Unlocking Adulthood
A Night of Celebration in Iluka
The Iluka Memorial Hall was fit to burst. One hundred and fifty guests in their best formal attire had gathered to celebrate the 21st ‘birthday boys,’ John Collis and William (Bill) Coombes.
Attendees sat along formal dining tables decorated with fragrant flowers and Bangalow palms, filling themselves up with generous servings of crab sandwiches and cake.
Throughout the night, large suit cases, travelling rugs, wireless sets, wallets, clocks, reading lamps, and cheques began to pile up on the gift table. But, in 1956, a traditional 21st birthday celebration could not be complete without one particular gift: a key.
Before the 1970s, the legal age of majority in Australia was twenty-one years old. This meant anyone under the age of twenty-one was considered a minor – affecting their ability to enter into contracts, drink alcohol, vote, and make other legal decisions independently.
As such, a ‘key to the family home’ became a customary gift on this birthday to symbolise the person’s passage into adulthood. Fashioned out of honey-coloured natural timber, this key was made by Pop (Billy) Boyle, a local boat builder, and presented to John by his father, Jim.
Once the tables were cleared, musicians took turns leading the fun and the dance floor came to life. One local talent, Bert Hammond, became a particular highlight when he began playing a gum leaf alongside the live band. By the end of the night, John’s key had been inscribed with many names – it’s clear he was well-loved.
