Vincent Copley

It was the worst job I ever had in my life, long grass, snakes and spiders and of course I ate lots of grapes.

At that time alcohol was a big problem with us. My two cousins drank and one day when we worked for Frickers, we were loading scrap iron with no gloves and it cut our hands to ribbons. When we got paid we found a wine shop and bought a bottle and then we got merry and went and bought another one. Of course we got drunk as skunks. We were going to the pictures in Port Adelaide and one got a bit boisterous and so we threw him in the river.

That was our lifestyle for six months and then we decided to go the Riverland to pick grapes. It was the first time we used Aboriginal Affairs, we went there to Kintore Avenue to get a free bus ticket - it was like the third degree, we got a grilling. Eventually we set off for the Riverland. It was the worst job I ever had in my life, long grass, snakes and spiders and of course I ate lots of grapes, so the next day I was sick as a dog. There was a great mob of us, all of use from Point Pearce went there to pick grapes, all my cousins were there.

Eventually I said 'this is a terrible job and I'm off' so we hitchhiked to Nuriootpa and camped under a famous tree on the way to Adelaide. I had a bit of money so I bought some clothes, got a shower and shave and went to Broken Hill with 10 shillings in my pocket. So that night I had somewhere to stay and money to buy tea.

Vincent Copley