The Wonder of Little Things by Vince Copley

Author:Vince Copley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABC Books
Published: 2022-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

22

‘The women of Currie outdid themselves’

John came over to Currie to visit. He’d been studying at Flinders University and he’d just become the first Aboriginal student there to get a degree. He was still involved with the Aboriginal Progress Association and he told me they’d been given some government money to start up an organisation that would be a centre for Aboriginal people to come to for all sorts of services and support. It was going to be called the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and they were looking to employ Aboriginal people. John said a job to set it up was coming up, and he suggested I apply for it.

I applied and had an interview. I got the job but they wanted me to start straight away. I was lined up to coach Currie again when the season started, and Brenda and I were still talking about when we’d get married. ‘You better pack your bags,’ I said to her.

I left the farm work and started in the new job. That was in March 1971. During the week I’d stay with Malcolm and Aileen, and on weekends I’d go back to Currie for football and to see Brenda. A couple of times she came over to Adelaide on the bus. Then, when it was getting closer to the wedding, I looked for a place in the city for us to live.

The day Brenda and I got married, I played footy until half-time then said goodbye and headed off to get ready. Frank left then too because he was my best man.

The wedding was in Currie’s Anglican church, and Father Smith from the boys’ home married us. Brenda loved that he was there because she thought he was wonderful. She’d been to the St Francis reunions with Father Smith and Mrs Smith and the boys over the years. She did lots of the cooking for them, and she’d be there enjoying the same old jokes from us. Father Smith came to know her and that made them really close. She loved his quiet manner. Before the wedding he told her a few stories about me in the early days which she’d never heard. Father Smith and Mrs Smith were both pleased to be there too.

Brenda had made her wedding dress and Colleen’s bridesmaid dress. Winnie and Josie were there and a few of Mum’s sisters – Aunty Mary, I think, and Aunty Doris, and her husband Uncle Cecil – and all of Brenda’s family. A few of the boys came: Malcolm and Aileen and their family, Gerry and Des Price. Charlie couldn’t come – he was in Canberra and he hadn’t been well. John was travelling overseas on a Churchill Fellowship, and I can’t remember where Gordon was at the time – they were all travelling a fair bit in those days.

Our wedding day, on 26 June 1971, in Curramulka. Brenda’s dress that she made herself was really good. Everyone looked great that night.

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