Adelaide railway station dining room - lessons learnt from Nanna

Adelaide Railway Station dining room 1928

I have always valued the lessons learnt from the lives of my grandparents and ancestors. In particular, this story reminds me of my Nanna growing up during the depression and the importance of equality between people and fighting for what you believe in. It also helps me to remember the importance of appreciating what I have.

Recently when we visited the National Railways Museum at Port Adelaide I found an old photo of the Adelaide Railway Station dining rooms displayed in the rail history exhibition. I was so thrilled. It instantly took me back to my child's eyes peering up at Nanna as she told the story of her waitress job at these same dining rooms during the 1930s.

The photo was lovely. The dining room tables set beautifully with white table cloths, white crockery and silver, cruet sets and eucalyptus in vases decorating the centres. Young women stood around in the background dressed in a uniform, black dress with a white apron and little white hat on their head. Immediately I started to look for Nanna because maybe she was there but I didn't recognise anyone. I later found out the photo was taken when the Adelaide Railway station first opened in 1928. Nanna would have only been 10 years old at the time.

So the story Nanna told was about how she got the job at the old dining rooms. Being one of seven girls and two boys, she left home at a young age to earn money and provide half back to help her mother. There were waitress jobs available at the Adelaide Railway station but when her mother (my great grandmother) found out they were only employing Catholic girls she was infuriated. She was so angry that she went to see the manager and threatened that if they didn't employ her daughter she would report him to the government. So Nanna was given a waitress job and board. Nanna's family were Protestants and at the time there was quite a lot of opposition between Catholics and Protestants. Times were tough during the depression too, so they would have had to fight for what they wanted.

Hearing this story about their willingness to speak up for what they believe in, their strength and determination has helped shape the person I am today. Their experiences have been passed down through the generations and made me believe that all people are equal and that people should be considered on merit not their race or faith.

One of the main things Nanna always mentions about working there is they used to serve prawn cocktails. Only the rich could afford this type of luxury, and it was hard times then during the depression. It’s amazing that this memory has stuck in her mind. So I've been taught to always eat all the food on my plate. I still feel bad to waste any food. Waste not, want not!

So there are lessons to be learnt from others before us, passed down from one generation to the next and it has helped me learn many good things. It’s just fascinating to hear the old stories too. Fancy finding an old photo of the Adelaide Railway Station dining rooms. It definitely took me on a brief journey back into time.