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Shaz, Terrible Terry and Petiepops were three siblings without many ideas other than having fun. They lived in Vogeltown which was and still is a leafy suburb between Newtown and Brooklyn. It was made up of hills and valleys that had pine plantations, natural bush, creeks, streams and parks - a natural playground for Baby Boomer children growing up in egalitarian (as it once was or nearly was) New Zealand).
Shaz was the oldest sibling and 'called the shots' back then. Terrible Terry was second oldest and Petiepops the youngest before, a few years later their parents decided, no doubt with the encouragement of the Catholic Church, to introduce two new siblings both girls.
One summer (1957/58) as the school holidays that were wonderful and never showed any indication of ending, Terrible Terry and Petiepops, as usual, quarrelled over their comic book collection which consisted mainly of Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge McDuck, Gyro Gearloose, the Beagle Boys and Donald's nephews Huey, Louie and Dewey. The squabbles invariably resulted in ripped pages and total comic book losses which was a shame since the legendary Carl Barks for Dell Comics who produced these was a genius and pristine copies of these comics nowadays would be worth a fortune. Shaz, who had in her room, been trying to re-read her Nancy Drew and Famous Five books stormed into Terrible Terry and Petiepops bedroom which had an upper and lower bunk (Terrible Terry on the upper and Petiepops on the lower) until later, after many fights and arguments, Dad separated the bunks into two separate beds because Petiepops claimed that Terrible Terry would lean over and spit down on him and Terrible Terry (spuriously) claimed that Petiepops would poke sharp knitting needles up through his mattress to annoy him). "Lets go down to the lower play park" said Shaz which was more of a command than a request. Shaz at age 9 although being a girl could outwrestle, outbox and generally dominate Terrible Terry at age 7 and little Petiepops at age 5. Terrible Terry and Petiepops suddenly stopped their quarrel, and looked at Shaz aghast.
The Krull Street playground was the usual one that Shaz, Terrible Terry and Petiepops played at. As The Liardet Street gang they were respected and Shaz usually ruled the roost, organising the games which featured the grass covered hill which was one of the best sledge and box sliding areas in Wellington.
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| Shaz stranding a boy at the top of the 'witch's hat |
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| Krull Street playground now |
The lower playground, the Farnham Street one was just outside The Liardet Street gang's jurisdiction - just south of Macalister park. The playground 'belonged' to the Farnham Street gangs and was generally out of bounds to others.
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| Farnham Street playground now |
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The Farnhamites quickly climbed on to the lullaby filling up the bench so that Shaz, Terrible Terry and Petiepops could not get on. A big boy in the middle said something to Shaz that wasn't very nice and spat out his chewing gum - the horrible PK that Petiepops didn't like as he preferred Juicy Fruit - at Terrible Terry. Petiepops didn't like that as, although they quarrelled a lot, Terrible Terry was his brother so he marched up to the big boy and thumped him on the knee. Hard. The big boy got such a fright he nearly fell off the lullaby. He looked embarrassed as his friends were laughing and sniggering at him. He didn't get off to have a go at Petiepops though proving that, like all bullies, he was a coward. Shaz put her arms around Petiepops and said "Well done Petie. Let's leave these sillies and go somewhere else. I've heard that The Botanical Gardens have a good playground and only have The Garden Road boys there. Thay, like their name suggests are a bunch of pansies."
Shaz, Terrible Terry and Petiepops walked off and up Liardet Street to home where they asked Mum to pack them a lunch - raspberry jam and marmite sandwiches, some apples and a small bottle of Thompson and Lewis Orange Smash for each of them. They asked Mum to look up the bus timetables and set off arriving in Glenmore Street after three bus rides. Looking through the 'Founder's' gates at the massive parkland sent shivers of anticipation up Petiepop's spine and he thought to himself "I wonder if the Garden Road boys are here today."
To be continued.
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