[Maurie Fields and Val Jellay Home Movies: Reel 19]

This film shows suburban street scenes, a trip to the country and a visit to an animal shelter. There are good examples of 1960s fashion, suburban architecture and cars reflective of the era.

The film opens with Maurie and friends playfully posing with each other and performing for the camera in a tree-lined suburban street, possibly in Albert Park.

The friends all get into a Morris Major Elite (1962-1964) waving as they drive down the street past a Chrysler AP2 Royal (1958-1961). Single-story terrace houses can be seen in the background.

The family makes a stop-over at a cat and kitten shelter. A handwritten sign scrawled across the side of the building reads: “All cats and kittens in the hostel are stray and unwanted. Their health cannot be guaranteed. Please consult your vet and have your cat immunised immediately”. Beside the writing there is another sign reading “Kindly give a donation thank you”. Val plays with a kitten and presumably adopts it as she carries it into their car.

Families enjoy a couple of trips to the country, including a picnic under pine trees. A small boy attempts to climb one of the trees with hands-on assistance from Maurie. Val swings from a branch, flailing her legs comically. Lunch is cooked on a portable tripod-style wood-fuelled barbeque, while people sit in plastic banana lounges and picnic chairs. There is general banter and typical outdoor revelry among the friends. A large, non-functioning steam train serves as an improvised playground for the children.

Originally made on 8mm film.