Shelf-stacker skates thin ice as heat turned up on loafers

MY first job was working in a Woolworth's supermarket in Sydney. I was 17 and had just left school and had yet to start my full-time job.

I had three duties, none of them particularly scientific. The first one was to pack groceries - and that was the most scientific - you had to be careful and make sure you put the heavy things on the bottom and the eggs on the top.

When there was spare time, I used to fill up shelves and work in the pick-up. That was the best part because you got to talk to people. The cars used to come in and I had to carry the groceries out to them.

Sometimes people might even give you a tip. You could tell by the type of car which customers were the wealthier ones. Only women ever tipped you. Men never did - I guess they thought healthy, young boys should struggle in the heat.

Because the pick-up area was on the edge of the main store, the supervisor could not see what was going on there and you were more inclined to put your feet up. If you were in the store and stood still for more than five minutes they were on to you.

I got into trouble sometimes - you learn things as you go along. I remember once packing some ice-cream. You were supposed to wrap ice-cream in paper - I don't think they had plastic bags in those days - which I did. But then I put it in upside down and it must have sat in the parcel pick-up for half an hour and the ice-cream melted and the lid was not on as tightly as it should have. The lady returned with this soggy thing and complained.

It was hard work. I started in November and it was going into the Christmas rush - it was really busy and very hot. We used to work late at night when the shop was closed and everyone stacked shelves.