Chicka Madden is born

Uncle Chicka Madden is born at Tamworth. His father joins the army in 1942 and the family moves to Shepherd St, Chippendale, later to Cornwallis St, Redfern. His first school is Redfern Public School, alternating from time to time with Uralla, where he stays with an auntie. Economic conditions were ‘not much better’ in Sydney. Members of his family work at Shelley’s soft drink factory, as bottle washers. Coupons were given for tea and sugar, so kids get goods wherever they could – for instance, broken biscuits from the Arnotts Biscuit factory in Redfern.