Category: 1970s

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1960s 1970s 1973 Diary 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020 Snippets and Vignettes Visually Impaired

All Photos Published on the TrennaMahney.com Website

5 photo albums on a shelf
A very small number of Trenna's photo albums

Photos played a very big part in Trenna’s life, especially in later years as her mobility decreased. She spent hundreds of hours sorting, scanning, dating and captioning photos stretching back to her very earliest days.

I therefore take quite a bit of time and care in choosing the photos I use on the site.

Below is a gallery of all the photos I have used so far. I have also created a page that displays all those photos. You should … Read the rest ... “All Photos Published on the TrennaMahney.com Website”

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1970s 2010s iPad Knowledge Snippets and Vignettes Visually Impaired

Thank You & Au Revoir Nick

A screenshot of a document
A screenshot of the Pages document on Trenna's iPad.

Letter by Tren, Intro and Background by Greg

First, Some Background

If you read The Kitchen Tapes series on this website you will find out a lot about Trenna, including that she experienced quite a lot of bullying at high school, primarily because she looked different to other people. Her thick, coke-bottle glasses didn’t help at all.

Then in 1974, when Trenna was 17 years of age, Optometrist Nick Humphry prescribed some rigid (hard) contact lenses and they transformed her … Read the rest ... “Thank You & Au Revoir Nick”

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1970s Kitchen Tapes Music Writing

The Mill Point Road Song Lyrics

a ukelele on a stand
Several years ago I bought Trenna a ukulele. She tried leaning via YouTube. She ran into two problems, both Marfan related. Firstly she had trouble seeing the videos, and secondly, her Marfan fingers were so long she had real trouble getting her fingers into the right position on the fretboard.

More Details Arising From The Kitchen Tapes

Intro by Greg, Lyrics by Trenna

Introduction

Trenna had quite a nice study desk when I first met her in 1987. It was very solid, and had one of those inlays on the desk top that look like green leather. It has three drawers on either side, and it is solid.

It was one she bought new, so it is no antique, but it is still a nice piece. It made it’s way … Read the rest ... “The Mill Point Road Song Lyrics”

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1970s Marfan Writing

Angsty Teenage Poetry #3

A hand written poem in a notebook. The poem is You Gotta Try.
One of the poems from Trenna's notebook. I don't know if the poem itself held any particular significance for Tren, but its sentiment and advice rings very true to the way she lived.

Poems by a Teenage Trenna

This series starts HERE.

He Loved Her to Death (17 November 1972)

He held her hand, Oh so tight
He came to visit her every night
Alone they were, in a world of machines
She was really ill, had something wrong with her genes
When he kissed her, his tears wet her cheek
She was dying, she was terribly weak 
As near he could, he lay close to her
But each movement she made,
… Read the rest ... “Angsty Teenage Poetry #3”
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1970s Coping Craig House Kitchen Tapes Snippets and Vignettes Writing

Angsty Teenage Poetry #2

A neatly hand written contents page of Trenna's poetry book.
The Contents page at the front of Trenna's poetry book.

Poems by a Teenage Trenna

The first instalment in this series of angsty teenage poetry is HERE.

Friends (14 August 1972 – Dedicated to A Friend)

Friend, is a word you’ll hear or use nearly every day
But do you really know the actual meaning of the word
Is it to be kind to someone and talk to them?
No, a lot more!
A friend is someone who is comforting in times of sorrow
A person who has always
… Read the rest ... “Angsty Teenage Poetry #2”
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1970s Coping Craig House Featured Kitchen Tapes Snippets and Vignettes Writing

Angsty Teenage Poetry #1

a "Tudor" brand spiral bound notebook
The book Trenna hand wrote her poetry in 1972, 1973 and 1975.

Intro by Greg, Poems by a Teenage Trenna

Another Kitchen Tape Extra

Trenna’s School Era Poetry Book

Trenna loved reading, and she loved writing. She also loved, a lot, but for many years this was very often unrequited.

She tells in the Kitchen Tapes, HERE, of the dozens of love poems and letters she wrote to Murray Malski.

Trenna also kept a notebook during her high school years and wrote poetry in it.

Whilst Trenna was alive I was … Read the rest ... “Angsty Teenage Poetry #1”

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1960s 1970s Craig House Kitchen Tapes Writing

Meals at Craig House

Trenna on a seat in a bush picnic area. A small dog on her lap, and picnic items on a table.
"Felix with mum @ Bush picnic". A picnic in the bush near Perth. Trenna is about 40 years old, around the time she penned the observations in this post. July 1998

Trenna’s Writing on the Subject – And Plans to Write About Herself

Mainly by Trenna, Brief Intro by Greg

Introduction

This piece of writing by Trenna was on her laptop computer (not her iPad) and appears to have been commenced on 21 July 1997, and further work done on it in 1998.

It looks like she did most of the work, but never came back to it. The first part is very orderly and polished, the later part looks more … Read the rest ... “Meals at Craig House”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Kitchen Tapes Snippets and Vignettes Writing

The 1973 Diary, Extra Bits

A "Cash Account" page from a diary, with entries in blue ink hanwritting
One of the back pages of Trenna's 1973 diary. I think she was doing some budgeting. The $2 thongs were things to wear on her feet.

By Greg and by Trenna

This series of transcripts starts here.

A Little More on the 1973 Diary

The Post The 1973 Diary – Part 12 contains the last of the daily entries in Trenna’s hand written diary.

However, towards the back there is a section for “Accounts”  where Trenna has put some figures down.  I don’t know for sure, but I suspect it is an attempt at budgeting. 

Good on her for trying when she was just 15 … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Extra Bits”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Snippets and Vignettes

Why She Left Girlock in 1975

A typed letter from Girlock dated 18 June 1976
It looks like it took them 3 months to type a 2 sentence letter without Trenna, which is in line with her assessment of how functional the company was.

By Greg

NOTE: This post does contain some reference to an alleged sexual assault.

OK, so I confess. I don’t have absolutely all the details of this, but I know a fair bit. I always imagined that in due course, in our many long rambling conversations that more details would emerge.

Some did, some didn’t. And as a result I have been working through a bit of a mystery.

If you have read either the Kitchen Tapes series or The … Read the rest ... “Why She Left Girlock in 1975”

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1970s Snippets and Vignettes

Underage Drinking and a Police Chase

The front grille of a HR Holden car
The type of car Earl drove is lost to history. I imagine it was a 1960s Holden, like this HR model.

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

By Greg

1970s music blared from the two tacky speakers inexpertly mounted in the from door cards and dodgily connected to the cassette deck.

The old Holden was stationary in a deserted clearing near the Canning River, not far from Perth.

The women were drinking Brandavino from the bottle, each sipping, girding their loins to help swallow the sweet fortified wine. Then wiping the dribbles from their lips. It was a … Read the rest ... “Underage Drinking and a Police Chase”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Snippets and Vignettes Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 12

A 2 story red brick public building
189 Wellington Street, Perth was the site of the Perth Dental Hospital where Trenna has some success. This photo was taken in October 2022, the building has another purpose now. It was a teaching hospital and I remember in about 1975, when I was on the dole, I went there. I had 3 wisdom teeth removed under general anaesthetic. It cost me about $5!

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

16 July 1973 To The End Of The Year

Monday 16 July

Sue woke me at 7.30 and I very unwillingly got out of bed. Had breakfast and then got dressed and left for work.

It was really cold walking to work so instead of taking 15 minutes it only took me 10. Today a new girl is starting her name is Eileen she is about 21 … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 12”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 11

A newspaper advert for The Dungeon Market sale
Some great items for sale in The Dungeon Market where Trenna frequently shopped. I would love to go through the 1973 market today but it closed many years ago.

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

1 – 15 July 1973

Sunday 1 July

I awoke at 9.00 when Beth was knocking on my door, but I didn’t get up until 11.30. I had lunch with Beth and I lied again about Friday night.

After lunch I talked to Beth while she did her ironing and then I watched TV. There was a really good movie that had Hayley Mills in it. I … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 11”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 10

A very cheap looking movie poster for "5 Fingers of Death"
This movie, which Trenna saw at the cinema on 9 June 1973 is credited with starting the Kung Fu movie boom of the 1970s. I don't think they put a lot of money into marketing. This particular poster is one I grabbed off a noticeboard when it screened at my university, probably around 1979. I think they would do the poster differently these days.

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

All of June 1973

Tuesday 5 June

I got up at 7.20 and went down to breakfast. I left for work early as I had to stop at a chemist and buy a packet of Modess.

I walked through the dental hospital on my way to work and went to the toilet.

Work was pretty well much the same. Pat didn’t come in because she was sick. … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 10”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Snippets and Vignettes Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 9

The front page of the Daily News newspaper. It has a photo of 3 young women under an umbrella.
The front page of the Daily News for 4 May 1973. The 3 women were from the visiting Daly - Wilson Big Band on tour in Perth.

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

All of May 1973

May 1, 2 and 3

GM:  There were no entries in the first few days of the month.

Friday 4 May

I woke up at 6.45 then got up and had a shower and washed my hair. I went down to breakfast. 

Work was pretty good. In the morning I had plenty to do, but I wasn’t being rushed, but after I had … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 9”

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1970s 1973 Diary Craig House GFS Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 8

The front page of the "Daily News Newspaper. It has headlines, 3 pictures of women and an ad for Easter eggs.
The front page of a Perth newspaper for the first date in this Post. The Daily News came out in the afternoons, so these photos were taken on the morning of 16 April 1973. The caption in part reads "...the cold south westerly wind today played havoc with the girls' long hair as they went to work this morning. The girl on the left was dressed for the cold, but it was a case of shiver while you walk for the lass on the right." I picked this particular page because of the date, but the woman in the background on the right does look a little like Trenna. I DON'T think it is.

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

16 – 30 April 1973

Monday 16 April

I got up at 7.30 and then went to breakfast. Sue and I had breakfast with Ruth and Marg. I got dressed for work and then left.

I seem to be doing a lot more filing out the back and I could bloody kill Cheryl for making me do it. I was glad to get home.

We had tea … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 8”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Snippets and Vignettes Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 7

An abstract painting of two naked people kissing on the beach
So why are there two naked people canoodling near the beach at the start on this diary post? Pablo Picasso died on 8 April 1973. Given the time difference, possibly about the time Trenna was trying to extricate herself from the Fruitorium.

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

1 April – 15 April 1973

Sunday 1 April  

I got up at 8.30 and had breakfast. Thank goodness I didn’t have a stomach ache this morning. We went to Janette’s Sunday School.  At first we all just sat in the hall and sang songs.  Then we all broke into classes but no one came to Mr Nelson’s class so only 2 of us were in his … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 7”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 6

Interior of a large cinema
At 750 seats Cinema 1 was the biggest in Perth. This photo is by barryinperth and comes from the Cinema Treasures website (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/48705/photos/122280) where you'll find the Creative Commons License for the photo.

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

16 March – 31 March 1973

Friday 16 March

I got up at 10 to 7 and had breakfast. Today I don’t have to go to BC. It’s now at 10.20 and I haven’t done hardly anything except Mrs Cole locked me out of my room by mistake. 

I’ll meet Julie and Sue for lunch. We had a rather expensive lunch at Petite. Then I walked Sue … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 6”

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1970s GFS Kitchen Tapes Snippets and Vignettes

Why She Left Bey Apartments

An large apartment block
Bey Apartments in 2022. I never asked Trenna what floor or flat she was in - if anyone knows please comment below.

– Racism in Perth in the 1970s

By Greg

I recently published Part 5 of The 1973 Diary. In the Comments section, at the bottom of the post our friend Helen has written “I think once Tren met the Gibson sisters and moved into Bey Apartments her life changed dramatically and she had to grow up quickly“.

The Gibson sisters were “the Twinnies” (Sharon and Joyce), and their older sister Rose. In the Kitchen Tape recordings Trenna … Read the rest ... “Why She Left Bey Apartments”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Kitchen Tapes Writing

The 1973 Diary, Part 5

Open pages of a diary with blue ink handwriting in it.
The start of the March entries in Trenna's 1973 diary

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

1 March – 15 March 1973

Thursday 1 March 

Got up at 7.00 had a shower and breakfast then I met Julie and Sue at 8.30. 

BC was the same as usual. I met Julie and Sue at 4.15 we talked then I walked Sue to her bus stop, we were really being stupid. 

I got home at 5.15. There was a message for me to ring … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 5”

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1970s 1973 Diary GFS Kitchen Tapes

The 1973 Diary, Part 4

2 young women playing putt putt outside on a windy day
Trenna (on the right) playing Putt Putt with Nancy on 15 April 1973 at Cannington.

15 Year Old Trenna’s Own Words

This series of transcripts starts here.

15 -28 February 1973

Thursday 15 February

Got up at 7.00 had a shower and breakfast. Left for BC at 8.15. Met Julie and Sue at 8.40. 

BC was the same as usual. Met Sue at 4.20 after waiting for about 15 minutes. She said Julie had to leave BC early, and she had just seen Murray Benton and was hiding from him. 

We went and had … Read the rest ... “The 1973 Diary, Part 4”