Kip (Christopher Luke) Westaway

Kip is a tearaway youth that is torn between the responsibility of his family and the excitement of being a pre-teen in a robust neighbourhood. Generally, Kip tries to do the right thing and contribute to his family by relinquishing his education, hoping to ease the financial strain felt by the Westaways when they lose Tom, Kip’s father. Not one to dwell on past regrets, Kip feels guilty for not ever saying goodbye to his father before he died and therefore, practises honest affection to his two daughters Charlotte and Stanzi and provides a genuine support to his grandson Alec.

Kip is the glue that holds the Westaway family together. His kindness and willingness to help is depicted in his conversation with Stanzi when she returns to her parents to seek support and he light-heartedly jokes ‘I can help, whatever the nothing is…I’m an expert at nothing’, reflecting his keenness for his family to be open with one another and deal with the stresses of the world together. In the same way, Kip manages to bridge the generational gap with his grandson Alec when he gifts him a Nintendo DS game console, somehow knowing exactly what the boy wants. It is because of this endearing manner, that Alec feels guilty and chooses to return the precious photograph to his grandfather rather than get into the car for a joyride with his friends.

Kip Westaway Quotes

‘I own the lanes mostly. I know the web of them, every lane in Richmond.’ (Kip Westaway) p 21

‘The difference between generous and honourable isn’t something I’ve thought about before, but I look at Kip’s face and see that this is important.’ (Annabel Crouch) p 204

‘Before long, Grandma goes to bed and I sit up with Grandpa, just talking. He tells me about the old days, about some horse he used to have, about the trouble Uncle Frank got up to when he was my age, but he also asks a lot of questions about school and art. He’s ace, actually. He understands what it’s like for a brother to be outnumbered by women. The whole time he’s talking, he has the photo of Connie in his hands. He never once puts her down.’ (Alec Westaway) pp 272-3

‘Being known as a chief layabout and squanderer of opportunities in all of Richmond is a big responsibility.’ (Kip Westaway) p 9

Francis Westaway (Uncle Francis)

Living in the cramped neighbourhood in Richmond in the peak of war proves too much at times for Francis, who chooses to disguise the monotony of his daily tasks with the influence of comic strip characters and fantasy books. Escaping to a safer world, even the funeral of his father is experienced through the fictional world of which he is the master.

Similarly, when he falls in with the bad company of the neighbourhood gang and accompanies them as they rob an old lady, Francis distances himself from the reality of his actions by narrating in the third person – ‘Cranston’s ticker is hammering so loud he’s scared it’ll give the game away…’ (p 165). His attempts at lying to Annabel about how he came to acquire the pendant continue the theme of pretence and his perchance for disguising the truth. His cutting remark to Annabel about her unfortunate circumstances turns readers against him and he reappears later in the text, a lonely reminder that time has passed. Perhaps in an effort to atone for his previous actions, Francis gives the family home in Rowena Parade, Richmond to his nieces, Stanzi and Charlotte.

Francis Westaway Quote

‘The toughest gang in Richmond! And they want me, Francis Westaway.’ (Francis Westaway) p 155

Connie Westaway (Constance)

As a woman in war torn suburbia, Connie’s options are even more limited then her younger brothers and when her father dies and Jean (her mother) returns to work in the domestic services, Connie conforms to gender expectation and quits art school to help at home. Connie becomes a mother figure to the boys, especially Kip, and in the absence of Jean wears the hard work and deprivation of the home front without complaint. Connie is a valuable member of the family; she comforts her mother, defends Kip when he comes under scrutiny for his testy behaviour and makes sacrifices to provide for the family on a daily basis. She is strong and decisive and this is shown on multiple occasions throughout the narrative.

Her relationship with Jack Husting is representative of so many doomed love stories that ended with the deployment of the soldier to war, and it is significant for her as it is one of the first times we see her as a character, acting in her own interest. She makes no complaint about the abortion that her mother organises for her, seemingly accepting her fate as she slowly bleeds to death on the trip home.

Her influence over the characters of the text is felt even after her untimely death.

Connie Westaway Quote

‘It seems that all my life I’ve had nothing I’ve desired and I’ve given up having no desires at all. Now I know what it feels like to want and I will give anything to have it.’ (Connie Westaway) p 285

Jean Westaway (Ma)

It’s obvious that Kip’s mother Jean feels the pressures of raising three children on her own and suddenly becoming the head of the household after her husband passes away. Her demeanour toward her kids, especially Kip can, at times, be quite sharp and uncaring. As all parents, Jean’s hopes lie with her children; she is optimistic that Connie will make a good match with Mr Ward, the editor from the local paper The Argus, which indicates disappointment in their current status – ‘This is not how I imagined it to be. Children, Mothering.’ (p 212). She invests money into Francis’s education whilst dismissing any chance of Kip succeeding, and is staunchly protective about her family’s image.

Upon learning of Connie’s pregnancy, at first she wrestles with disappointment but her prime concern is of the ripple effect that this incident will have on the family. She is strategic in convincing Connie that ‘the boys’ (p 220) will have to carry the shame of this as well, and she understands Connie’s affection toward Kip will be enough for an abortion to be the viable option. The clinical manner she displays as she takes Connie for the abortion belies the grief and despair she actually feels when Connie dies. The death of her only daughter rips her apart.

Jean Westaway Quotes

‘They have to get a wriggle on. Can’t have her showing. Still, at his age, a widower already, no one expects a long engagement.’ (Jean Westaway) p 216

‘I’m only going to be gone for a minute. That’s the only reason I leave her.’ (Jean Westaway) p 239

‘Mothers need to know that butter goes on a burn and spider webs on a cut, clove oil for a toothache, cakes and tea for bereavement. And for things like this, for girls like Connie and saving her future, there’s a respectable woman who runs a business in Victoria Street.’ (Jean Westaway) pp 221-2

Tom Westaway (Pa)

Little is known about the Westaway father Tom, aside from the enormous impact his sudden death caused when he fell from the tram in inner city Melbourne, inebriated. Although this event precedes the novel, the ripple effect his passing has on the lives of his three children is remarkable; Connie and Kip must both adjust the direction of their lives to help support the family and Jean is never the same mother after losing her husband. One noble aspect in Tom’s narrative is that he defied his Protestant family’s wishes and married a Catholic Jean, but the manner of his death brings shame to the Westaway family and he is often thought of in anger.

Tom Westaway Quote

‘…our story starts with the family in somewhat reduced circumstances on account of the sudden demise of Kipper’s old man. Who dropped off the tram in Swan Street somewhat worse for a whisky or three and hit his head. Blam, splashed his brains all over the road. A sad end.’ (Pike) pp 23-4

Constance (Stanzi) Westaway

As the theme of twins revisits in the two daughters of Kip, Stanzi and Charlotte, Stanzi looks at life theoretically and analytically. Working as a counsellor in Hawthorn, she is desperately unhappy with her life and struggles with having to listen to her clients’ anxieties when she herself feels suffocated with fear, worry and self-doubt. Stanzi’s life takes an unexpected turn when, upon discovering that the small shilling her father gave her when she was a child is missing, suspects her last client may have stolen it and breaks protocol to confront the girl. What little confidence Stanzi once had as a counsellor is shattered by this confrontation and she retreats to the family home in Malvern to seek advice from her mother Annabel.

Stanzi struggles with a negative body image and a weight problem that seems to permeate every aspect of her existence. From this experience, she reviews her life and makes some drastic changes and when we revisit her perspective later in the novel, she lives with her sister Charlotte and is helping to raise her niece and nephew. She has also become a personal trainer and appears far more content in her life’s new direction.

Constance Westaway Quotes

‘I could have spent that money on a holiday…While I sit here on a Tuesday afternoon listening to her, I could be recalling two weeks of sun-kissed splendour in the Maldives…I was trying to do the right thing.’  (Stanzi Westaway) p 38

‘And I am captured, standing here, a smiling giant statue of myself carved from granite, massive hand on my bag, huge legs, half-astride, atop bulbous feet…’ (Stanzi Westaway) p 61

Charlotte Westaway

Charlotte and Stanzi’s relationship is organic and their constant referral to each other in their respective chapters indicates their connection is unbreakable, typical of twins. However, Charlotte’s character is an apt depiction of the more environmentally conscious citizen that exists in the 21st century. Although at times she feels as lost as her twin sister Stanzi, Charlotte works as a yoga instructor and a part-time sales assistant in a health food store and participates in a casual relationship with a man named Craig.

Charlotte embodies the more carefree woman in the 21st century, still plagued with difficult decisions regarding children and relationships, but not shackled by societal expectations as her Aunt Connie was during the war. Finding herself in the same predicament as Connie, pregnant and in no permanent relationship, Charlotte is in tune with her own body and looks at carrying a child in a more spiritual sense, believing it to be a product of pre-destination. In juxtaposition to Connie, Charlotte’s options are plentiful and there is a sense of calm about the pregnancy with the condemnation of the community no longer a concern.

Although Charlotte becomes more practical when she has children, she retains her philosophy and reliance on eastern wisdom, holistic living and veganism. Charlotte uses astrology and kismet to explain the actions of people around her, removing any need to over analyse the situation, like her sister might.

Charlotte Westaway Quote

‘I hold the pendant between my hands, I hold it close to my heart, I hold it above the incense burning on my dresser. I close my eyes and say a few words to the universe. I am its child. I know the universe is listening.’ (Charlotte Westaway) p 123

Alec Westaway

Seventeen-year-old Alec is frustrated and longing to break free from the constraints of his life, bought on by his age but also partially by Charlotte’s minimalistic ideology. As Charlotte’s first born, Alex feels the brunt of his mother’s anxieties about raising a child on her own and his immaturity is evident in his reference to her as ‘the hippy Oberfuher’ (p 266), a high ranking Nazi military officer. Jordan cleverly reminds us that Alec is just a boy on the brink of manhood by purposely misunderstanding certain sayings as he explains his plight, such as ‘what I have to content with’ (p 250) instead of ‘what I have to contend with’ and other such mis-pronounced idioms. These errors aside, at the end of the novel, Alec makes the honourable decision to return the photograph to Kip (his grandfather) rather than spend time with his mates; a decision that saves his life.

Alec Westaway Quotes

‘Soon I’ll have my learner’s, then in a couple of years, hello freedom. I’ll be off like a shot, just watch me.’ (Alec Westaway) p 243

‘Alec. He’s [Kip] old. What if he dies tonight? What if this was the last time you ever saw him and you had a chance to do something kind for someone who’s done so much for you, and you didn’t take it? How would you live with yourself?’ (Charlotte Westaway) p 264

Libby Westaway

Although they don’t share the bond of being twins, Alec’s half-sister Libby is more often his ally than his enemy. Although they compete against one another and fight, as siblings tend to do, Libby anchors Alec’s childhood memories and shares his frustrations as a teenager.

Libby Westaway Quote

‘While Libby is alive I know I’ll never be really alone. All the things I remember, everything about my life, our family, my childhood: it’s all real because Libby knows it too.’ (Alec Westaway) p 273

Jack Husting

The only son of Sylvester and Ada Husting, Jack has had a private school education and the opportunity to expand his horizons working on his uncles’ ranch. Upon returning home there is an expectation that Jack finds a young woman and settles down, starting a family together. Although Jack doesn’t rebel against the notion, he shows little interest in marrying for strategic reasons.

Jack feels the oppression of being home under the roof of his parents once again, disliking their prejudiced attitudes and choosing instead to come to his own conclusions about the neighbours. Likewise, he doesn’t feel compelled to defend himself when questioned about why he hasn’t enlisted by some locals, choosing to treat the insinuations with humour rather than aggression.

Instead of the wealthy Emily Stewart, Jack is drawn to the young Connie Westaway, who he sees dancing unceremoniously with a broom, fascinated with her vibrant energy and free spirit. On the brink of war, they both meet one evening and share a kiss. The night before his is deployed, Jack and Connie make love and he releases Connie from the burden of ‘waiting for him’ (p 287) but he doesn’t know at this stage that his connection to her is evermore. His behaviour toward her is typical of the wholesome young Australian, full of courage and promise, but sent to war never to return. He dies in Libya and remains immortalised in Connie’s memory.

Jack Husting Quotes

‘It’d be some pretty poor kind of love if I didn’t want what was best for you,’ he says. (Jack Husting) pp 287-8

‘She has the joy of the morning in her, as if she’s the only person in Melbourne who even knows it’s a new day. Hours could pass and I’d still be watching Connie Westaway dance.’ (Jack Husting) p 76

Sylvester and Ada Husting

Sylvester is a kindly man and in the absence of his own father, Kip looks to him for approval as a young boy. He leads a passive existence, choosing to quietly defy his wife on smaller matters such as giving Kip a shilling for his work. On the other hand, Ada is a woman of rigid views and prejudices, and is quick to judge those around her, including the Westaway family. Ada Husting is representative of the dangers of living in a small community, where gossip runs riot and feeds prejudice and suspicion. Most of what Jack learns about the neighbourhood changes since he has been gone comes from his mother, who has learnt it from another equally unreliable source.

Both Mr and Mrs Husting dote on their son Jack and his death hits them hard.

Sylvester and Ada Husting Quotes

‘If we have to send boys to fight… it’s layabout boys with no responsibilities, the Kip Westaways of the world, who ought to be going.’ (Ada Husting) p 102

‘She [Ada] thinks me content to sleep half my life away in this little boy-room. She’s concerned I’ve developed lazy habits, despite the work I do in the shop… she doesn’t know me. Not at all.’ (Jack Husting) p 72

The Crouch Family

Annabel was brought up by her father, as her mother died in childbirth. An only child, Annabel cares for her broken father who resents the fact that he cannot offer her a better life and feels responsible for holding her back. Mr Crouch’s alcoholism slowly declines and Annabel remains positive about her plight, despite her recognition that her father’s demise is inevitable. During the war, Annabel works in a munitions factory, reminiscent of the many Victorian women that filled the employment gap left by the men who had been deployed to the war front.

Although initially Annabel attends a date with Francis, her affections switch to Kip and they marry. They have a healthy relationship with their twin daughters, Stanzi and Charlotte and their grandchildren, Alec and Libby.

The Crouch Family Quotes

‘This is our private dance, my father’s and mine. We know our steps by heart… soon he will say something about me being alone and what it costs me to care for him.’ (Annabel Crouch) p 179

‘Kip takes my hands and holds them in his. I can feel my mind calm, my breathing steady. Other than dancing, it’s the first time I can recall that I’ve touched the skin of a man who isn’t my father.’ (Annabel Crouch) pp 203-4

McCarthy (Mac)

Mac is the ringleader of a Richmond gang, made up of ratbag boys making trouble in the streets. Mac and the other gang members (Craig, Pike and Manson) lure Francis into robbing the old woman, which is when he acquires the amethyst pendant.

Jos McCarthy and Millie Mathers

Jos is Mac’s sister and is equally as callous and hurtful as her brother has been to Kip in the past. She and Millie meet Annabel and Kip at a dance. They tease Annabel about wearing the same dress multiple times and bring attention to Kip, suggesting that he has hesitated in joining the war effort in a bid to make him seem cowardly.