Gibber’s Creek Gazette, 14 November 1972
Editorial
The Gibber’s Creek Gazette speaks for the moral majority when we say ‘no’ to long-haired layabouts and peaceniks, and ‘yes’ to safe, responsible experienced government. None of the Labor candidates in this election have even held office. Leading scuffling students in a ‘moratorium’ that cost Australian industry a day of production, or visiting a communist country, does not equip a party to hold a chook raffle, much less lead the nation.
NANCY
Matilda was going to go bananas when she saw that editorial, thought Nancy as Moira’s secretary showed in the only applicant for the position of River View typist. Normally Moira interviewed potential employees, but she was in Sydney for a few days, reviewing applications for three vacant beds.
There were always so many more than they could take, young people condemned to little life beyond the walls of their home, or even worse, a nursing home where everyone else was elderly, even suffering from dementia. If only they could take more . . . ‘Tom, darling, you can’t draw on the files. Here’s some paper.’
‘Don’t want to draw!’ said Clancy.
‘Pretend to be tigers then. Big fierce tigers in the jungle . . . Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Forty. No biting, Clancy. Here, play catch with the keys.’ She threw them the filing cabinet keys. ‘Matron Clancy will be back tomorrow. You must be thinking we’re terribly disorganised, Miss Forty.’
‘Not at all,’ said Miss Forty pleasantly. She was perhaps twenty-five, and neatly dressed in a white skirt, white blouse and white sandals, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Nancy glanced at the papers on Moira’s desk again. ‘Your references are excellent. You worked for Dr Zacharia for two years. Would you mind telling me why you left?’
‘Dr Zacharia decided to stop practising.’
‘Ah, I see. Well, your shorthand speed is excellent too. Tom, no climbing on the filing cabinets!’ She stood hurriedly, before the twins decided to try hanging from the light fittings again, and held out her hand. ‘Welcome to River View, Miss Forty. When can you begin work?’
The young woman gave an eager smile. Extremely eager, thought Nancy vaguely, hauling Clancy down.
‘I could begin today if you like.’ Miss Forty’s eyes evaluated the office, lingering on the filing cabinets.
She must need the money badly, thought Nancy sympathetically. ‘Wonderful. Tom, where did you put the keys?’
‘Don’t know.’
‘Clancy?’
‘Grrrrr!’ said Clancy, attacking the desk leg.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll find them. That can be my first official duty,’ said Miss Forty, still smiling. Was it permanently attached? wondered Nancy absent-mindedly.
‘The files are confidential, of course. All information on the children at River View is only released to medical staff or parents or guardians. But you’ll know all that from working for Dr . . . ?’
‘Zacharia,’ said Miss Forty pleasantly. ‘Dr Zacharia was always insistent on complete confidentiality.’
‘Excellent,’ said Nancy, glancing at her watch. She left Miss Forty on her knees, under the desk, hunting for the filing cabinet keys.