Readers respond: What did you like or dislike about where you grew up?
We asked our readers what their favourite and least favourite things were about growing up where they did, and the responses were overwhelming.
From affluent suburbs and knowing your neighbours, to beachside homes and lasting memories, here's your favourite childhood memories from where you grew up.
Denise Peck - That as kids we could walk the streets knowing virtually everyone in our immediate neighbourhood. Simpler times when kids were relatively safe to roam.
Lynne Fairbrother - I lived across the road from the beach, loved the beach and was there most every day with my friends. Wasn't anything I didn't like about where I grew up.
Denise Shearer - Growing up in a rich suburb where the kids went to private schools & I had to run the gauntlet to get to my bus stop. They waited for me & chucked rotten tomatoes & fruit at me until I changed the way I went to school.
Judy Wiese - We lived in a poor area in a Housing Trust house, however, life was good. We didn’t know any better. I loved school, had good friends, Mum was a good sewer and made our clothes, we had plenty to eat and were happy playing outdoors.
Vicky Johnson - I grew up with many friends in the same street.
Christine Dyson - Loved growing up in Eltham in the 50’s and 60’s so country then creeks, mines, cubby huts built out of sticks in the bush, scooters, two wheelers, neighbourhood friends and the ultimate 6pm curfew.
Lyn Bradford - Best day of childhood was when I finally got to leave & put it all behind me.
Christine Whyte - Loved where I grew up, nice quiet streets back then, had great fun playing with all the kids in the street of whom I have remained friends with for over 60 years and the safeness of walking to school rain, hail or shine.
Peter Spicer - Loved where I grew up. Real rough neighbourhood but full of diamonds.
Margaret Frances Magurean - Loved the community of our little block of tract houses back in the 1950's. Lots of kids and everybody's mum and dad watched out for us all. Great way to grow up.
Elaine Stewart - It was like a big family where we all knew one another and life was so wonderful and uncomplicated. There was a war going on and our dads were away for years but it didn't really affect our way of life as children.
Ruth Hunter - Loved living next to school oval in secondary school, could leave home when first bell rang.
Alison Angel - My two years in Gibraltar were my best childhood years. Weekends spent on endless, deserted Spanish beaches before tourism began in earnest. And Spanish food.
Julie McGregor - I grew up in a small town in the wheat belt area of northern Victoria. I had a delightful childhood, swimming in the river going to the lakes with family and friends. Playing sports and local town celebrations. Going to school with friends I’d known all my life. So blessed I knew everyone in the town. Free and simple.
Michael Lawrence - I grew up where l grew up. I had no reason to like or dislike it.
Denise McGoldrick - Nothing. Life was a lot simpler back then. We only watched about an hour of TV after we did our chores and were in bed by 7.30pm. Was allowed to stay up later on weekends when I turned 14 to watch the Johnny Cash Show. Great Thrill.
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