Jen’s father died in the war, and her mother is planning to marry Wal. Jen struggles to accept Wal, comparing him to her heroic dad. Through cinema outings, car rides, and quiet moments of realisation, Jen’s story explores grief, loyalty, and changing family dynamics in post-war Australia.

Watch Clip 1: The Pictures

Jen and her friends are at the 'pictures' watching a newsreel that includes an announcement of the birth of Prince Charles. In the cinema foyer, the girls steal a movie poster of Prince Philip, the husband of Princess Elizabeth (who would later become Queen Elizabeth II). The girls discuss the importance of 'handsomeness' and Jen tells them the prince looks like her father, who died in the war. This introduces themes of media influence, grief, and admiration.

Class discussion prompts:

• Why does Jen say Prince Philip looks like her dad?
• What does this tell us about her feelings and memories?
• How did cinema shape public opinion and personal identity in the 1940s?

In pairs, create a 1948-style movie guide or radio segment exploring how media shaped aspirations and emotional connection.

Watch Clip 2: The Holdens

In this clip, Wal visits Jen's mother to take her to the pictures in his new FJ Holden. Jen is unaware of the affections between her mother and Wal. When Wal gives Jen's mother a kiss goodnight, Jen notices her mother’s affection and begins to feel conflicted.

After watching the clip, complete one of the following activities:

Option 1: Write a journal entry from Jen’s perspective: “Why I’m not ready for Wal”

Option 2: Research the release of the Holden FX and its cultural significance

Option 3: Interview a grandparent about their first car or cinema experience

Watch Clip 3: Courting Part 1

In this clip, Jen and her friends are fantasising about the attractiveness of movie stars and royalty and rating them between one and ten. The girls only rate Wal as a three or four, which makes Jen feel that her friends would not approve if she told them about her mother's affection for him.  

Watch Clip 4: Courting Part 2

In this clip, Jen sees her mother’s engagement ring, realises her mother’s decision to marry Wal and begins to accept the change.

In pairs, role-play a conversation between Jen and her mother about the themes of change and loyalty. Imagine how each character might feel and what they would say. After the role-play, choose either Jen or her mother’s perspective and write a journal entry that explains what they have learned about change. Include thoughts, feelings and any realisations that came from the conversation.

Create a digital scrapbook that captures post-war Australian life. Research what cars were popular in the late 1940s and 1950s, how people experienced cinema during this time and the family traditions or routines that shaped everyday life. Include at least one image and a short description for each. Think about how these elements reflect changes in technology, culture and values after the war. When finished, share your scrapbook with the class and explain one surprising thing you discovered. 

Share your digital scrapbook from the Going Further section with the class. Explain one surprising thing you discovered while creating it. After everyone has shared, work together to explore the similarities and differences between each student’s scrapbook. Think about what these comparisons reveal about post-war Australian life and how individual choices shape the way history is represented.

Reflect on Jen’s emotional journey and the cultural dynamics of post-war Australia by making personal connections. Use the following prompts to guide your thinking:

• Have I ever struggled to accept change in my family?
• What helps me feel proud of my family’s story?
• How do media and traditions shape how I see myself?
• Write your reflections in a short paragraph or journal entry, linking your own experiences to the themes in the story.

Apply your learning by designing a moment of sharing that celebrates emotional resilience, respectful relationships, and cultural memory. Organise a storytelling circle where you and your classmates share personal or family stories about change and traditions. Begin by setting up a safe and comfortable space for discussion and agree on respectful listening rules. Prepare a few guiding questions to help the conversation flow, such as:

• What is one family tradition that means the most to you?
• How has your family adapted to change over time?
• What role do stories play in keeping cultural memory alive?

After the storytelling circle, write a short reflection on what you learned about emotional resilience and respectful relationships through the stories shared. Explain how these stories helped you understand the importance of supporting each other during times of change. Include examples from the discussion and suggest one practical way you can show support to others in your own life.

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