I too was hell bent on leaving school but at the age of fifteen and only because my family had moved so often which
meant that i was changing schools often. England x2, Perth, Sydney x2, Philadelphia, England and back to Oz again.
When we returned to Oz in December 69, it was the end of the school year and my parents insisted that even though I had already
half completed fourth form in england that I had to start all over again and do year ten, the Australian equivalent.
One day during the aussie school holidays as I was walking to the beach, I noticed in a butchers shop window a sign advertising
for an apprentice butcher.
I must have mumbled Yes when he asked me " So, you want to be a butcher do you "? and he told me to be there monday morning 7am.
My mam was livid but my dad broke down with laughter after I told him that I have to be there for the 7 o clock start.
He told my mam not to worry as I wouldn't see the week out and that I would be enrolled at school when they were due back and
kept laughing.
They didn't realise how determined I was and saw out the starting of the new school year.
I gave up the butchering soon after finishing my trade and went into construction which paid so much more with less hours worked.
Had a great time working on all sorts of projects for the remainder of my working life and even though butchering was not the ideal
choice, I certainly have no regrets considering what it led to which also filled my parents with pride.
