The Adventures of a Jazzman
December 16th 2007 06:09
Here we go with part one of the saga of "Jazzman John" a person who has had in his opinion a very interesting, adventurous, at times dangerous and lucky to be telling it life.
I was born in a mining town in Australia in the Western part of New South Wales, called Broken Hill, the only son of a Russian Father and a Scottish Mother a lovely mixed bag you say with the temper of a Russian and the stubborn nature of the Scot.
I proved to be an easy mark to knock about in school mainly because in those days I was the only Russian name at the Alma Primary School South Broken Hill, thus it was only fair to assume that I would get picked on by the Anglo Saxons, as they loved to tell us they were and Australia was theirs, (there was a Chinese and a Greek also who suffered that same as I ) we were constantly "ganged" against for the whole year till it was clear we were sick of bleeding noses and torn shirts to go home and suffer more from our parents, so we formed an allegiance "pick on one pick on all" and this stopped much whilst we were together but then we were got at when we had no backing.
By this time I was old enough to feel that I was a whipping post so on the way to school (about 25/30 minutes walk) there was a magnificent pepper-corn tree this must have been 25metres high and covered a vast distance in circumference and it was covered in long, springy. strong, canes so nicking Grandfathers pair of secerteers, I cut and pruned three lovely canes and waited near the cross road where I knew the "gang" had to pass I proceeded to dole out my payback one at a time.
For three days this went on by this time I had almost gone through the pack this, day I arrived home in time to see five of the fathers and mothers of the "gang or bullies" as they are called now.
When I was old enough to go to upper high school we moved to Sydney because Dad had been involved in a cave-in and suffered with his back for the rest of his life and had to receive treatment in Sydney constantly, this was 1949 and I was around 13 years and I was enrolled at Sydney Boy's High to complete High school and receive my leaving certificate which I done without any further problems but I had joined and advanced in rank within the school Cadets and it resulted in me joining the Army when I turned 18.
But before that being only 16 I got myself a job with the Sydney Morning Herald as a copy-boy and worked in the pictorial department for two years and this left me with a love of cameras and photography all my life.
I had been playing the five-string banjo since I was six and by this time I had conquered the guitar and the double bass so to make a few "bob" and be able to ride my Triumph Thunderbird I joined a Country Western and Square Dance Band called "Smiling Billy Blinkhorn &The Tumbleweeds" where I met my wife to be Dot and I also played Banjo and Bass with a Jazz Band called "The Port Jackson Jazz Band" played with both for year both in and out of the Army when I was not overseas.
Eighteen years old was an eventful year for me I enlisted in the Army and 9 months later I married Dot and we have been together ever since that is 53 years in January 2008 and we still have a bloody good argument when it is necessary but the truth is we live for each other
we have five children as a result so it cannot have all been bad can it?
I was in Vietnam in 1962/63 as a Military Policeman, and seen a lot of thing that nobody should but millions of others will tell you the same, I seen what Long Tam looked like and it left me with memories also.
I will call this the First Part of my post and hope that you enjoy it and look forward to further parts this is only a taster for you so let me know if I should go on!
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It makes interesting reading.
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Thank you for reading I have been toying with this for years
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