lifestyle

What were YOU doing in 1985?

Welcome to the first in a series of new posts. In an idea I have shamelessly *cough* borrowed from one of my favourite broadcasters, Richard Glover from ABC radio 702. With some help from some wonderful MMers who are helping compile these most excellent posts, we’re going to do the time warp together, one random year at a time.

Today? It’s 1985.

And here we go…..

It was a year of great technological advances – in 1985 the first dot com was registered and the first version of Windows was released – Windows 1.0. Compact discs were also first released to consumers but, on the down side British Scientists discovered a hole in the Ozone layer

And while we think stories of terrorism are a 2000’s phenomenon, we remember that in 1985 TWA Flight 847, EgyptAir Flight 648 and the Italian Cruise Liner “Achille Lauro” were hijacked by terrorists.

On the global political front Mikhail Gorbachev replaced Konstantin Chernenko as Soviet leader and met President Reagan for the first time in Switzerland. While in Australia with Bob Hawke as Prime Minister , capital gains tax was introduced and NSW abolished capital punishment for treason and piracy with violence thereby abolishing capital punishment from Australia.

Live Aid concerts around the world raised millions to help the starving in Africa and the pop industry in US joined together to sing We Are The World


Insurance companies also began screening for Aids for life insurance causing outcry by civil liberties groups.

An earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale hit Mexico City killing more than 9,000 people and a volcanic eruption in Columbia killed 25 000.

On the entertainment front Neighbours premiered on Australian TV and Network 0/28 became known as SBS

And to jog your viewing memory here are the Logie Award winner from 1985

  • • Most Popular Drama Program – A Country Practice
  • • Most Popular Variety Program – Mike Walsh Show
  • • Most Popular Public Affairs Program – 60 Minutes
  • • Most Popular Games/Quiz Show – Perfect Match
  • • Most Popular Comedy Program – Hey Hey It’s Saturday
  • • Most Popular Children’s Program – Simon Townsend’s Wonder World
  • • Most Popular Documentary Series – Willesee Documentaries
  • • Most Popular Mini Series – Waterfront

When we weren’t watching such riveting TV we were singing along to the Countdown Top 10 songs of 1985 –

  • Eurythmics – Would I Lie to You?
  • Jim Diamond – I Should Have Known Better
  • UB40/Chrissie Hynde – I Got You Babe
  • Dire Straits – Money for Nothing
  • Models – Out of Mind, Out of Sight
  • Foreigner – I Want to Know What Love Is
  • Mental as Anything – Live It Up
  • Madonna – Crazy For You
  • Madonna – Angel/Into the Groove
  • USA For Africa – We are the World

And this is what we were watching at the movies (check out the trailers on Youtube)

And what were we wearing while out and about? Platinum blond hair, side ponytails and big BIG hair.

Vivid make up, blue eye shadow, fake moles and light pink lips were all the rage.

Women were wearing off the shoulder shirts, sweaters on their waists, neon, long t-shirts, mini skirts and thick belts. There were also Scrunch Socks, big straw hats (like on Dolly model Sonia Klein, above) super tight minis, spandex, tight stonewashed jeans and leg warmers.

When I wasn’t wearing my school uniform, I wore all of these. Sometimes at the same time.

Other popular accessories were hoop earrings, high tops, safety pins, beads, jellies, big hair bows and clock necklaces. Fingerless Gloves were also made popular by Madonna

And what walk down memory lane would be the same without checking out some “hot” ads from 1985. Here’s one for Koolmints that you may recall…..

[huge thanks to Sharpest Pencil]

As for me, in 1985 I had just changed schools and was in year 8. I had just found my group of friends after a few false starts and I’d begun ‘going around with’ boys and going to parties.

So. What were YOU doing in 1985? What are your memories of that year?

ALSO: new Sarah Jessica Parker Frockwatch posted here…..