September 1954. When a two-pound loaf of bread cost sixpence. It’s also the last time the Western Bulldogs AKA Footscray won a grand final.
It’s been a long wait for doggies fans. On that day in 1954 Footscray’s Jack Collins booted seven goals as Footscray defeated Melbourne by 51-points.
About the only thing that’s still the same in Australian life is the fact Queen Elizabeth II is still our head of state and was the first reigning monarch to visit Australia in 1954.
Here’s what else was all the rage in 1954…
Kiwi horse dominates
The time-honoured Australian tradition of claiming anything successful from New Zealand may well have started in 1954 when the New Zealand-bred Rising Fast was on the way to the Spring Grand Slam by winning the Caufield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Top song
Frank Weir’s ‘The Happy Wanderer’ was the number one song in the Australian charts, spending eight weeks at the top. Take that Kanye!
Historic golfing win
Peter Thompson had just become the first Australian to win the British Open. He’d go on to win it four more times.
Amazing technology
There was no television in Australia but there was the announcement of the world’s first pocket transistor radio. The hype was slightly less than an iphone 7 launch and people managed to get on with their lives rather than preparing to line up for days on end like losers for the technology.
Athletic hero
Brit Roger Bannister was still the talk of the athletics world after being the first to break the four-minute mile barrier in running.
Spy games
Russia sent a spy to Australia. However, Vladimir Petrov loved the place so much he defected from the USSR in 1954 which became known as the Petrov affair. Disappointing that we didn’t use him for the first ‘Where the bloody hell are ya?’ campaign to reallly rub it into the Ruskies.
Notable births
Pauline Hanson, Gina Rinehart, Clive Palmer, Kim Hughes, Gai Waterhouse and Mark Holden were all born in 1954. Touchdown!
Best movie
From Here to Eternity claimed the Oscar for best picture, giving us the most famous beach scene of all-time.
What do you think Bulldogs fans. Is it time to finally put the curse to bed and enjoy some 21st century success?
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