presents, yes they were all generous. A bottle of beer, a bottle of wine some chocolates' and well wishes for me and my family. And then the real work started. Most people used the services of the "Milko" then not like you day time Milkos. NOTES TO THE MILKO HAS TURNED OUT TO BE AN ART FORM, I guess for me it was business as usual. My valued  coustomers were serious middle class, the only note of any connotation was at Xmas. "Could you service my family for 5 weeks, we will pay you cash", another was; "While I am down here will you call?" I guess the rainey night when just above the sound of the wind I hear; "Milko over here I need milk please", when I look across the road I can see a young women standing in an open doorway, the internal light has a silhouette of her with a 'nighty' on, as I approach I can hear the sound of a small baby, and she could only be the mother. Her bosums were proud, we chatted briefly in the night and arranged delivery for her 'delivery', it struck me later, she had more than ample milk.  We did have a little pilfering, Phil and me had some problems. How come the milk money would disappear from secret places? An observation late one night, night glasses loaned by ‘CAPTAIN RONALD W. BLIGH WARE', no names. Oh, the other spin-off; finish the run and do the books and up to the surf, Avalon of course. Not always, only when Shirley was at work at Greys Dry Cleaners. Come home and have a "Milko Nap" AND AWAIT HER ARRIVAL HOME. One developed an amazing memory, most but not all customers' will have the same order. Without a blemish, 800 / 1200 pints have just had a home, including cream and other stuff, one remembered. Without thinking the figures were entered with no reference to past records. I DO NOT REMEMBER ANY PROBLEMS WITH ACCOUNTS. FARLEY GETS HIM BACK. Remember the ‘Monkey'? I only bought the milk run so that some day I could go knocking on his door and say; "Kempy, give us a hand, I've slept in", you low life, you passed up my invitation more times than not, but I don't hate ya, remember you were my best man, BEST MAN? Several years later and Kempy and I would meet again at Dubbo NSW. He was Sheriff Kemp then, but a hopless golfer.  ANACROPHOBIA AND OTHER ANIMALS. We have to remember that the milko did not have to enter a persons property very far to deliver milk, about 10 yards. Most houses would have a large mail box on the front boundary. Because of certain circumstances, Sun, I like you, and older people. I would venture to peoples back steps, front steps or in the ladies par lour. Have you seen an ‘Orb Weaving Spider",  AKA, I think, a ‘Maltese Cross Weaving Spider'. Well of a night time you bloody wont!!!. Run into their webs and you are lucky to come out alive, the mess is so sticky and encircling, wet with dew and laded with lumps of previous visitors, AND, where is the owner of this mess. It takes ages to remove all the vestage from your person, you should feel guilty for destroying their home.  The milko has several empties in one hand and several full ones in the other, I will bet many a milkman have knocked themselves out swatting at the unseen monster. Mostly the webs were over Pancho's head, he was no good as a scout so I had to brave the unseen. Hit one and it took several minutes to clean up, and apologize to the owner of the premises, mostly they would have been still sleeping, thanked God. Torches were invented later. All milkmen developed a technique of picking up milk bottles; 5 empties in one hand, 5 fingers ok, and 4 full ones in the other. The worst experience with an Orb Spider, and this is stupid, what can be worse than running into their web, was when I bent down and stuck a finger in 5 bottles, hang on, 5 fingers in 5 bottles. Its getting light morning and I feel a stick pain in my thumb, there's this spider with a big bum and colorful, thank god it's not a Funnel Web. The spiders life was spared, and as I returned to the truck a sensation passed through me and then it was gone, they only kill flies, don't they? Within minutes my hand developed blisters of incredible size, my entire left hand was one blister and hung down like a cows udder. Washing the affected area under a tap seemed to offer some relief, I pinched the blister and the fluid was released, though my top layer of skin seemed ‘loose'. Wrapping my hand in a clean rag, worked had be completed, no side effects occurred. Although to this day I enjoy chocolate coated flies. The main animal in my milko's life was Pancho, he came and he went, but he was always "One Step Away", and still is. But there were many other animals, like nocturnal. Avalon was renowned for the Koalas and Possums and an occasional little Wallaby. The Owls and as my Daughter In-Law describes them; Horney Frog Mouths were observed on most nights. The late animals were the Maggies, they liked a drink of milk straight from the bottle. If precautions weren't made, a beak would penetrate the foil cap and a small sample was removed and the cats; Pancho had them sorted. How many times have cats leapt from the big mail boxes just as I place the milk in them, rrrrrrroooooooowww. Koalas crossed the road from one place to an other, what a life. Any more animals? Another night, just like the infamous ‘BLOODY TORPEDO' night; you must trust me. Almost at the same place in Avalon Parade, where was Pancho? I am bending over placing bottles in the box and so help me. Its dark. A loud snort and the head of a big black horse followed by 15 hands? materializes not feet away mounted by a young lady. These things happen every day so why is it abnormal. Anyway we chat and she rides away, yes her head was on her shoulders, no she was not blonde and she had clothes on. THE TRI-CYCLE AND THE RAMP AND-------. As you reach the end of Avalon Parade and it begins its journey as Hudsons Parade, on the right is a Service Station? A house close by. The father of a little boy has built a sloping ramp leading up to the verandah. This little boy has a tricycle and he rapidly rids his bike down the ramp and pushes it back up again. Ad Infinitum, how can you say stop a little boy. This does not go unnoticed by the majority of passers by, and in fact the majority of people in Avalon and the milkman. Permission to use the little boys name has not been granted yet, although the history belongs to us all. How come he pushed the bike up the ramp with his chin resting on the handle?  Every day I witnessed him and his bike, then somebody said he has an affliction. What? he laugh's and he plays and he is ever daring, just like all boys and girls. I know the affliction you do to. I see this little boy occasionally up here at Mullumbimby, he would visit my bottle shop, I have shared a drink and some of those round things in a packet, he has been known to publish great music. He has a business, its called; BIG TOE LITTLE HOE, he would drive a red Ford F100, his biggest problem is philosophy; he ‘may' have said; "everybody thinks they have problems, but there is always some one worse off". THE NIGHT CART AND HILLTOP ROAD. On occasion the Night Cart and me would meet at the ‘bottom' of Hilltop Road, this presented a couple of problems; As any resident knows the road is very narrow and not enough room for me to pass, that is if I reached there second. It was a race on ‘Pickup' nights to get there first, the second problem is smellfully obvious. If my timing was out it meant having to serve another section. This was not always possible; this area was getting on towards completion and people expected you to be ‘regular'. Pancho used to comment; "for such an effluent area where is the sewage system, why is there so many "long drops and pans", may I stress, where did he get off being my Alta Ego? Spellchecker help!  FALLEN TREES, JFK, AND WHERE WERE YOU? Southerly gale force winds decimated Avalon sometimes, the incessant winds and rain would bring down branches and the occasionally large gums, around the corner into Clareville and Pancho gives the command," stop", this huge tree has fallen across Hudsons Parade. BACK UP AND GET ON THE MOBILE, you idiot!, WHAT MOBILE? Down to Avalon and ring the Police, the milk man finished late that day. I must say the 'Dog' was on his best behavior during daylight hours, he seemed to understand that people are watching the Milko's dog and now he is man's best friend. Nov., 22nd, 1963. It's early morning and the Milko is adjacent to the 'Bloody Torpedo Base', Avalon side, Mrs. Selley the Adhesive Lady comes out to greet me and Pancho, she relates the most crushing news, "JFK" has died. Where were you? Mrs. Selley gives me a recount of the tragic details. I can recollect the day so clearly. Several of my customers will relate the details as the morning develops   One must remember that many people in the 'know' will have a "Bunker" syndrome, Avalon and similar areas will fortify, I have seen them in 1963. Later down the track I will see a 'Bunker', seriously, a house built to withstand The Bomb. Mostly my milkman anecodotes are like real life, there are people out there who will 'extend the truth', I have no doubt there has been notable experiences, the people who have related these accounts may have bent it a bit, in other words; They are better at embellishment than this ex-Avalon Milkman. Research into the Milkman ethic will come later, I can tell you I never tired of the transformation from night into day, the moment when the sun greets the day, the sounds of birds, the lights in the houses on dawn indicating somebody does live in there, an ocasional car leaving a driveway. I have been of service to people, real people, a lot of them are folks I know, they will not know I have entered their lives, they are my family, and families are close. We share, and I have shared their extistance in a very small way. A strange thing about commerce, the Milkman gets his / her money before the Taxman.    ALL WEATHER AND PAID THE PRICE. Now please don't feel sorry for the Milko, mention was made about 24 days of continual rain. Ok, it rained quite heavy and intermittent every night for this period, many days the weather would fine up, but every night the bloody rain and the drizzle caused problems. I was 12stone 7ounces dripping wet in an Army Great Coat, very fit. And then a bout of bronchial problems nearly laid me out, there were days where when getting my "Volleys" on was really hard. A Posties job comes to mind, the milk must get through. Never had a day off and paid the price, may have had other problems like "Ross River". Whatever, eventually I had to stop at frequent intervals for a rest. You had to push to complete your rounds. Our Doctor suggested having a rest, good advice Doc, "can you do the run for me", only kidding. Never got back into the swing of things and had to make the decision to ‘bail out'. My job as a Milkman was very public relations oriented, I knew quite a number of my customers from my living in the area and Surf Club involvement plus working at the RSL, but when you gotta go you gotta go.  Released the milk run from my clutches and returned to ‘civvies' street', and released Pancho as well. I should have adopted him. You will need to know the following; I trained the incoming Milko and Pancho adopted him, saw him occasionally, never met his family, we had good times me and him, wanna see him now, close your eyes. He loves ice cream mix. We had the 'Dattie' for a number of years, not a class symbol but wheels, it will enter later. That concludes Avalon Beach jobs, although, now I proceed to other professions outside Avalon while still residing in the wonderful area, see OTHER JOBS. I will return to AVALON later and describe an attempt at private bussiness.  Thats not the VOLLEYS again, note the stance on the paid model, double time on sundays, (2 times 0 = zero) and we love it. SOLE NOTE, (I've done FOOTNOTE). pHOTOS, kindly posed by the sons of Mr. and Mrs. DUNLPO VOLLEY.