When young Fred Glasbrenner and his two mates, Theo Guth and Konne Fischer, arrived in Darwin after an arduous journey - riding their bikes all the way from Backnang (Stuttgart is just next door) to Australia, they went into a pub in the Northern Territory to quench their thirst.
"Three cokes, please", they said. A hush fell over the pub. "Three cokes, please", they repeated. Making sure their German-accented English came across loud and clear. "Coca Cola", they added for good measure. The hush deepened, the publican glared. Flaring his nostril*, he took a deep breath, and then he let them have it: "If you want to drink - bleep, bleep - coke, go to the - bleep, bleep - milk bar down the road!"
"Three cokes, please", they said. A hush fell over the pub. "Three cokes, please", they repeated. Making sure their German-accented English came across loud and clear. "Coca Cola", they added for good measure. The hush deepened, the publican glared. Flaring his nostril*, he took a deep breath, and then he let them have it: "If you want to drink - bleep, bleep - coke, go to the - bleep, bleep - milk bar down the road!"
Well, there your are - you might travel half way across the world with just 60 Deutschmark in your pocket; living on your wits for a year, fending of ferocious and hungry wolves; camping out with beduins; meeting famous statesmen, kings and queens; being welcomed into palaces and embassies alike on your way ... that means nothing to a real Aussie! He'll spot a whimp if he sees one - ordering a coke in a men's pub, indeed!
This is just one of the delightful stories, Fred Glasbrenner shared with us during his talk at TTHA (Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged, Bayswater) on Friday. The story of Fred, Theo and Konne who left Germany in 1955, just aged 20, and arrived in Melbourne in time for the Olympic games - is an encouraging tale of what can be achieved if you travel the world, driven by curiosity and not by prejudice. Wherever they went, they met people of other nationalities - and were welcomed with opened arms. When they ran out of money, they were given shelter, food, warmth and sent on their way with all the assistance they could have wished for! They were dubbed the "unofficial ambassadors of FRG"!
As a very special guest, Fred brought along John Tresidder - who was one of the best cycling sprinters in the world. John rode in 23 six-day-races and won six of those events. Fred was inspired by John when he first met him in the Backnang Cycling Club.
Fred was the first of our Friday morning presenters at TTHA and his audience was enthralled by his story, his wit and his warmth. To conclude, Fred raffled three abalone shells. When he finally settled down with Zara, a Greek-Australian ballerina, famous for her performances at the Lido in Melbourne, one of his careers was that of an abalone diver.
Fred's full story can be found in the book Memories in my Luggage.
This is just one of the delightful stories, Fred Glasbrenner shared with us during his talk at TTHA (Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged, Bayswater) on Friday. The story of Fred, Theo and Konne who left Germany in 1955, just aged 20, and arrived in Melbourne in time for the Olympic games - is an encouraging tale of what can be achieved if you travel the world, driven by curiosity and not by prejudice. Wherever they went, they met people of other nationalities - and were welcomed with opened arms. When they ran out of money, they were given shelter, food, warmth and sent on their way with all the assistance they could have wished for! They were dubbed the "unofficial ambassadors of FRG"!
As a very special guest, Fred brought along John Tresidder - who was one of the best cycling sprinters in the world. John rode in 23 six-day-races and won six of those events. Fred was inspired by John when he first met him in the Backnang Cycling Club.
Fred was the first of our Friday morning presenters at TTHA and his audience was enthralled by his story, his wit and his warmth. To conclude, Fred raffled three abalone shells. When he finally settled down with Zara, a Greek-Australian ballerina, famous for her performances at the Lido in Melbourne, one of his careers was that of an abalone diver.
Fred's full story can be found in the book Memories in my Luggage.
