Gorden Forester
We never used to lock the place

We have been in Minto for 14 years. It was very quiet. Our kids were young then too. I have four children, two boys and two girls. They all went to Sarah Redfern High School. It was alright because they were all friends. They would stick together. In later years, there were families with five or six kids and parents not looking after them, going wild. It got a bit hectic then.

The bottom half of Valley Vista was probably a bit better than up the top, only because the Housing Department moved in there. They only shifted troubles. Bringing bad ones from another area and moved them into there. Probably think they would change their ways a bit — a relief to people in the other area.

The boys up the top played up but they never caused any trouble. They knew who you were I suppose. They wanted a hand with something or to borrow some tools, we were never robbed then. In the early days we never used to lock the place. My son Paul works with the Attorney General’s department at the Downing Centre in the city.

In Minto, your neighbours are living in your pocket. You walk out into the street, you have eight people talking to you. It is only when you have a break from it you are aware of it. Over there, there were some not very nice people looking over your fence, you can not move from them can you? I think that is probably why the Housing Department is doing away with them. There were a lot of families, and if you don’t get on, you don’t get on.

It is so peaceful here [in the new place], you get time to talk. Over there, there was always someone visiting. You didn’t have to drive to visit anyone, just walk from here to there.