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Wednesday September 8, 2010

What we're talking about

Ric's Blog: More choice, more $$$?

Posted by: By Ric Ditchburn | 7 July, 2009 - 8:09 AM
Read Roc Ditchburn's latest blog and say g'day to him Remember way back at the start of last century, Henry Ford said of his new Model T: "You can have any colour you want as long as it's black."

I was thinking about this the other say when I was pondering the amount of choice we have these days (and how much it's costing us).

Now, not only can you have a car in any colour you want, but you have the choice of any brand ... shape ... size ... performance ... and any number of added extras. I wonder back in the days of the Model T, how many people pulled up at the lights next to another black Model T?

But what about "Redpaths Four Square", where Mum used to shop in Waverley Road, way back in the 60’s.

If you were to take the contents of any modern day Woolworths or Coles and try to fit them into Mr Redpaths shop they would bulge all the way to where the newsagent used to be in the next block on Darling Road.

If you wanted 'cold meat' you generally went down the road to the Butcher who would actually slice some 'real' ham off the bone.

These days the supermarkets have 'deli' sections longer than a cricket pitch, where you have to take a ticket to get served. The choice is endless!

But you know the bit that worries me, is that at the end of every day a lot of that stuff not sold gets thrown in the bin. Food that sells for 22 dollars a kilo, gets thrown away ... breaks your heart doesn't it?

I bet Mr Redpath never used to throw much away. He simply couldn't afford to.

But then again, I guess he bought in what he new he could sell. My Mum, like lots of other customers, would drop off her list every week and essentially it would look pretty much like the list she dropped off last week.

Maybe the only change was from Teddy Bear biscuits to Jam Fancies.

These days, even the biscuit aisle in a modern supermarket is bigger than Mr Redpaths shop!

Do you think that it's a coincidence that these days we spend so much more TIME and MONEY when we do the shopping?

Mr Redpath must have done OK. He was there for years and fed a big family of his own. He also used to find the time to deliver your groceries ... for FREE!

And you could 'fix him up' next time you were in with your order, 'But no Credit Cards please - They haven't been invented yet!'

Perhaps that's why we have so much Choice?

Let me know what you think.

Cheers, Ric.

Blog with Ric Ditchburn in June

Magic callers "2116479 was our phone number way back around 1961 when we lived in East Malvern (or Malvern East as it is now). I think it was the first time we had ever had a telephone in our house. And I'm sure I remember the number so well because it was written on the dial."

Blog comments Your Say

  • Hi Ric,
    As Mary Hopkins sings, "Those were the days my friend". We had the Tagg bros.,one owned the newsagent (where my mother lay-byed my first doll for Christmas) no toy stores,the other owned the grocery, the tea you bought was in tea leaf form and was put in a teapot to "draw" for 5 mins. before pouring your cuppa.
    Your went to the grocer for groceries, green grocer for fruit and veg.and the butcher for meat. It was kept cold in an ice-chest, by buying a block of ice from the iceman once a week.
    The "milky" delivered your milk in botttles at the gate for free. A collector came weekly for payment.
    The bread came by horse and cart and was cut as required either block loaf or high tin. No brown,white, multigrain,rolls or sliced bread you cut it yourself.After he left we collected the horse manure for the garden.

    You left your garbage man a bottle of beer at Christmas. We had the night man (no sewer then). And lastly when you wanted to travel by train you would walk to the station in your old shoes, roads not made, and leave them under the seat in the waiting room for that night, you would buy a ticket from A to B and catch a "Red Rattler, which were always on time. No 2 hour travel ticket for a couple of stations. I think back then we were all a lot happier and healthier and no TV so every Sunday night we would sit around the "wireless" and listen to "portia" a serial on the ABC.
    It's good we have memories.

    Cheryl Sunday 13 September, 2009 - 2:39 PM

  • Hi Ric
    Yes I do miss the personal service that we used to have. When living at home with my grandmother , Mr Blotniek, the grocer used to call by phone on Tuesdays and thursdays to collect our order. It was delivered that afternnon and paid fro at the end of the month. Everything in his shop was bagged in Bulk. You could get apound of anything, Cheese sugar, oatmeal flour etc.Cold meats were sliced accoring to your requirements, thick or thin.
    We have been told that the Supermarket principal would cut costs but I don,t thing they have.
    Oh,and another thing fish was bought forn the express fish cart on Fridays. The horse drawn cart would come galloping down the road with the driver blowing a hand made trumpet. You had to rush out and stop the cart if you wanted fish. It was good fish too

    Chris King Monday 17 August, 2009 - 11:43 AM

  • I agree with Ric.He had Mr Redpath. When I was going to primary school we had Mr Rich. A great family store. Back then he or one of his assistances served you from ehind the counter. Many times my brothers and I woiuld go over to the shop and buy a penny worths of broken biscuits and get a big bag of biscuits, all different varieties. Then the supermarket came in and you where able to choose from the shelves. I really did love the personal touch and it was so friendly. What year am I talking about the late fifties to the early sixties. Maybe some of your listeners will remeber those days and maybe even this family from Monbulk.

    Karelyn Wednesday 8 July, 2009 - 3:24 PM

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