ERA Treasure Hunt answers

Treasure Hunt 1

What did the Prime Minister look like relaxing at the beach? Read the words John Curtin wrote on the back of the beach photograph.

What do his words tell you about him?
     i. He liked to wear the latest fashion in swimwear.
     ii. He had a good sense of humour.
     iii. He thought he was pretty good looking.

JCPML00225/2

JCPML00225/2

Answer: ii. He had a sense of humour.

John Curtin wrote on the back of the photograph 'The sort of thing that induces tarts to go in for mixed bathing.'

Treasure Hunt 2

Did you know that there was a connection between John Curtin and custard powder? Find out what the connection was.

a. What brand of custard powder has a connection to John Curtin?
b. What group of people are featured in the collectors' cards?
c. How many collectors' cards are there altogether?
d. Which card number features John Curtin and when was it produced?
e . One of the following products did not contain a collectors' card. Which one was it?
     i. pudding mixtures
     ii. blanc manges
     iii. arrowroot
     iv. choc chip muffin mix

JCPML00403/26

Answers:

a. Lingfords custard powder

b. British War Leaders

c. 36 cards

d. Card no. 10, produced in 1950

e. iv. choc chip muffin mix

Treasure Hunt 3

John Curtin loved cricket but could he really play? Fred Mann, who played cricket against Curtin in Curtin's home suburb of Cottesloe in 1927, reveals all in his oral history interview.

a. Why did Fred Mann initially think that 'Jack' Curtin would not be a very good batsman?
     i. Curtin had only one arm.
     ii. Fred thought that Curtin was too old to bat well.
     iii. Curtin was such a good bowler that Fred didn't think he could possibly be good at batting too.
     iv. Curtin had a very distinct cast in his left eye and Fred didn't think he'd be able to see the ball properly.

b. How did Fred Mann describe Curtin as a batsman?

Answers:

a. iv. Curtin had a very distinct cast in his left eye and Fred didn't think he'd be able to see the ball properly.

b. Fred described Curtin as a very determined batsman who didn't have a great number of shots and who played defensively, letting the other batsman score the runs.

Excerpt from JCPML00250/1. Interview of Frederick Mann, 29 November 1997.

And with the cricket I can remember playing against Jack Curtin in 1927. I played for Cottesloe Beach (my father was the secretary of the club) and I had only just left school as a matter of fact, only in short pants; but Cottesloe Cricket Club played on what is now the Harvey Reserve. They had a turf wicket. My Dad was President of the Claremont/Cottesloe Matting Association and for some reason or other Cottesloe came in with a turf wicket but only for that one year in 1927. Jack Curtin played in that team and some of his team mates were Frank Bendan, Harry Briggs and the two Clifford brothers, Dick and Reg. I was only in short pants and only a very junior member, I was only sixteen as a matter of fact. I can remember Jack Curtin, he was then editor of the Westralian Worker, I can remember him coming and I was struck with him because he had a very distinct cast in his left eye. He didn't field in too close to the wicket and I came on to bowl in one stage of the business, to bowl against him-he came in about the middle of the order-and I thought "now how in the devil is he going to see the ball with this cast in the eye?"-because it was most pronounced. Anyhow I bowled up an over and I found that he was a determined batsman-didn't have a great number of strokes, but very determined and he was going to let the hitters, the two Clifford brothers in particular, they were going to score the runs. So my attitude to bowling to him after that was very distinct and I let him have the lot. But he was still very defensive and showed what a determined character he was.

Treasure Hunt 4

Official records can be marvellously detailed in what they reveal about our nation's leaders. For example, you can find a 'document treasure' in ERA that provides information about Prime Minister Curtin's usual style of socks and the kind of meals he liked best!

a. Name a few of John Curtin's favourite foods.
b. What style of socks did the Prime Minister wear?

Answers:

a. John Curtin liked simple food such as roast lamb and vegetables and plain sweets.

b. The Prime Minister wore old-fashioned plain black socks with trademark 'Indian' stitched in red on side instep'.

Excerpt from JCPML00629/8. Biographical notes re John Curtin, Australian News & Information Bureau, April 1944.

APPEARANCE: ... Wears old-fashioned plain black socks with trademark 'Indian' stitched in red on side instep.

FOOD: Roast lamb and vegetables is invariable hot dish. Doesn't like pork or poultry. Simplicity in food largely dictated by youthful environment adult taste and uncertain stomach. Eats plain sweets, neither ice cream, strawberries or any rich dishes.