Page 31 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

said, "Just across the river. We're dashed front, and their wives were in the back some such thing or other and she said,
hungry, we haven't eaten anything since with two little children and a bird in a "No, of course not. What do you think
early this morning, can you give us cage. The children were pitched right I've got bloody Harry for?" ★
some steak and eggs or something?" over the barbed wire fence on the other Pauline Gaunt interviewed her
The shop was flooded up to the level of side of the road, but they weren't hurt. I uncles Jim and Alf Lawrence and their
the seats. We sat down at the table in the don't know what happened to the bird. employee Tom Atkinson for Pictures
water and ate our meal. The waitress George and I spent time in hospital Were Our Business. Text and family
wore waders, she wasn't bothered. together at Sale. They patched George photos © Pauline Gaunt. This is an
We had to take some food back to up and he started to come good. After edited version reproduced by
George, he was only a little bloke, and my leg healed they tried to make me permission.
he wouldn't come with us. We took a walk. I couldn't, and then I blacked
meal on a plate and arranged to drop out. I demanded another x-ray and
the crockery back the next day. We they found the broken pelvis. I spent
waded back through the water and four months on my back on a board
George enjoyed his tea. I stripped my We used to keep to a straight life
sopping wet clothes off unpacked the when we were on the circuits. We made
gear and covered it with a tarp, and some very good friends. One day I went
two of us slept in the back of the van. up to the railway station at Pakenham to
George slept right where he was, he put the film on the train and the station
wouldn't leave his seat. master said, "Get that stinking stuff out
The next morning was Sunday. We of here. If you don't I will." I said, "I
woke to see people going to church in don't know what all this is about, I'm
a phaeton. The town was still under not expecting anything." I went to have
water but we were able to get through. a look and there were eight live crayfish
We showed at Bruthen, there were in a sack. One of the fishermen had
lovely wattle trees up there, on the way sent it to me. I had switched the shows
to Omeo. We put on a show at Tanjil around so the pictures would be on at
Bren too. I've never seen so many Welshpool the week they were in port.
budgies. They were in a hedge, right They went away for a fortnight at a
alongside the van, and they didn't take time to King Island. The fishermen
any dashed notice of us. They were never drank at sea but they made up for
beautiful. it when they were ashore.
George Bray and I were involved in When we were travelling from
an accident on April 5th. 1934. It was Foster to Welshpool we would give a
at Providence Ponds, about twenty lift to a school girl, and drop her off at
miles from Sale, going towards her gate about four miles out towards
Bairnsdale. On a sweeping bend a car Toora. Years later I wanted to contact
came around on the wrong side of the the boys at Foster. I got on to the
road, so George had to go on to our exchange up there. I told a voice I was
wrong side of the road. In fact he had Tom Atkinson of Lawrence Brothers
to leave the road altogether. But as he Talkies, and that I needed to get a
did so the other car swerved and hit us. message to the crew who were up
Sometimes I think that the chap at the there. I asked her if she could take it
wheel of that car was dead at the time across to them when she knocked off.
of the accident. There was no fault on She said, "Yes, sure I can Tom." I said,
our side, and to give George his due, "You know me?" "Know you. I've been
he was a good driver. out with you." I said, "That must have
George had a punctured lung and I been a long time ago." "It was." Then
had a broken pelvis, but they didn't the penny dropped. "You're the little
find that out until later when they tried girl I used to pick up and take home."
to make me walk. The sinews in my And there was Harry and Ma
leg were all cut, and I was bashed in Claverino at Foster. She made terrific
the head which caused loss of memory pasties. They were shaped like pies, but
and headaches. they had lots of potato and vegetables
The other car had two men in the in them. One day I asked her if she did

Correction
The photo which purported to be Jim Lawrence,
page 18 last issue, was actually his father.
The young Jim looked like this.

CINEMARECORD 2002 31