INEZ JOHNSON
MY EARLY VEHICLES INEZ JOHNSON
When I first came to South Australia in 1960 I worked first as a mothercraft nurse in the babies’ nursery at Calvary. Later than same year I moved to Woodside and worked at the Onkaparinga District Hospital, for the next 2 ½ years. My first vehicle was a Lambretta scooter and I needed a licence, so went to the Woodside Police Station and sat the test, failed the first attempt but was successful a few days later, then I could start to learn to ride the scooter, Johnson Road Ambleside was my training road an with someone on the back shouting in my ear how to change gears, then practising on my own for a whole day, I was able to ride on the road and get about.
After one winter in the hills wet and cold riding was not so good, so I bought a 1948 Morris 10 (black) and traded the scooter in, I did not know how to drive a car, so Dick’s younger brother who was 15, came with me to Jarrett’s (Vimy Ridge Service Station) and sat in the passenger seat and changed gears for me, while I steered the car, and used the pedals “clutch in now out” he said every time a gear change was needed, back to Johnson Road and another day of practise, until I felt confident to drive back to Woodside.
(1) The local GP asked me to take an overdue pregnant patient for a “bumpy” car ride put to Harrogate, over the rough gravel roads, matron gave her permission, cap and apron off, in the car and off we went, she was highly amused and said “will this work,” we will soon know I replied, we had a great hour and a half, bumping over the rough roads and those who know Morris 10’s know that they crab walked around corners due to the direct steering. We had lots of fun and arrived back at the hospital still intact, no labour, but later that same evening she came back in and No 4 baby arrived very quickly.
(2) The second incident came when I discovered about 10 m that the car was missing from the carport, after ringing the police, received a phone call early next day, the car was found by Victoria Park in Adelaide, hot wired, out of petrol and flat battery, the lights had been left on. Dick to a friend to retrieve it for me, and the next day to everyone’s amusement, I was called out to the main passage of the hospital, to find 2 large Army MP’s and 1 short Army Private between them, marching towards me. “Ten-shun” and stopped, “right private get on with it” it turned out he had been drinking at the Woodside Hotel and was walking back to Inverbrackie Army base, saw the car and decided to have a joy ride to Adelaide until it ran out of petrol, left the car lights on and thumbed a ride back to Woodside and somehow got caught. I was asked if the Army could punish the offender instead of the local court and a small article appeared in the local paper the next week “Morris 10 stolen, taken for a joy ride”
(3) The third incident happened at the hospital, a Sunday afternoon, on duty with Matron, her friends invited her for coffee at the local café “back in an hour she said” during that time I went to collect laundry her black cat Timmy was outside playing with something, big yowl then flopped the “something” was a diamond head snake, which I quickly killed, cat unconscious, rang local vet at Oakbank, bring the cat and some anti venom serum to my rooms. I rang the café, left Matron a message, one of the ambulatory patients said “I’ll look after everyone till Matron gets back”, cap and apron off, cat in basket, serum, and off I drove to Oakbank, then helped the vet treat the cat, IV infusion in place, can I stay and help till its finished. The phone rang Matron calling “cat will be okay” says the vet, “can I keep him here with the nurse until IV finished” Arrived back at the hospital nearly 2 hours since left to be met by Matron and other interested people, the cat recovered and all was well.
I transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woodville to continue my general training still with my Morris 10, then later bought a 1959-60 2 door Morris Minor 1000. Had to have correct indicators fitted first and kept that until after Dick and I were married in 1968.
“George” the gnome I knitted while at Woodside and became my faithful travelling companion for many years and was loved to death by our first two children.
Some facts about the Morris 10 for all of the Morris car buffs.
PS Interesting history of the Morris 10, previous owner had the engine reconditioned by well known MG specialist Tony Ohlmeyer, fitted with Laystall liners, MG piston and camshaft, ran quite nicely
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INEZ JOHNSON MORRIS 10 1948 INEZ JOHNSON LAMBRETTA SCOOTER
Article ID: N30