Where did you work during the school vacation?

[Nicky Hodge]

Most kids tried to find work during the six week school vacation. Can you remember where you worked, and what tasks you were assigned?
One vacation I worked in the Incoming Goods Warehouse with Nina Jones (where the old X-Ray was), and my last vacation I worked in the O/mund Retail Shopping Centre, as it was known back then. It was really great, as it helped in keeping us occupied and earning a little cash to boot. Alan Harvey was running the store then. We only had menial tasks, but it was all part of the learning curve. Some kids got to work as labourers with LTA. Does this practice still happen?

[mavis(smith)]

I remember, Nina Jones she was a friend of my mums in the (70) are thay still in oranjemond

[Paul Alexander]

Uhm, central kitchen and then the bottle store... (there's a message in there somewhere)

[Delia]

one holiday Jackie Wilson & I worked in the records dept at the shopping centre - back then the way the shopping centre was laid out u walked straight into it as u came in the main entrance. loved every minute of it - of course jackie & i got to play all the music we liked all day long. my salary from that holiday was blown before i even got it, seeing all the latest lp's coming in before anyone else - we got the choicest picks of the crop.  even got a few freebies from the EMI reps that came in - still have all my lp's boxed away.

also worked in the woman's clothing dept one holiday - hated every minute of it, had to be on our feet all day, couldn't wait for tea & lunch breaks just to sit down - at least those days smoking was still allowed inside buildings so it wasn't a toss up between going for smoke break outside or sit down in tea room.

in std 8 hols, worked at the warehouse packing jeans onto shelves according to their sizes day in and day out.  the warehouse was situated just as u came into town opposite the inner crescent houses along 5th ave - nicky, was that the same place u mentioned - incoming goods warehouse? now that u mention nina jones, it seems to jog a faint memory of her being there when i worked there, can't quite remember - maybe we even worked together??  earned R800 for that stint - jeez, felt like i'd hit the lottery. lotta bucks to a schoolkid!

[SandyB]

  Hi  Mavis  ... Nina  and  Eddie  Jones  ..   they  stayed  in  12th avenue  ..   daughter  Marie
married  Jeff  Quinton ...  I remember  Eddie  and  Nina  singing  at  quite  a  few  of  the  functions ...  I would  imagine  they would  be retired by  now .. 

[Michael Alexander]

Chris Jones was at Boarding School with me, Eddie and Nina retired about 14 years back, but I'm not to sure where they went.....

Chris was up here about 7 years ago, met him in the bar.... and then he was gone again... in the IT trade I believe....

:)

[Paul Alexander]

Who isn't these days... in the IT trade I mean, not the bar... although I suppose that could work either way.... *hic*

[barb (Fry)]

I did a holiday in the childrens dept with Mrs Swanepool and Mrs Mcgrath - lots of whispering and chatting and socialising, people coming round for a chat.  I was not privy to alot of the gossip. 

I learned to use the till and count  coins (cash up) real quick.

also wrapped presents, remember the service was provided in the long aisle for free.  I can still wrap things quickly and neatly, this was more fun.  Seeing what was being bought and giving as presents.  what did I learn -Rocking horses and bicycles should not be wrapped.

And then as mentioned the usherrette job at the movie house.

Really enjoyed the money earned.

[darryl weidemann]

gee lets see i worked in the old wharehouse ( where eastgate is now) counting supplies for the oranjemund shopping centre. i worked behind the snooker and darts bar. lew lilleys video shop ( free movies..yeah!!)

[Nicky Hodge]

Hi Delia, yes that's the place ...... You have described it quite accurately. Am I correct in saying that it was at the old X-Ray premises? My memory is fading .... I can remember Nina telling me all about Jeff and Marie's tales of Australia ..... Who knows, maybe that sparked the initial interest for me to want to move here ..... ?

[Andrew Darné]

'89 & '90 December holidays worked at the survey dept. Got to work on the mine measuring up for month end; knocking in pegs for stripping and bedrock lines, fixed the position for the plant at Elizabeth Bay, made copies of the plans back in the drawing office. Those were good days. Worked with folk like Anton Muller, Johan Fourie, Koos O'Kennedy, Mike Scorozinsky(on his first stint here), Dave Bansemer (aka hoppalong), Peter Nupen (aka Peter-pilchard), Graemme(?) Livingstone-Blevins (aka Rolux Magnum). Tea times (storie time) at the survey office... many memories. Good pocket money for the first term the following year.

[Keith Margetts]

I worked in the Post Office in the 1972 summer holidays, thereafter worked in the Yard at the Mine Magazine (why did they call a store that?) . . . earned good bucks to help me through my university years.

[Richard Opperman]

In 1972 (Std 9) I worked on the mine at North Compound (no longer there) and 1973 in town at the town garage behind the 1st Ave trees. Both jobs were work study jobs to do with company vehicle history, purchases and write-offs.
I remember working with extremely large electro-mechanical calculators which could only add, subtract, divide and multiply.
The guy in charge of us (cannot remember his name was not long in Omund) still said at the time "I am waiting for the day a calculator will fit into my pocket" - look at technology today!!

Richard  8) 

[Susan Kintscher (Lineker)]

I worked at the shopping centre (mens as well as the Childrens department), Uubvley Garage, Mine Store as well as a waitress at the Steak House, Stev was the manager at the time....

[Claire Mc Cullagh]

Morning all - i worked at the pool for a month, was brilliant - used to sneak back at night and drink in the office.