Looking Back - September 2025 - 1969

By Leo Billington

A short walk down memory lane - do you remember 1969?

Let us take a quick look at what 1969 was telling us.

It was February 5 when Kelly Bros (Brothers) Morwell car dealers told us “We’ve got the car of the year.” Incidentally, any keen buyer could “get the deal of the year on any car we’ve got.”

Kelly Bros also sold used cars - and unfortunately old newspapers do not copy too well - such as a 1967 Toyota Corolla Sedan could be obtained for only $375 deposit, or for a deposit of $448, you were able to drive away in a 1966 Rambler American.

One estimate (www.streetmachine.com.au) is that almost 15,500 HK Monaros were sold in Australia.

Then, if a new Monaro did not win hearts, it probably was a modern hairstyle from “The Professionals.” In their advertisement of April 16, Maison Wink established four salons, perhaps to ensure greater coverage of their market - Traralgon, Morwell, Moe and Trafalgar.

A technical consultant from L’Oreal of Paris was at one stage, ready and waiting in the Morwell Radio Arcade Salon. Fancy paying $2.00 these days just to look smart and ready for that red Monaro.

Business development is on everyone’s lips nowadays. Private investment, public investment, tariffs, employment, regional development, visiting politicians, research and development. Oh yes, the list goes on and on - and 1969 was no different to now.

It was common rhetoric - “boost industry,” and Morwell and its valley were being told about coal to char experiments. “A new and exciting era” was a selling point, back then in April.

A modern 13 unit motel development was announced in The Express on Wednesday April 9. Mr and Mrs Mick Connell were named as the owners. They had previously conducted a successful motor garage and BMC car dealership in George for many years.

Seemingly mooted as an opportunity to benefit from expected surges in tourism visitation numbers - those heading east - a mid-point between Morwell and Traralgon was considered the best.

About one month later, it was publicly announced that a 40 unit motel was proposed for Morwell - at the corner of Church and Buckley Streets. Marg Leighton, being one of the owners said that “there was an urgent need for high-standard motel accommodation in the area.”

Amongst these announcements, well-known Morwell High School principal, Mr I. T. Maddern was explaining “Baby-sitting” at the Unis! This was on April 23, and highlighted his advanced thinking about education.

The last paragraph is worthy of special note - “Every women, therefore and man also, who wanted to learn and who could learn should be able to do the theory at home and the practice at work. This would bring the final emancipation of women.”

Fifty six years ago, Mr Maddern was giving his view of a better, more effective form of education, and, we are still debating this today.

On May 28, Michael Guss (Morwell store) advertised a 3-day sell-out of top quality suits. Ranging in price from $20 to $30 to $40, men’s suits were sold alongside Dickies pineapple towels and Prestige nylons.

Just reflect - a new hairstyle from Maison Wink, a modern two-door Monaro, a new suit and two flash motels, Morwell’s burgeoning community was being fully equipped for a new future.

Sharpes emporium was also holding its own, as it did for many years prior to their advertisement published on June 4, 1969. Slacks, nighties, pyjamas, pleated skirts and vests, all ready to be warm during winter.

Then there was sad news - Mr Norman Sharpe’s brother Mr Woolfe Sharpe passed away early in June 1969. However there was earlier news which “went through Morwell like a dose of salts”.

Popular Sharpe’s employee and department manager, John Tomkins was killed on April 25 in a road accident in Buckley Street, after returning by train from attending the ANZAC Day march in Melbourne. John was an employee of Sharpes for 30 years, being well-known for his amiable assistance to all customers.

To conclude - in May, Diamond Cut Lingerie wanted to establish a factory to employ “up to 300 females”. However, there was a battle to seek financial assistance from the then Morwell Shire Council. Council said, “it cannot make loan funds available.”

What were you doing in 1969?