Comments on: Sharpies: The Early Years, 1967-1969

By: noel

noel — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:46:21 +0000

Hell, spelling, look how I spelt traditional!!!!!!!
Too much time playing pool and pin ball
Cheers Vicki

By: vicki wilson

vicki wilson — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:41:10 +0000

Thanks for the compliment Noel,
Re-reading spelling amiss, typed late!
Yes, they were truly the best days from 66′ onwards.
Sadly, for some reason, don’t have ‘Sharpie photos’.
From memory my ‘boyfriend’ (now ex husband) had a FB and an FC ….(now I just call him those initials!!)
No, not really, we both moved on years ago.
The car was such an important part of the sharpie image, both to guys and girls.
No hanging dice from mirrors yet, always a travelling rug in the back though!! (and a colourful set of cups in the glovebox!) Ours wasn’t maroon or chrome though!
Oh funny times.
Sneaking a mate into the drive-in … in the boot!…
sounds just like “HAPPY DAYS” !
They were indeed happy days, the music, well that’s another story – certainly contributing to the fabulous memories we hold close today.
Thanks again, Vicki

By: dinko

dinko — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:01:16 +0000

Chris O’h.. Took Rushie to the exhibition last Sunday had a good time, drank a few at the Glenferrie and reminisced about old times and sights.Give us a yell when you have the next get together.

By: noel

noel — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 08:06:37 +0000

Beautifully written Vicki, I ventured over to Preston on some Saturdays all the way from Box Hill. What fun we had, 1959 FC for me, but several sharps I hung with had the traditinal FJ or FX, one particular one sprayed a beautiful Maroon with a chrome glove box lid which always gave a great view of the brushes legs!
Oh what memories, those fish n chips in news paper or the greasys burgers that have never been matched (BoxHill)I do remember a good Burger shop maybe in Bell St? The Bell Burger?? So right Vicki, no weapons just fists, although the occasional Iron Bar was produced from cars, and once only I recall a shottie going off out side blue stone dance in box hill.
Take care and thanks for sharing……1966 to 1970 the real living years mate!
Noel

By: vicki wilson

vicki wilson — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:13:06 +0000

Hi all,
Wrote a little piece last year (Vicki) and have just read the experiences above, which brought so many memories flooding back.
Being a sharpie -’brush’ (never did like that term) in 1966 was simply “grouse” !
Maybe a girl’s point of view is different to a guy’s as it was a less physical experience.(well mine was anyway!)
Nevertheless, it was a unique time in history that can never be replaced.
The baggy pants, chisled shoes, trench coats etc. were the trade mark of a true sharpie.
If you didn’t have the attire, then you were not one of “us”.
For the girls, it was the same.
No pleated skirts, cabled knit jumpers, sandals and short hair, then sorry, you must be a “mod”!
If you could not dance to 66′ rock, then you had better learn to do it fast!
Storyville (Preston Townhall) was always packed, the line outside seemed to go ‘forever’.
Same at Coburg Townhall ‘Swinger’,every Saturday night was the same.
FJ’s were the coolest car you could own and I was not particularly into cars, but my girlfriends were and so it didn’t take long until they became familiar with who owned the hottest in the area!
One particular day after High School tagging along (under sufference)with my friend to take photos of one such car!
I still remember his name and where he worked, strange but true.
Another was a guy who owned an amazing FJ.
All the girls wanted to ride in this car, and one night we were the chosen three!
Of course we agreed, and with speeds of 90 mph down High Street Reservoir, it was certainly worthwhile!
He was obviously a sharpie, BUT to you guys reading it will sound ‘strange’ when I say that he used to spray the car with an Avon perfume called “Wishing”….nothing poofy about him, but it was a real turn on for the girls!!!
(ask me what I did yesterday and I would have to think about it….trivia….I can go on ‘forever’ !!)
Fights just seemed to be the norm, no matter where you were they just happened.
One mate started them and finished them EVERY damn night.
Hitting the grog early, we knew exactly what the night would entail.
We all drank a lot back then, no C.S. cowboys then,
pimms, marsala and coke or a advocat…….that was about it!
The guys, whiskey, beer and plenty of it.
Driving home, no seatbelts,(not compulsory then) and basically pissed!
Eddies Lake a favourite spot to pash (Edwards Lake Reservoir)sometimes difficult to find a spot, car after car.
Takeaway was either chips, chinese or hamburger – that was it!
Gangs would fight (everywhere) and just by seeing what a person was wearing, would indicate whether you would be ‘safe’ or not.
One would instantly be able to tell what side he or she was on, simply by their clothing, something that would be impossible to judge today.
Guys fought with their fists only, no knives were ever used. It sickens me today as to what is used, at leat back then it was a ‘fair’ fight betwenn two people.
(unless of course mates decided to jump in also, but at least their were no weapons.)
Well this brush has rambled, but I do have magical memories of growing up in Preston, which I still call home even though I reside elsewhere.
Growing up in this era I would not swap for anything, it was one of the happiest times in my life.

By: Jim Caton

Jim Caton — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:07:40 +0000

This site brings back some fond memories and some not so fond… like being stabbed in the top of my head and needing 18 stitches so I looked like a monk for months – and sadly I still have a full head of hair except for that spot too!
BTW… I grew up in Thornbury where Conti cardigans were made and a mate was the boyfriend of a Conti in 1970 0r 1971. His girlfriend’s mum who ran the Conti Knitwear store made him a cardigan so he most likely may have been the first guy to wear one as before then I believe the store just made sets for old ladies!

By: mslulu

mslulu — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:43:09 +0000

I will have to dig out some photos… those were the days, what a lot of people don’t realise is that Sharps et al were predecessors to what was going down in the UK. Once the era came to an end, I headed off to the UK and became les enfant terrible pour Vivienne Westwood. It was only because of the street training I got in Melbourne I was able to survive the totally anarchistic life of Punk in Britain. Mind you I did succumb to some rather taxing nights with her and Malcolm McLaren (RIP)and other rather unusual types. Leigh Bowery to mention another . What I think I loved most about the era was that it was the first time young cosmopolites created their own look that was not only unique, but quite stylish. Unlike the stoned Heads of the time, we were very clean and polished.
The only thng I cringe at now is when I think of that dance!!!

By: Julie Mac

Julie Mac — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:52:54 +0000

The Sharpie Generation Gap

When I was 15 in 1977, many of you guys were already in your mid 20s. Most teenagers are unable to notice anyone above the age of 21 and I imagine it’s vice-a-versa.

The music you love when you are in puberty becomes stamped on your soul. While the original Sharps grew up listening to the hard sounds of Lobby and other Sunbury legends, the sounds of Rose Tattoo, The Angels and La Femme are the ones that make my heart skip a beat in teenage passion.

Below are a couple of quotes from RAGE

“The front of the stage was jammed packed with Sharpies. I have never seen so many in one place, especially the old Sharpies with that hard look about them.”

“The old Melbourne Sharps and Gunnies are tough and well respected. You do not mess with them or any other Old boys or girls from the suburbs – unless you want trouble.”

We knew our place in the Sharpie Hierarchy

I expect the original Sharps to think RAGE is a piece of crap. You are supposed to. It’s not one of ‘Chopper’s’ books or ‘Underbelly’. To you it will seem like a 1970s copy of Dolly magazine.

‘How to make a boy notice you’
‘Should I go all the way?’
‘Win a grouse Bluebird of Happiness necklace
and earring set’
‘See the new Staggers range of demin jeans and jackets’

With that in mind, I have added guns, cars, tattoos and girls having scrag fights in school uniform for the original male Sharpies’ reading pleasure. I think the girls will ‘get it’, teenage girls are universal with their growing pains.

At this time in two weeks, thanks to Sam Biondo I will be bursting with excitement at getting the chance to re-live the days with my Sharpie Family.

By: laurie

laurie — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:04:17 +0000

HI calvin
Interesting that that you used to come up to Bendigo for your brush and go to the YMCA dance
I’m from Bendigo originally and thats how i got into the
sharpe scene got into a blue with some Melbourne sharpes
outside the YMCA dance who where trying to move in on our brush
Met them the next day in Roslind Park and became friends for years to come but that was in about 1971
your brush could be my sister come good with some names
Regards Laurie

By: chris

chris — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:27:03 +0000

hi calvin,my email is jaim93@optusnet.com.au,please get in touch,i would love to see some photos and hear some stories about the early sharps,not many people are aware of the early sharps mate. cheers. chris (o’hooligan)