Our Mum and Dad were good Catholics. They went to Mass in our local Church each week and did lots of work to help our community. Ashburton was a newer suburb and the railway line from the city ended at Alamein Station and we could walk home from there.
Mum and Dad drove us to Sydney to visit our Uncles, Aunts and cousins in 1955. I was about 13 years old but wasn’t too interested in seeing any of them, but Mum and Dad loaded up our little car with camp chairs and a tent and we headed north along the narrow old Hume highway to Sydney anyway. We were on the lookout for a Catholic Church along the way...large or small, it didn't matter!
“What is it with the Catholic Church stuff?” I found myself asking silently. Mass every Sunday and no bad language and certainly no meat on Fridays...God forgive! I had no choice, didn’t I? I had to toe the line and follow their example, didn’t I? And we all had to barrack for the Richmond Tigers as well! Silently, I had to suffer the prison of Mum ‘n Dad’s Rules!
Things changed a little when I asked if I could hitch-hike alone back to Melbourne! “Of course, not John, you are only 13 and little kids like you don’t hitch-hike! It’s a silly dangerous idea” But I kept nagging away,” Why can’t I try? I’ll be okay! I’ll sleep on the beach!” NO! NO! NO! Was the response from Mum ‘n Dad!
It became a battle of wills and I was amazed when Mum and Dad gave in and allowed me to plan for my first ever hitch-hiking adventure.
On our way back to Melbourne I became very excited when Dad turned south off the Hume Highway and headed for the mountains and we saw signs such as Mt.Kosciuszko and Snowy Mountains appear on little white posts.
We spent a whole day walking up the highest mountain in Australia. It was wonderful!
The next day we headed for the NSW coast where Dad helped me pack my “camping” things. There was one small towel, some soap and an old sleeping bag. He also gave me 10 Shillings in cash and didn’t tell Mum who was already in tears! They then left me and headed back to the Hume Highway.
The shock set in very early for me! How was I ever going to get someone to stop and pick me up? I was used to hitch-hiking between Ashburton and Oakleigh suburbs and even that was rare to get a lift! This was different! Every car seemed to be going so fast and most didn’t even seem to look at this little kid beside the road.
I was nearly in tears after an hour!I said a silent prayer, but I didn’t think God was going to help me!
Finally, I realised that I was going to have to surprise every car somehow, so I knelt on my towel beside the bitumen and made out that I was praying and stared at the drivers. It was perhaps 10 minutes before a vehicle stopped and I jumped into his nice car and away we went and when finally arriving at Lakes Entrance, I felt I was blessed .The cars seemed to pull to the side of the road when they saw me doing windmills or standing in prayer with one foot off the ground. They were also amused at my little carry-all bag.
I still had a little bit of money left so I bought a meat pie which was a rare treat until halfway through it when I realised it was a Friday and with my Catholic upbringing it was a mortal sin to eat any meat on Friday! It didn’t stop me though, but I was trembling when I finished it and waited for the lightning bolt or worse to strike! Thank you, God ...but I didn’t take a chance like that again!
Lakes Entrance is beautiful but on I went, and I reached home after 2 days of hitch-hike praying! I had a private laugh when I saw some other men trying to hitch a ride.
I also never realised the value of Hitching and Entertaining until I had become very proficient at it. Over the years my hitching style took me through at least 20 countries.
Another Hitching rule is to take a pretty girl with you and put your bags together on the road! Lots of drivers can’t resist helping two Travellers and two clowns!
John A. WilsonPottsville. February 2024.
Ps- years later I loved on London UK sharing with 5 poms. I mentioned that I wrote an outline of hitching & they convinced me to write a book. My book was called “The Hitchhikers Guide to Europe” and was 86,000 words long. I sent copies to 4 publishers and received only one response. “Sorry” They said but the market is very small, but keep writing
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