“In come the dollars and in come the cents
To replace the pounds, the shillings and the pence,
Be prepared, folks, when the money starts to mix
On the 14th of February, 1966”.
And so went the jingle, to the tune of “Click Go the Shears”, during the weeks leading up to Australia’s change in currency.
Yes, yes, yes, I know; it’s Valentine’s Day today! There’ll be enough love spinning around the internet today, without me adding my “penny’s worth”, or perhaps “two cents worth”!
So, dear reader, you’ll probably not hear this story anywhere other than here!
Today, I wear the hat of the “individualist”. Everyone else can take the high road and I’ll take the low road and we’ll all still arrive at February 15th in the same way!
Some may arrive there more broke than others, having spent a small fortune of their dollars and cents on materialistic impulses, in an effort to impress someone they love.
Perhaps this is the point where I should be yelling out “Bah, Humbug!”, even though it isn’t Christmas! But really, I ask you, why can’t we say “I love you” every day of the year?
Today is the anniversary of a momentous, monumental and unfortunately, probably forgotten memory, a day in history, lost in the depths of an ocean filled with a million bunches of perfumed roses.
It was forty-five years ago today when confusion began to reign supreme, when no one could work out the equivalent of what, in our currency, so everyone admired the shiny new coins, featuring Australia’s native animals, instead.
The change over period of pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents lasted many years until eventually the old currency was completely phased out.
It is a rare occasion today to see any money from the old system.
So there you have it, my reminder that today is something more than just Valentine’s Day, especially in Australia!
Footnote ~ Any contributions of roses to the author would be greatly appreciated, the real and scented variety, that is. And afore said contributions need not be limited to just one day of the year! (I’m not that Scrooge-ish!)
On a more serious note, please read a story of family love, here…. And tell those who mean the most to you “I love you”, not just today, but every day. xxxxxx
In My World 