A Girl From the North West
I grew up on the ‘wrong’ side of the Yarra River. Well, at least that’s how it was translated to me by those who lived on the ‘right’ side. I grew up in Niddrie - 11km North West of the CBD. We had a white weatherboard, 3 bedroom home with a big back yard, fruit trees to raid and other trees to climb. We had a rusty old set of swings and we used the old steel hills hoist to run and swing around and around. We climbed onto the roof of the old tin garage and jumped off that into the compost heap for sport too. Steeles Creek was our favourite place to hang out and build a cubby. It’s a whole new home development now with a fancy schmancy bike path and nice landscaping. It was wild when I was a kid and I loved it. Growing up there was really cool!
I never really knew ’the other side’ existed. In fact, in my twenties when I was working at the ANZ Bank as a Business Development Manager, I headed out to the Eastern suburbs to collect my work car. I had NEVER been out that side. Wow. It was a whole new world for me. You see, people are different when you cross the Yarra River, apparently. They are more refined. They dress better and they are better educated. People I worked with asked where I lived. No-one else lived in the North West. I felt the ‘put down’. I learned fast to disown it.
It was pretty obvious where I had come from. You could hear it in my voice. My loud unrefined laugh and potty mouth gave it away in a nano second. I didn’t have that lovely refined voice. I said ‘Gidday’ and ‘howyadoin’ and ‘wotsgoinon’. Why separate the words when you can roll them all into one phrase eh? I still pull silly faces.
These days I live in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, supposedly the ‘right’ side. My heart belongs in the North West. I no longer pretend or distance myself from who I really am. I still have that terrible laugh and I’m incredibly prone to having a potty mouth. I don’t have a fancy degree. I just had my pushbike serviced and she’s looking amazing! I bloody love that bike. I feel a bit like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez. They own who they are and where they came from. I’m proud of growing up a Niddrie girl. I’m owning it big time! Three cheers to all those living on that side of the river. Woo hoo!!!
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Yours in authenticity,
H
x
#communication #reputationmanagement #connection #authenticity #leadership #streetsmart #getaseatonaboard #loudandproud
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (General Division) in the 2020 Australia Day Honours. Prev. Coord RPSO
4 年In the 60’s and 70’s try living on an Island - Phillip Island. I used to detest being asked “what school?” In the real world it didn’t matter which school it was “what was important was what I learnt after I left school”.
Managing Director at About Your Business
4 年Two peas in a pod! A born and bred Brunswick boy of 20 plus years who has called the Eastern suburbs home for the next 40 odd! Can't take the Brunny out of the boy, the roots are just below the surface & rise to the top on a regular basis. Love your stories Helen, brings back some great memories! Cheers, ????
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4 年Very funny and relatable except I’m still on the “wrong “ side of the river.??
Founder of Time & Space
4 年Great story Helen! Opposite for me. Grew up in Burwood. In fact, after I left, the house didn't move but the postcode did to 3124. I joke with my mum and dad that I was never posh enough to live in Camberwell! Have lived northside since 1996. Love this side of the river. Love living beneath the West Preston skies!