The Father

The boy's father was a large man, not fat, just muscle.  He had been an amateur wrestler in his younger days and had run a gymnasium in the town.  He had the opportunity to fight in some big fights but an accidental injury to one of his eyes scared his then girl friend, who was later to become my mother, so he gave up wrestling.

His father was older than most of his friend's fathers, his mother and father had tried unsuccessfully to have children of their own but after three attempts and three still born babies they had decided to adopt.  Adoption in Australia in the 50's was a long process, you had to be "checked out" to see you were suitable.  The process took around 6 years to adopt the boy, his sister was adopted also, some 4 years later, it took less time for approval for her, they had already had experience.