Welcome to part one of a 3-part Listen To Older Voices program, featuring the Life and Times of Christine Easdown.

In Part 1 we learn that Christine was born in 1955, in East Melbourne, and she introduces us to her mother and father and in doing so, we gain a better understanding of her.

Chris, as she likes to be called, shares stories of her school experiences and how while she was attending school, her parents bought a milk bar, which helped her with her confidence in dealing with people. The hours required to operate such a business also meant the family were rarely together, especially at meal times.

Like many teens she enjoyed going to dances, of which the Melbourne dance called Opus was one she frequented often. Her story continues with her attending Monash Uni where she had dreams of becoming a linguist, but those dreams were somewhat shattered when she discovered her language skills were simply not up to it.

 In fact Christine decides that a career in teaching is where her future is, and she starts her stories of teaching, stories that go through parts 1 and 2 of her story.

While attending university in the 1970’s she and a friend take time off and travel through S.E Asia and her stories include stories of incidents with the Pathet Lao.

We recall that during the 1970’s much of that whole geographic area was undergoing serious political upheavals. It certainly all makes for a fascinating start to her story.