The Lost Shepparton Facebook page and my search for old photos of Shepp began back in 2013.
It started when I was looking for some old local photos for a project I was doing for Undera Primary School. I was making a DVD of the Year 6 students interviewing elderly residents about their experiences at the school and growing up in the district. The residents also showed some of their old photos and the kids were fascinated. To finish off the DVD, I went searching the internet for old local photos and stumbled upon Lost Perth and was amazed how popular it was and the great photos eliciting many memories.
I went looking for other ‘lost’ pages and found Lost Melbourne, Lost Sydney, Lost Brisbane and others around the world. What a great way to unearth old photos and people’s memories of the past. So I created Lost Shepparton (and other lost pages for other district towns/cities) and the rest is history.
In the beginning I thought the really old photos would be the most popular, but over time I discovered that the photos of the 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond were the ones that evoked the most engagement.
I eventually was made aware that there was already a Facebook page called Shepparton Fifties, Sixties and Seventies and it had a great following. Over time the page creator, Margaret Marlow, and I formed a great working relationship authoring books together and she is now a co-editor of Lost Shepparton.
It always fascinates me people’s reactions to the photos and the memories that are evoked. Some photos get a small response which I don’t mind as it all adds some valuable insight to our past. Then out of the blue some photos get a huge response, such as the Raymond West Pool, the Taiwan restaurant, the drive-in and so on.
A few months ago I posted Greg McCoy’s photo of towel turbans and ALL records were broken. The response was huge, not just locally, but it went national in a big way and also internationally. It reached more than 300,000 people, had more than 7500 likes and more than 3000 comments.
For me it was a small memory I had of my past and did not trigger too many emotions. I was not expecting this and it reminded me how important it is for this page to display a wide variety of images that can remind us of places, people, events, etc, that will add to our ever growing archive of memories of Shepparton and district.
Feel free to email us your favourite photo/s and memories.
Here are some comments from our Facebook fans about their memories of these towel creations.
Michelle Jones
I used to live in Shepparton … like 58 years ago now. And me and my brothers use to do this at the Shepparton pool.
I’ve shown my grandchildren. It was and still is a great idea!!
Ron Biggs
I remember my brothers and sisters doing this as well. If it was really hot you would soak them first to keep you cool.
Lynnmaree Phelan
We used go to the pool at opening time and then at closing time throw our towels in the pool and then make a turban and walk home. By the time we got home it would be dry.
Greg Bugeja
We had a towel turban on so we can eat our hot chips on our way home from Granville Pool in the late sixties.
Maggie Stokes
We used to wrap and then roll them around our legs. Did this out west walking home from the swimming pool.
Thelma Waddell
Brings back memories of going to the city baths with my brother and sister. We had our own towels with our names embroided. The familiar Arab head dress for hot summer days.
Jan Moller
Yes... all the rage when I grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in the sixties.
Leonie Brookman
I was even doing it the late sixties, and then I learnt the sting. Which was flicking people with the towel. It stung. lol
Annette Kearney
Do you remember? Running home from the pool barefooted and, every few minutes, throwing your wet towel on the ground and standing on it until your feet cooled down? Funny!
Peat Brewskies
I did this in the 90s with my brothers. We made them just as a way to hold our towels without holding our towels while running across the scorching sand to the ocean.
Rachel Litchfield
We used to do this in outer Sydney in the 70s and 80s. I had forgotten all about these turbans.
Jo King
Remember doing this for the shepherds or kings in Nativity plays. So long ago can't remember which. Might have used tea towels similarly depending on size of kid.
Maree Mielnik
It was big in Nagambie too at River Street. The movie Lawrence of Arabia came out in 1962. Coincidental?
• Geoff Allemand is an amateur photographer and admin of the Lost Shepparton Facebook page. Please share your pics of the past at pastpics@mmg.com.au