Growing up at Herne Bay: Janny Ely and Judy Chester

Sisters Auntie Janny Ely and Auntie Judy Chester spent three years (from 1959) in the army barracks at Herne Bay (where those with nowhere to go ended up) waiting for a government house. Their mother was very ill and, despite help from family, they learned to cook early and Janny missed a lot of school looking after her. Their father wanted to avoid the Bodgie’s and Widgie’s (delinquents) but ended up at Green Valley, which became known as “Dodge City”.

Related video: Moved to Green Valley as part of the assimilation policy

Keywords: Childhood; school; moving