Meat Pies and Mumbling Blokes

Born in Germany, Margitta Acker came to Australia in June 1962. Five weeks later, she was married at St Peter's Lutheran Church in Reid. For her, it was a wedding among strangers. Her memories of settling in Canberra, exploring her new surroundings, finding work, making friends and raising a family give a fascinating insight into everyday life in the national capital half a century ago, when Lake Burley Griffin was non-existent, mobile phones and credit cards were unheard of, and the suburb of Curtin was out in the paddocks.