When I eight years of age our family moved home and I had to start at a new primary school. It was Term 3. I remember my first day quite well. I was in 2nd grade and the name of my teacher was Sister Philomena. The classroom was cold and dark with high windows. It was known as the “basement” and it was later converted into toilets.
We sat at these long wooden desks that could sit four students next to each other. I remember I sat next to Ginetto Poscoliero on that very first morning. About three rows back in the centre. School had already started and my sister Mary and I had arrived late. Not an auspicious beginning. Gino had the most amazing lunches. His incredible lunches made my devon and tomato sauce sandwiches on plain white bread look rather pathetic in comparison. Gino’s lunches were humongous. Bread rolls with the most exotic fillings! This was all so new to me. A cultural awakening. [See Alan Levine’s comment below… That’s Gino on the left in the photograph below together with Ernesto, Sammy and Mario. All from that 2nd grade class at a recent reunion. We are getting together again later this year.]
Gino, Ernesto, John, Sammy and Mario. Still together after more than 45 years.
An Australian boy in a Mediterranean sea of manhood!
The way in which mathematics was taught at this school was quite different in comparison to how I had been taught at my previous primary school and from that point on in life I struggled with mathematics. It seemed to be more advanced. I could never seem to stay in touch. My first three years at school had seemingly wired my brain to learn mathematics in a particular way. My new 2nd grade teacher, Sister Philomena, taught it a different way. She seemed to be a tall foreboding woman with impossibly thick eyebrows and deep, dark brown eyes. Her thick dark habit and the huge string of wooden, life-threatening, rosary beads that dangled from her belt bespoke of authority and merciless power. She probably never wanted to be a teacher. She conceivably became a nun to pray and get married to God but the head of the convent probably tossed the poor woman a piece of chalk and said “Teach!”
However, it was not all doom and gloom in this new school for a small sensitive boy. Every member of the class was given a “reader” called Open Road and I thought it was the most fantastic book. Some of the stories have stayed with me all my life. In recent years I have always kept an eye out it for it in second hand book stores and I have also searched for it on the web. To no avail. I mentioned this in passing to my older sister Margaret recently and she replied that she had kept my copy of the book, along with my Kindergarten and 1st grade readers! Excellent! Thanks Margie! Margaret is a kindergarten teacher. I am one of seven children. Six teachers and one librarian.
The Rolling Plum contemplating life on the road
One of the stories that always fascinated me was “The Rolling Plum“. It is the story of a plum that decides he is going to see the world. The idea of a plum rolling from one place to the next captured my imagination. This plum had balls, per se, and it was determined to leave the tree and head for the road, channeling Jack Kerouac no doubt. I guess that this little roaming plum caught my eye because I had recently moved to a new home just metres from the beach, paddocks, tracks, sand-hills, creeks, coastal rock shelves, a playground and a football field. Freedom! I too could be that rolling plum.
The Rolling Plum evades capture
The Rolling Plum was one weird, little dude. How he managed to roll around like that was a mystery. Yes, this little purple renegade carved a swathe through the meadows as he rolled around the countryside with a grim determination. Thinking about it… this could conceivably be a nightmare for some kids. The plum encountered some dangers along the way however he met them all head on, in a manner of speaking, and carried on regardless, singing his merry little tune…
“I’m a rolling plum
and you can’t catch me,
for I’m off to look
at the world you see…”
After his travels far and wide the Rolling Plum eventually found his roots and settled down with a worldview quite unlike that of his fellow plums. You can read his story by exploring the gallery at the foot of this post.
The rolling plum evades capture once more!
Do you remember the Rolling Plum and Open Road? Would love to read your recollections. Please leave a reply below with your own stories! Much appreciated!
John Larkin (@john_larkin)
Mar 30, 2013 @ 14:12:39
Remember “Open Road” & the story of the Rolling Plum? Did you attend primary school in NSW during the 1960s? http://t.co/u2kSqpbp8H
Paulle
Nov 07, 2015 @ 20:05:49
Hi John,
Thank your for capturing “The Rolling Plum” for so many of us,fellow nostalgics!
So pleased that your sister,Margie,kept your readers. Would you please consider
sharing the Kindergarten reader with us?
Paulle
John
Nov 08, 2015 @ 08:25:42
I shall try and share some more Paulle. ^_^
Irene Fong
Nov 25, 2015 @ 19:58:15
Hello
I can’t believe there is another person out there who remembered the book ‘The Open Road’ I went to school in the early sixties – Crown Street Public school and loved the stories – to date I’ve been trying to find a copy but with I luck. There was another fantastic story – I think it was called the 7 Chinese brothers and they lived on a parosel? The Open Road I remembered was yellow with kangaroos all over the front. If youre able to copy some of the stories and post them in line it would be wonderful – can’t believe almost five decades later and people can still remember this fabulous. Book. Thank you for posting some of the extracts.
Irene
John
Nov 26, 2015 @ 06:09:27
Hi Irene,
Thank you for your comment. It is an amazing book. The story of the 7 Chinese Brothers does not appear however it does ring a bell with me.
I shall scan some more stories and share them Irene!
Bets wishes
John
Margaret McGoldrick
Jul 02, 2018 @ 21:32:10
Hi John,
Please help me locate the Open Road series of books from my childhood. I would love to purchase them. I have looked high and low in second-hand book stores and op-shops to no avail.
John
Jul 12, 2018 @ 10:00:59
Dear Margaret, I shall keep an eye out for a copy for you. Regards, John
Alan Levine (@cogdog)
Mar 30, 2013 @ 14:17:37
That’s one tough and plucky plum! Did it roll past the Dog on Tucker Box?
I enjoyed the visuals describing your first days in the new school- it jumps to the modern photo of you and Gino with? his siblings? What is that story? You all reconnect or never lost touch?
Stories, stories, stories, never get enough.
John
Mar 30, 2013 @ 18:18:58
We all attended a reunion not long back and we are all getting together again in October, Alan. That is Gino with three other Italian boys from our class. It was quite a multicultural class.
The plum never made it past the dog on the tucker box!
Couple of more stories to come that almost seem to predict life ahead.
Thanks Alan!
Denyse Whelan
Mar 30, 2013 @ 23:10:54
Thank YOU for a treasured reminder of the GayDays and memories of On The Farm with David, Sue and Wendy! I too loved the colourful stories from the NSW Dept of Education readers. I am a child of the 1950s who read those books then as a young teacher of the late 1960s & early 1970s taught students in my city & country schools. I can still repeat the poem about Waves in the Second Class reader. My hub (teacher) & I have kept a few of those books. Treasures from our reading past! Denyse
John
Mar 31, 2013 @ 07:07:36
Thank you Denyse. I remember Gay Days from Kindergarten as well. Sadly I do not have that copy however I do have a copy of “Its Fun To Read” Jim, Mary and their dog Pal. Their little was simply called “baby”. I have another called “A Book To Read”. It is easily one of the earliest of the readers in terms of ability levels. No sentences longer than 7 words. ^_^ Bothe are from the NSW Department of Education as well. Remember learning about the rivers as you grew older?
Shannan
May 06, 2013 @ 08:38:38
Yes! I was a NSW primary-schooler in the 80’s, but my grandmother had The Open Road book and she read it to me every time I stayed with her as a child. It is one of my favourite childhood memories. She would read me the WHOLE book at bedtime, then often she would start again from the beginning if I was still awake. Thanks for the pictures – I’ve been looking online too.
Gail Lugten
Dec 17, 2013 @ 01:51:13
Dear John,
How very nice of you to take the trouble to post this. I had this book as a school reader when I was in Kindergarten or maybe Grade 1 in the mid -1960s in the Sydney western suburbs. Why does a particular story click with you? I have no idea, but I do know that I have never forgotten this story. I have tried to find the story many times, particularly when my daughter was young. Now, thanks to you, I will have it for my grandchildren. And by the way, I always liked the idea of travelling and seeing the world – just like the plum. I am now 55, living in Rome and working for the United Nations, and I am sick of travelling and seeing the world. I think that like the plum, it is time for me to stop and watch the world. Many thanks to you.
Nola
Jan 05, 2014 @ 14:45:23
Thanks for uploading ‘The Rolling Plum’, John. I just loved that story when I read it in infants school. I can recall identifying strongly with that plum! I loved its escapades, – probably because the 50s was a very dreary time (on looking back). Even though the fun had to come to an end, it seemed a very good ending to me then and now, as the plum contributed something of value to others. I’ve just finished my 40 years of ‘escapades’ as a state school teacher, and hope that I will continue to contribute!
John
Jan 06, 2014 @ 08:37:28
Hi Nola and Gail,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Yes, this story has stayed with me all my life. I first read the story during 2nd grade in 1966. I remember the classroom quite well. I love to travel like the plum as well. Those were the days.
Cheers, John
Susan Stephenson
Jan 09, 2014 @ 10:52:57
Hi John,
I loved Open Road and Travelling On, too! I do remember The Rolling Plum. I also remember two raindrops called Pitter and Patter, a beautiful chinese umbrella, and a very vague recollection of a story about the Australian bush. Was there also a copy of Bellbirds in one of the books? We went on in older grades to read SRA cards and strive to complete them so we could get higher colours, but it was competitive, not enjoyment. I also recall cloth-covered books in 6th class. One was Simon Black in Space. Another was Children of the Dark People, by Frank Dalby Davidson. I kept my copy of the latter for many years, and it fuelled the games we played in The Bush opposite our house in Sydney.
John
Jan 10, 2014 @ 12:42:47
Thank you Susan. Yes indeed, Pitter and Patter feature and their amazing adventure has also stayed with me. ^_^ Cheers, John.
Elayne Strahan
Jan 31, 2014 @ 15:18:27
Thanks John for the pictures from Open Road and story. I grew up in NSW during the 1960’s and had “Open Road” as a reader and there was another one too. I think it had a tan cover and was called Travelling On or something, I think it had a kangaroo on the cover. I have been trying to find a copy of either of these books because I loved them. The pictures and stories really sparked my interest in reading. I still think of the rolling plum but as in life, we all have to put down roots sometime.
Peter Swinton
Feb 19, 2014 @ 01:02:51
Dear John,
We had the Open Road reader in my Catholic primary school in Sydney in the early 60s. I was amazed at the images that the artist drew, many of which stay in my memory even now – scenes of little elves in brown tunics building cottages but forgetting to allow for windows or a chimney (!), secretly helping the cobbler’s family with its overnight shoe repairs (and receiving brightly coloured tunics in surprise payment), an underground grotto where fairies hung about, and, most of all, a koala who, from his gum tree on a hillside at night, looked out into the dark and wondered what the city lights in the valley below promised.
I bought a second hand copy in a shop about 20 years ago and gave it to my sister for her daughter. Sadly, it did not survive the ravages of a younger sibling. I should have been more insistent. Since then, I’ve always wanted to find another that I could keep for posterity’s sake. A beautiful book.
Peter
Liz Cameron
Feb 27, 2014 @ 09:58:14
I remember the wonderful reader Open Road that was a part of our reading everyday in Primary school all those years ago. Is this reader available anywhere at all to buy, I would just love my precious little grandchildren to hear these stories, there was always something very magical about that reader to me and still is, I am sure it was one of the reasons I loved going to school way back then!! LOL. I know they are probably a collectors item now but if you ever comes across one for sale please email me. Thanks so much
Liz
Robyn
Apr 14, 2014 @ 06:23:01
Years ago I was asked a question by a therapist: What is the earliest fictional story you remember in detail? She explained that that is the story that resonated with you so much that you remembered it, and that it often seems to describe your life later on. My earliest is The Rolling Plum, and it does indeed describe my life! Thank you for reprinting this magical story here.
Janette
Jun 28, 2014 @ 17:35:08
Hi, I have searched for a copy of Open Road for years. Any chance you have a copy. I particularly remember The Apple Fairy, The The little boy on crutches who lead the children through the opening in the rocks.
John
Jun 29, 2014 @ 13:47:11
Hi Jeanette,
Thank you for the email. I am sorry that I do not have a copy. I hope you find a copy one day.
Best wishes
John
Kerrie
Jul 05, 2014 @ 22:51:49
Thank you so much for this step back in time. I found this page by googling ‘Open Road to Reading’ as I was reminiscing and wanted to see if anyone else remembers this book. I absolutely loved it, and no matter how many times I read it I wanted more. I went to a Catholic primary school in Sydney and I was first given the book in 2nd class in 1974. So glad to see that this reader is so fondly remembered by so many. Thanks again.
Scott
Jul 27, 2014 @ 15:42:10
I remember reading these books at primary school in NSW. Obviously these books have left a lasting impression on us all so much for TV. I wonder how many students across a state would now have a common memory such as this? Good to know that there are people with the same memories.
Cherie
Sep 02, 2014 @ 05:07:13
I grew up in Canberra in the 1960s and remember being captivated by the David, Sue, and Wendy characters. I, too, became a teacher. I also remember the weekly broadcasts we listened to in our classroom along with a book to help us learn songs such as, “Oh, how I wish that I could be a little Aborigine.” I’m guessing they don’t use those books anymore.
Raymond Robinson
Sep 17, 2014 @ 07:38:29
Hi l have always wanted to get a copy of the open road ,1969 l was in lst class at maroubra bay .Those stories have remained in my memory.lf anyone has a copy and wants to sell l would be interested
Jan Byrnes
Sep 17, 2014 @ 19:52:01
I just loved those readers. I remember the two rain drops Pitter and Patter as my favourite. Do you have any extracts with them in a story.
Kerrie
Dec 17, 2014 @ 15:53:28
I was in first class in 1967 in Liverpool NSW and I remember reading The Rolling Plum. I always remembered the beginning of the story because in class whenever we read, we always had to start from the beginning of the story and we always stopped part way through. It is fantastic that I found this site where I can read the ending. as it used to annoy me that I always remembered a plum that rolled on an adventure but could not remember what happened in the end. Thank you.
Kerrie
John
Dec 17, 2014 @ 20:44:45
Dear Kerrie and all the other commentators on this post,
I am glad that this post has brought you so much joy and also brought back good memories from your childhood,
Best wishes
John
Ben Croser
Feb 02, 2015 @ 22:25:35
Hi John,
I was one who read The Rolling Plum, and it was a wonderful story, which was useful to me throughout my life.
We put on a play that I think came from the Open Road series. It was called ‘Umfoo….’ I would like to reread it if you, or anyone else knows of it, and has a copy.
In the play Umfoo was a wild man from Borneo type character, who lived in the highlands of an equatorial forest and a group of intrepid tourists ventured to find and observe him, led by a dodgy guide. It had a twist at the end, which seems to me now to e very adult and cynical, but it was my favourite play.
Any help tracking it down would be much appreciated.
thanks
Ben
George
Feb 07, 2015 @ 19:45:07
I also first read it in primary school.
I have been searching for this story for years for my nieces and nephews to whom I relate the story often and they love it and repeat the plum’s rhyme, which I had to make up as I didn’t quite remember it but I knew the gist of it.
Thanks so much.
Jane Kenny
Feb 18, 2015 @ 22:16:40
Hi I’ve just come across this comment site and so glad to know others know of the open road books from primary school. I would have been in year one or two when I read this book. So year would have been 1970. It seems to me it was the catholic schools that had them.my partner was public school nsw and same age and never heard of this series. I would love a copy of this book if someone wants to sell theirs.thanks jane (my email preciousmumma@hotmail.com)
Stephen
Sep 16, 2015 @ 21:27:02
Amazing to find all this web talk on the rolling plum. I remembered nothing of my early reading years in the 60’s except for this story. I googled it a while ago before this blog was active and found only one reference to it. This gave me the open road reader reference and I managed to find a copy on abebooks.com.I now realise how lucky I was to get this. At the time it was the only copy listed. When I received it… what flashbacks!The blue cover with the little girl in pigtails made me realise how some things can remain hidden in your subconscious. I turned to the appropriate page fascinated as to why this story had remained in my memory even though I remembered nothing but the title. I saw the rolling plum escaping from the children and read the story of travels and seeing a wonderful wide world. All this has been my life. It shows how much of our personality is already present by the time we begin to read. I have a seed from a plum that one day I will plant when I am ready to settle in one place…if ever!
Stephen
Sep 19, 2015 @ 05:34:08
As a footnote. The rolling plum was taken from a 1944 b & W classic “Stories to tell in the infant school” by Roselin Cole published by MacMillan. Last time I checked there were copies available on http://www.abebooks.com.
laura
Jun 13, 2016 @ 11:54:30
I have been searching for this book also. It was my home reader when I was in infant school in the mid 80’s. I had been allowed to keep it (probably because it was already quite old material by then). I so regret that we didn’t keep it. I loved that book.
laura
Jun 13, 2016 @ 12:00:58
I loved this book too. My favourite story was called “The Apple Fairy” from memory. It was my home reader in infant school during the mid 80’s and I had been allowed to keep my copy. I no longer have it though – it must have been discarded during a clean out. I so wish I still had it now to share with my children.
Moya Deigan
Jun 14, 2016 @ 11:47:01
I too remember those reading books from St Columbkilles – and who could forget Sister Philomena?!
John
Jun 17, 2016 @ 08:21:02
Hi Moya, Sister Philomena was quite a teacher. Our classroom was in the “basement”! 🙂
Celia
Jun 16, 2016 @ 20:16:53
Hi John,
You may not be checking posts anymore however…I went to the same little primary school as you did…well all of the nine Burke kids did. You captured the feel and memories of St C so well.
I came across this article by chance and was so happy…I have been searching for my favourite little book “The Rolling Plum” for many years with no success!
Please steer me in the right direction if you ever hear of another copy.
Thanks for your wonderful article,
Celia
John
Jun 17, 2016 @ 08:29:48
Hi Celia
How are you? I need to approve each post so i do get to see them. I try and pick a time to reply however there are simply times when I cannot make the time. Rarely, the books turn up on eBay or on the other well used online selling platform… it’s name escapes me just now. The books may not be listed by title (Open Road, etc) but simply as “1950s 1960s school readers”, “old public school books”, “old school readers” and the like and you then need to investigate what the seller is actually offering for sale. 😛
When were the Burke kids attending the St Columbkille’s? Three of us were there in the sixties. I finished Year 6 in 1970.
Thank you for your thoughts 🙂
Cheers
John
leanne Maskell
Oct 01, 2019 @ 09:43:33
Hi John,
I stumbled across your post whilst searching for a lullaby I learned in school which I think was from the ABC? Broadcast book. (no luck so far). I too, fondly remember the Open Road and the raindrops. I had the chance to purchase this book in a little place called Candelo some years ago, I regret it.
Leanne from Wakehurst Primary School (Frenchs Forest)
Janet Lilley
Oct 04, 2016 @ 13:06:19
Hi John
What a lovely surprise to learn there are others that treasure this book & the stories. I have a copy of the book, which was given to me by my niece in about 1990. She had a copy from school & was happy to let me keep it when I told her of my love for the stories. Especially The Rolling Plum, The two little raindrops & The Elves & the shoemaker.
The stories were lovely, the illustrations beautiful & it certainly makes me so nostalgic for when times were simpler & innocent as kids. I read & reread the stories so many times as a young kid, I think it kickstarted my love of reading. I went from that book to the Famous Five stories.
Cheers
Janet
John
Oct 04, 2016 @ 16:15:41
Thank you for the wonderful comment Janet! They are lovely stories 🙂
Paula Green
May 22, 2017 @ 16:19:58
Thanks so much for the scan! I am a primary school teacher and today was telling my class about how different lessons were in my school days. I recalled my Open Road reader and told them my favourite story was of the runaway plum. So I googled it and up came this page..with scans I could share with them! Wonderful. Please scan more stories!
John
May 24, 2017 @ 06:56:58
Glad you enjoyed sharing the stories Paula! 🙂
Bernard
Aug 11, 2017 @ 15:19:38
I read The rolling plum in the early fifties. I was the kid that had trouble pronouncing “R” s
Stephen
Aug 21, 2017 @ 12:33:12
I have been searching for years for any information on The Open Road and couldn’t believe I’ve achieved my goal. I attended Sacred Heart School Darlinghurst and this book really made an impression on me even though it was 60 years ago. I remember the two raindrops and can still see them clearly in my mind and as for The Rolling Plum, well as soon as I saw his little face it was instant recall. Took me right back to the classroom. Thankyou so much for helping relive a bit of my childhood. And may THE PLUM keep rolling.
Kerrie
Feb 26, 2018 @ 16:23:18
I still have the Open Road to reading book, I loved it as a child, I was only reading it to a child at after hours day care the other day, she loved it .
Carol Flood
Jun 15, 2018 @ 11:46:28
Hi,
Reading your blog brought back so many memories. I too was taught in the catholic system in grade 2. Loved the book and could not wait to read it. One thing has stuck with me is a poem I think that was at the opening of the book. ” The Open Road is a friendly road I love to travel daily. The kindly folk I meet and greet and talk to them so gaily…..” I would love to know who it was written by and if I could find a copy of it.
annie
Nov 08, 2018 @ 23:02:52
I have a blue copy of Open Road to Reading,& the earlier one with David, Sue and Wendy. At our school last year we had a Back to the Sixties day,and I duplicated a number of the stories , the current children absolutely loved them,and we ran the day like a ‘60’s day, complete with a grumpy nun with a cane whacking the desk, they keep asking for another Open Road Day! The best and memorable stories ever! Thanks John
Alice Styan
Jan 20, 2019 @ 11:47:43
Annie,
I am searching for the David Sue and Wendy book.
Do you have a photo of the cover of the book with David, Sue & Wendy that you could send me please ? Or describe it ?
Many thanks
Alice
joan Low
Feb 23, 2019 @ 15:36:23
I loved the Open Road. I remember with happiness the rolling plum, the Brownies house but my favourite was the Apple Tree Fairy. I too am seeking a copy for my grand daughter now learning to read.
Lyn Ward
Jan 15, 2020 @ 15:35:59
I also remember the Open Road book as does my husband. I attended Miranda North Primary School in Sutherland shire in the 60’s
I was lucky enough to find a copy of the book at a church fete back in the ‘80s which our grandson
Is now reading in Perth.
We both have wonderful of memories of it especially the ‘rolling plum’ and also ‘ raindrops’
Martin Bourne
May 17, 2020 @ 11:45:46
Wow, thanks for holding those stories and posting them. I simply entered “the rolling Plum” and was so grateful to find your post. I was a small child in England when I first was introduced to the rolling plum story back in 1958-59, then immigrated to Sydney Australia. I never thought I would locate the reference so quickly. Memories!
By the way, my wife has a complete copy of Enid Blyton “Down at the Farm” and we read it to our grandchildren. If someone is interested they are welcome to get in touch and I’ll try to help with pics etc.
John
May 18, 2020 @ 07:42:27
Good morning Martin,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. I am glad that the post bought some joy for you. I think the stories in this reader nurtured my sense to travel and explore.
Take care,
John
Lynne Zahra
Sep 05, 2020 @ 17:10:33
Wow I really remember that great book. I had to read portion of it in class. Thanks for the memories.