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Games
Kick the Block. A favourite game for a mixed group of children. It was really just Hide and Seek but the " Block" was a large tin. After being spotted the children would stand near the tin. If a boy or girl kicked away the tin without being spotted the captives were released and the Blocker had to replace the tin in the circle before beginning the search again for prisoners. The game went on for hours.
Hopscotch (Bays) were everywhere. Both boys and girls played it. The skill was throwing the 'dabber' into the circle you needed. Starting from one you had to go to eight, hopping in each circle without touching a line. Having mastered this game you went on to "Hitchy Dabber". This was a very difficult game and certainly strengthened your leg muscles. You had to hop on one leg and kick the dabber into each numbered circle without it landing on a line. The dabber was a piece of flat sandstone or tile and was carried in our pockets so we could play the game at any time.
Two-Baller was a game played by girls and played at great speed. Using two rubber balls or tennis balls the girls threw them one after another against the wall, catching them and throwing them back rapidly, counting each throw as they did so. When a ball was dropped the other girl took over. The winner was the girl who caught the most balls while the opponent chanted a rhyme.
Skipping. Girls loved their skipping ropes and would spend hours happily skipping while singing their countless jingles. When there was a group skipping, a clothes line was borrowed and everyone joined in. A broken clothes line was a disaster for mother but was great for children for boys could use it for lariats for 'cowboys and indians' and girls for skipping ropes. Few had bought ropes - they had no money so hawkers were pestered for the straw ropes which were around the boxes of fruit.
Queenie. Another popular game was Queenie. It was a simple game to play, so young children joined in with the elders. A child with a ball stood her back to a row of children- she would throw the ball over her head to the children. After a little skirmish a child would get the ball and hide it behind her back. All the row would stand innocently with their hands behind their backs. When the ball was safely hidden, the row of children would chant: 'Queenie, queenie, who's got the ball I haven't got it It isn't in my pocket Queenie, queenie, who's got the ball?' The girl in front would then turn around and examine each face and body and choose a child. If she was right that child went to the front, if not she repeated the act.
Jack-Shine-A-Maggy. A similar game to Relievo, it was played after darkness had set in and everyone had a torch, and on the cry of 'Jack-shine-a-maggy' the hunted had to flash their torches, thus giving away their hiding places which meant a quick switch of hiding place. We ran miles in those games so no doubt we slept well after them.
Relievo. A team game for the energetic boys and girls. One side chased the other side and on catching prisoners returned them to a large bay, already marked out and guarded by a boy. The aim of the other team was to rush into the bay, tag a prisoner or two, and escape with him without being tagged by the guard. This was usually accompanied by a yell of 'Relievo'.
Hot Rice. Another easy game. A child using a bat, an old tennis racquet or a piece of wood would hold it in front of her legs while others threw a ball to hit her legs below the knee. The successful child took over the bat, moving round to make it more difficult to be hit.
Games compiled by Col. Alex Johnson.