Hair Head
Uh, I'd better get back to bed now...
There we are, Florence.
A new day, a new year, and a new century.
Hello, do you remember that man?
No?
Well, perhaps you remember him like this.
That's a young George Fitzgerald arriving in Brisbane with his family in 1864.
When he grew up and bought a house, he nearly lost it in the great flood of 1893.
But he was lucky the flood waters didn't quite reach his house.
He still lives in that house, but by now, 1901, he's married to Florence, and they have
a young daughter called Elizabeth, or Bessie for short.
But why are they all up so late?
Because today is a very special day.
Today all the states will be joined to become Australia, a new nation, a new national community.
Elizabeth, bed now.
Oh, she's asleep already.
She did want to stay up.
Well, it is a very important day.
It's for all of us.
No longer Britons, but Australians.
Sounds funny, doesn't it?
I'll carry her up.
And a very happy New Year to you, young lady.
Pardon me.
Mr. Fitzgerald, sir.
Yes, what is it?
Mr. Watkins said I should see you.
Oh, well.
Thompson's my name, sir.
I'm the new messenger boy.
Oh, yes, I've seen you around.
Pleased to meet you.
Tell me, how long have you been with us?
Two weeks, sir.
Two weeks.
And how much do you know about the communications department?
Not a great deal, sir, but I'm learning.
We all are, Thompson.
Now, I want to send some information to London this afternoon.
What's the quickest way to do it?
The telegraph, sir, along the new undersea cable.
Which start, sir?
Southport, sir, just down the coast.
And the cable travels all the way around the world across British soil and under the sea.
And the undersea cable was finished last month, sir, November 1902.
Very good, Thompson.
And that puts us in touch with the world.
Just think, lad, when I was your age, a message to England took months by ship.
Now it takes us a few hours by wire.
That's progress for you.
There could be an even quicker way, sir.
A quicker way than the telegraph.
If you could get it to that Italian gentleman.
Ah, yes, Mr. Marconi.
Yes, sir.
I read it in a newspaper article where he sent a message from England to Canada last
year without wires, instantly.
Well, that was fast.
Hmm.
A wireless message.
Well, I suppose anything is possible.
But I think we'll stick to underwater cables for the time being.
Thank you, Thompson.
You may go.
Yes, sir.
Oh, I nearly forgot, sir.
You forgot what?
I'm sorry, sir.
I meant to ask you, may I go out for lunch today?
Oh, important business, is it?
Well, sir, I'd like to do some shopping.
Well, I suppose that's important.
What do you intend to buy, lad?
Well, sir, um...
Come out with it, Thompson.
Well, actually, sir, a bathing costume.
Thompson, a bathing costume?
That's a bit daring, isn't it?
Oh, no, sir.
They say that soon people will be allowed to bathe in daylight.
Soon whole families will be going swimming.
Together?
Mmm, yes, sir.
What, and women too?
Yes, sir.
Scandalous!
Next thing you'll be telling me that women are allowed to vote.
But they do now, sir.
Vote, that is.
Yes, I had heard, actually, Thompson.
Sorry, sir.
And I'll have you know that I'm not in the least bit shocked by the idea of men and women
bathing together in daylight, and I'm glad women have got the vote.
Quite right and proper.
Now, why don't you go and buy that bathing costume?
Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Oh, Bessie, these are strange times we live in.
I wonder how I'd look in one of those bathing costumes.
Well, I don't know exactly what George would have looked like in a bathing costume, but
if he'd had one, he could have looked like this.
Well, what do you think of that?
It's not much like a bikini, is it?
But for those days, very daring.
Well, about this time, 80 years ago, bathing and outings to the beach became very popular.
People even swam in out creeks and rivers, but of course, the water was so much cleaner
then.
Now, people traveled to the beaches by train or by horse-drawn trams, but there was a new
form of transport just around the corner, a machine so different that it was quite a
shock when you first saw one, as young Bessie Fitzgerald was about to find out.
Mother!
Elizabeth, I really am surprised at you.
Young ladies do not run into a room shouting in that fearful manner.
Now, what on earth is the matter?
Mother, I saw it!
Sit down on that sofa.
Remove your hat.
Now, take a deep breath.
That's better.
Now, we'll begin again, shall we?
I saw it!
Bessie?
Jennifer and I were playing hoops and hopscotch in a Frank Garden, and it went past.
I mean, he did.
It did?
He did?
What did?
I don't know what to call it exactly.
It was a carriage, and he, Mr. Traxon, was sitting up on it, and he had a lady with him.
I don't see why that should be so strange.
Mother, the carriage!
It didn't have a horse!
What?
Mother, young ladies do not say what.
They say, I do beg your pardon.
Don't you be cheeky, young miss.
You mean you actually saw one of those horseless carriages, and Mr. Traxon was riding in it.
And a lady, and they were going ever so fast.
There was smoke coming out of the back, and big clouds of dust everywhere, and they waved
to us too.
Jennifer says that Mr. Traxon's the first person in the whole of Brisbane to have one.
Indeed.
Oh, Mother, will we be getting a horseless carriage?
Oh, I shouldn't think so for a moment.
But they're supposed to be very dangerous, and they frighten the horses.
Yes, but wouldn't it be fun?
Just imagine, riding in a real horseless carriage.
Oh, perhaps one day.
Now run along and wash your hands and face.
Father will be home in a minute.
Well, like it or not, the motorcar was here to stay.
And what a change it made to our way of life.
Well, at first, people mistrusted these mechanical monsters.
But in time, Bessie's wish came true.
George put the horses out to pasture and bought a motorcar.
était
there you are Bessie. enjoy your drive? oh yes father. it was very exciting. we went ever so fast down that hill didn't we?
we certainly did. close on 25 miles an hour. you know I don't care if petrol is six pence a gallon. it's worth every penny.
father did you see that lady we passed in the motorcar today?
not the lady in black you mean. what was she doing? she was putting flowers on a memorial.
she looked very sad. do you know her? not exactly. I know of her. her son was one of those brave soldiers who died fighting in South Africa.
why are Australian soldiers fighting in South Africa? because England is at war with South Africa.
England? why are we fighting their war?
Bessie you must try to understand how we fit into the world. we're no longer a small community living on our own.
look fetch me that atlas from my desk would you?
thank you. now then.
now there's Brisbane where we live. that's Queensland the state we live in and
Australia the country we live in. now see how it's colored red and see all these
other countries colored red. well that's because all these countries are part of
the biggest empire the world has ever known the British Empire and there's the
mother country England. so when England is at war with South Africa so is
Australia. but South Africa is colored red too. are the English fighting the English?
no Bessie. look it's all a little complicated. I can't understand why
anybody would want to fight other people anyway. that's because we live in
Australia. we have no need to fight. we're a young rich country. rich in so many ways.
we have plenty to eat. there's work for everybody. we take for granted things
that people in other countries have never even seen. Bessie Australia is a
very lucky country. let's hope we keep it that way. now come along on with your
homework. it's nearly supper time.
Australia the lucky country. well families like the Fitzgeralds were
prosperous and happy but lifestyles were changing. remember the motor car and the
bathing costumes? but other inventions came in to help make mum's life easier.
inventions like this the patent suction dust extractor. well we call it a vacuum
cleaner. and beside it a very old-fashioned washing machine. in fact
it works exactly the same as today's modern washing machine with an agitator
except that you have to pump it by hand.
and just as all these inventions made people's work easier other new
inventions helped them to pass away their leisure hours. like the stereoscope
probably then the closest thing to pictures. and then the little box brownie
camera. watch the birdie. thank you. and here is one of the very first typewriters.
and if you're inviting people around for a party what better way to entertain
them than with a gramophone. but this one you've got to wind up. yes these were
great times in the history of our community. well people worked long hours
and hard but they enjoyed themselves too. exciting new things were happening all
the time. whenever you bought your newspaper and open it up you never knew
what amazing new discoveries or achievements you might find. good heavens
listen to this. this is from the Sydney morning Herald of the 10th of December
1909. the first aerial flight in Australasia by a motor-driven machine was
accomplished yesterday afternoon. the machine flew 115 yards in five and a
half seconds. it flew at a height of between 2 and 15 feet. well I never. 10
years ago we'd never heard of the motorcar and now they're building
machines that'll fly in the air. they'll be going to the moon next. George don't
be so silly. the moon indeed. now where is Bessie? she only went off to the shop. she
should have been back long ago. have a look would you dear? yes of course.
there's a motor pulling up now. with Bessie? yes and a young man. a young man?
what are they doing? they're coming inside. I don't believe it.
Bessie bringing a young man home uninvited. Bessie is 17 you know. yes but
traveling with a young man and in a motorcar. Florence don't fuss. hello mom
hello dad this is Patrick O'Hagan. how do you do sir? mrs. Fitzgerald. pleased to
meet you Patrick. how do you do? will you stay for a cup of tea Patrick? George! yes
dear. nothing. well if it's no bother. oh no bother at all. Elizabeth come and help
me in the kitchen. I'd like a word with you young lady.
sit down Patrick. thank you sir. haven't I seen you around? I live just a few
streets away. I was just coming back from town and I offered Bessie, Elizabeth, a
lift home. been somewhere special? yes as a matter of fact. I'm hoping to be a
teacher here in Brisbane but I want to do some more study first. so I went to
the ceremony. the ceremony? yes of course. the governor was unveiling the plaque at
old government house for the new university. I had hoped to be there
myself. yes the Queensland University. mmm sounds good doesn't it? yes it
certainly does. I hope to go there when they open for studies. well good luck to
you Patrick. I hope you do very well. well you'll have to ask your father first.
dad Patrick has asked me to go to the concert next week. they're going to be
showing some moving pictures. may I go please? something nice and quiet I hope. I
don't know about that dad. it's the story of the Kelly gang. the Kelly gang eh? I
think it'll be all right. oh dad thank you. look you two why don't you take your
tea out on the veranda while I have a quick word with your mother. yes dad. come
on Patrick. I want to show you the garden.
well really George. oh it'll be all right Florence. they're both old enough.
moving pictures eh? oh God tell you what. why don't we all go? we can make a family
outing of it. in fact I'm looking forward to it already. come on bring your tea
and let's join them on the veranda.
the story of Ned Kelly and his gang was one of the first moving
pictures to be made in Australia so of course people were excited and this was
the first of many outings for the Fitzgerald family and Patrick. a few years
later Patrick asked permission to marry Bersie and they became engaged. well
these were happy days for the Fitzgerald family indeed for all Australians. there
were stories of trouble in Europe but of course that was so very far away. it
couldn't possibly happen here could it?
no Bersie! I don't want to anymore!
oh I'm so out of breath.
oh mother it's been a lovely picnic.
come on Bessie. once more to the fountain and back again.
oh no Patrick. I couldn't.
all right. but this time let's walk.
oh