AustLit

'Dear Vicki, 
'How are you, gorgeous girl? I know you'll see the funny side of me reading this birthday letter to you from the old Northcote picture theatre. Believe it or not, it's now called The Regal Ballroom. Nothing regal about High Street, Northcote, in the 1970s, when the Croxton Park Hotel spilled more blood than the local abattoir. They weren't serving Tasmanian oysters with Thai vinaigrette at the Croxton when you were driving past with young Lizzie en route to Ojays down in Clifton Hill in the early '80s. Handcrafted little bags and hippy-like, arty dresses swept up in the aroma of incense: Ojays was nothing like Northland, and you were nothing like the Croxton Crew.' (Introduction)