So much choice but are we better for it?

With less to decide, life in the 1960s was so much simpler, writes Ian Cole

WHENdid having a lot of choice start to happen? These days we seem to be surrounded by choice especially when compared to past eras.

For example, there are now television stations galore and that’s just the free ones. Back in the ’60s when television first arrived there were two: Channel Two and Channel Six. There are also myriad radio stations. As kids, listening to the wireless, there was 7HO, 7HT, 7ZL and 7ZR.

Choice of schools was also limited. Unless you had rich parents and were sent to a private school, kids were sent to the local primary school.

Up to 1960 in Hobart, the choice of high school was determined by the Ability Test at the end of Grade 6.

Based on results, you either went to Hobart High, Tech, Ogilvie or Cosgrove High. Choice of subjects then was extremely limited compared to today where the choice is quite wide and varied.

With sport in the ’60s, going to the footy was all the go for spectators, but all the local TFL matches were at the same time on a Saturday afternoon. Today of course it is the AFL on television with a choice of Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

While on sport, kids these days who are learning to swim have plenty of choice, from excellent public pools to numerous private pools. Way back in Hobart, it was all done at the Tepid Baths. There was no choice there. I came away with limited ability to swim and a fear of ever going there again.

For those who were lucky enough to fly in that era, the choice was either TAA or Ansett-ANA The planes to Melbourne left at the same time. Some choice! These days people have a wider choice between Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin and Tiger.

With cars back then, the choice may have been between Holdens, Fords, Chrysler’s Valiant and a few others. Probably in the ’60s we thought that was choice compared to earlier in the century when Henry Ford brought out his T Model Ford. He announced, “Any customer can have a car painted any colour they want, as long as it’s black!”

Way back in Hobart, it was all done at the Tepid Baths ... I came away with limited ability to swim and a fear of ever going there again

So I guess the ’60s were a long way from those times and the choices today with cars, food in supermarkets and wine in bottle shops, accommodation with Airbnbs are all a long way from the ’60s.

Having all this choice we assume is a good thing but the direction we are headed isn’t necessarily so, according to a cynical Woody Allen who, hopefully on a lighter note, claimed we are now faced with a very important choice.

He said, “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.” Ian Cole is a retired teacher and former state Labor MP.