Ruckers Hill, 1976 Looking toward the city from High Street. The petrol price is 54.7c a gallon « A bookie lived in that brick house you can see over on the southern corner of Clarke St. » « I remember when it was an Ampol servo and then a Bob Jane discount fuel outlet that sold super petrol at 45 cents per gallon (less than 10c per litre), It used to cost $5 to fill the tank of my first car. When that servo changed from Ampol to Bob Jane, checking the oil and water and cleaning the windscreen became a thing of the past. » « The thing I remember most about the smaller servos before they became mini supermarkets, was the inevitable smell of oil and rubber in the shop area if you ever went inside, which wasn’t often because the attendant took your cash [remember that stuff?] at the bowser and brought the change back. »
Dot, in her Charles Street Newsagency, 2010 Dot worked in the newsagency all her life - as did her parents before her. Dot passed away in 2012. « I always made a point of stopping at her shop for the newspapers. Come rain, hail or shine she could often be seen outside the shop looking up and down the street. I don’t think her shop even had a till. She was a true digger was Dot. I miss her. » « I used to fill in for her at the shop in her later years if she had some business to do and I nearly froze to death. I would have to sit over the heater for ages to thaw out. On a good day she was brilliant for learning about local history, particularly things that happened years ago. Her father was an SP Bookie and she was his look out. »
Jim & Pam in their High Street Fish & Chip shop, 2014 Jim & Pam ran their Fish & Chip shop in High Street for almost half a century, finally closing in 2015 « Pam once told me she fell for Jim because he was a rebel, I loved that! » « They are extraordinary. Every time I go there it’s like you’re their first customer not the millionth. » « I’m sure they were there before ‘75, use to buy my lunch from there in grade 4 (1974). We use to then go to Jack’s next door for some pinball. » « When l went to Northcote High l bought fish and chips from them on the late 60s couldn’t believe when l called in a few years ago and they are still there. I spoke to them about those days. Pam doesn't seem to age much. Amazing to still see them there. Good burgers plenty of practice. » « Used to go past here in year 11 in 1990 wagging school from NHS with my boyfriend and get a Flake roll wrapped in glad wrap from the Bain Marie that used to be in the front window. Said boyfriend, now long time husband, and I had dinner here with our 4 kids 2 weeks ago. I had a Flake roll. The more things change... »
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