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Excerpt from Chapter 12

So that was my life then, working full time, studying part time, managing a household, paying the bills with the money Dad gave me, looking after two younger sisters and a younger brother and catering for two older brothers (they called in on their way to work in Perth to collect their lunches and again on their way home for their evening meal). Mum and Dad understood that I had a lot on my plate, and no longer was I expected to go to the farm on weekends.

At the same time, Dad decided I needed a car of my own. He wanted me to buy a brand new vehicle, just as my elder sister and brothers had, but I disagreed. I didn’t have enough money. I had saved some money from the little that had came my way in earlier years, including the allowance Dad gave me for transport and lunch at TAFE, but I only had about a thousand dollars.

Dad was adamant. He insisted he would lend me money, and was confident that my brothers would too. Dad took me to the Holden dealership in Midland, so I assumed I was buying a Holden. As a loyal customer, Dad knew one of the salesmen well. We went in and out of the showrooms, looking at all sorts of vehicles, and after a couple of hours, I was totally confused. Dad then asked the salesman, ‘What else do you have? Most of what we’ve seen is too expensive.’

The salesman suggested we look at a demo model in the showroom, a silver 1985 Holden Camira sedan. ‘Only fifteen thousand dollars,’ he said. ‘Too much,’ Dad responded, but we stayed looking at this car, the salesman showing us all its features. I had long switched off; I had a headache and needed something to eat and drink, and I’m sure the salesman was feeling the same. He started getting impatient, and finally Dad agreed to discuss it further in his office. I followed in silence, believing that buying a car should not take this long. I was embarrassed by my father’s behaviour. Couldn’t we just buy the car and get it over and done with? By now we had been there five hours.

So into the office we went. Dad made me come in, sit right next to him and just listen. So I just sat there and did not say a word. The conversation went back and forth with both men haggling over the price. Every so often I would murmur to myself, ‘I don’t believe this.’ Every so often the salesman would call the owner to confirm that such-and-such a figure was okay, but then, once they came close a price that they were both happy with, Dad would say, ‘What else do I get for that kind of money?’

‘What else do you want Angelo?’ was the somewhat exasperated reply.

‘How about a tow bar? My daughter may need to pick me up, or one of her sisters or brothers, should any of us break down. Or I may need her to bring a trailer home.’ This went on and on, until finally the tow bar was thrown in for free.

But Dad wasn’t finished. ‘We are going to give you cash, so give me the price if we give you cash money.’

‘What about a free tank of petrol?’

‘You are not seriously going to tell me you would let her out of here without a full tank of petrol. What else?’

‘What about car mats? My daughter likes to keep her car clean. She needs mats.’

The voices went from low to high and back again with each fresh item of negotiation. Other people in the office were very interested by now. They walked past, had a good look, and went back to their desks laughing amongst themselves, then came back for another look when they could. In the end, the salesman could not come up with a package that Dad was happy with, so Dad said it was time to get the owner. He was not leaving until he had spoken to John Goldie himself! The salesman left the office to get his boss and I pleaded with Dad to just get this over and done with. He told me to keep quiet and just wait.

Fifteen minutes later, the salesman came back with the owner and they continued to negotiate for another hour. Dad told him to hurry up and be reasonable, he needed to get to the bank before it closed at four if he was to get the cash. It was three thirty when they agreed on a price of $11,400 with all sorts of extras thrown in. With a half smile at both men, Dad nodded for me to get up and I followed him out. We got in his car, I drove, and we proceeded in silence to the bank.

Dad sat deep in thought and I was wondering what the hell all that was about. Then, without warning, the whole situation overwhelmed me and I found myself crying uncontrollably. Dad asked me what was wrong, but I could barely speak, I was trying to concentrate on driving, and sobbing so I couldn’t get the words out. Finally I got myself under some control and told him, ‘I’ve got a huge headache from all that, and I’m worried about how much money’s involved. I don’t have that kind of money.’

He said, ‘Don’t worry, there will be enough money in the bank.’ He told me to stop crying and just be happy I had a new car. I could not stop; part of me was relieved we were away from the office, I felt so embarrassed, but the other part of me knew that I had just signed up to a huge debt I’d have to pay back to my family.

At the bank, Dad withdrew the money and we went back to the dealer with $11,400 in cash. Dad put the money on the counter and I naively thought I would climb in the car and drive it home, but of course they had to fit the towbar and organise the other accessories they’d promised, and we were to pick it up a week later. I felt relieved; the thought of driving a new vehicle worth all that money was too much for me in my worked-up state. When we got home, I went straight to my room and threw myself on my bed, alternating between crying and laughing. I certainly was not going to forget buying my first car!

I was determined to pay the family back as quickly as possible and I got myself a part-time job as a waitress at Miss Maud’s Function Centre in Murray Street in the city. I lacked waitressing experience and had to work hard at the interview to convince them that I was highly motivated and a fast learner. I worked there Saturday nights and sometimes on a Friday night as well.

Since I worked five days at the RAC and spent two evenings at TAFE, this left little time for house-keeping and looking after the younger ones at Eden Hill. Dorina and I would come home around two on a Sunday morning (we got her a job at Miss Maud’s too) to a sink full of dishes or a clothes basket full of dirty linen! It was an exhausting part of my life, but I paid off the loan for the car in a little under eighteen months.

Dad was upset at my working part-time in addition to the RAC job. He wanted me to concentrate on my studies and felt it was his duty to support me in that. When I once bought a book with my own money, he was really mad at me. But I couldn’t tell him that what he gave me was not enough. He paid for all my text books and wouldn’t even let me buy as much as a pen. But he had others to feed, and I did not want to be a burden. I could never repay his wholehearted willingness to support my endeavours.