My family migrated from Burma in 1964 on BOAC and it was the first time I had ever tasted ice cream in a small little tub and it was amazing.
I remember very little since I was only five, the smell, tastes and certain scenarios that happened when I was back in my homeland. I left these all behind to start a new life and adventure in my new homeland Western Australia, with my parents and 5 other siblings. Our first home as I remember was in East Perth, 135 Parry Street on a large street with a small fenced yard about a meter to the porch.
It was a longish designed house where we watched wrestling all the time. I will always remember my favorite song "Downtown" by Petulia Clark. I waited for that song to come on all the time, I certainly think I should have become a singer!
I went to Highgate Primary School and used to get my pony tails yanked from side to side by a chubby italian girl, I did'nt know what to do since I never even fought with my brothers or sisters. It was a new experience I did'nt know how to deal with, but I certainly changed that when we moved to Balga which was the end of the earth practically. At Balga Primary I was extremely shy and would not talk to anyone except on a whim with the boys mainly. I did not like the girls and refused to make friends with any because I simply could not identify with any of them. Because you see I was different!
I had strong values which my parents, especially mum who as I recall always gave me strength and courage to deal with situations at school and now through my life as I get older. I did not like racism, snobbishness and bullying behaviour and did not care what others thought about me, I was shy but I would'nt be bullied anymore.
I learnt Judo with Jan de Jong and on one grading, no one would come down and
spar with me, so the teacher picked the tallest biggest guy out of the whole lot. I could'nt believe it but it did'nt phaze me I was pumping with adrenalin and beat the shit out of him!! Of course I failed for being too rough, I did'nt get my green belt but was offered extra tuition which I did'nt carry on because there seemed to be no organisation and structure so I left.
I was always in fights at Balga High, of course I still was extremely shy except in plays, I was a totally different person I did'nt have to be me I was someone else.
By this time I new I was to become an actress!! ha! ha! ha! Ironside was my favourite series, loved Raymond Burr and so I use to play him, sitting on my trycyle backwards like a wheelchair. My mum screamed to my dad "Look what your daughters doing pretending she's a paraplegic, terrible child its bad luck!"
We were the only asians in Balga and the Bodneys were the only Aborigines, there were'nt any real racism at all as I recall, except Mr Farrell who could'nt cope with Cyril Bodney falling asleep in class. I did'nt like how he would pick cyril up against the wall and scream at him, but I did respect Mr Farrell he was
a good teacher apart from that.
Cyril was probably the only person I admired and liked because he was just like Michael Jackson, cute ,quiet , well behaved and polite. I don't think the school gave him a chance, but hope he is doing well today. It would be great to meet him one day. My little sister Linda known as Itch was being picked on after school by some kid, cyrils brother was in on it, so I went up grabbed him, threw him around me and kicked his butt. There! See how you like that! Well he grabbed me twirled me around and kicked me up the butt! I smiled and thought fair enough! ha! ha! ha! The fight stopped there.
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