"Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"

It was a familiar sound at busy Perth intersections in the 1940's and 50's, in the late afternoon of weekdays.

And in the suburbs when school was out came the boys and girls who would distribute the now-defunct Daily News newspaper. From the local newsagent the lads and lasses would collect their quota, roll and bend the newspapers into tight bundles, and load them into hessian bags carried over the center bar of their bicycle.

Mostly the newspapers were tossed over the fence of houses in suburban streets but if you were a generous householder and gave substantial tips your paper would be carefully deposited on your verandah near to your front door.

Memories of a bygone era, when empty bottles were left on front verandahs along with money in an envelope for the milkman when he did his rounds in the early morning.

Warm crusty bread carried in horse-drawn carts and deposited in the householders bread box. Our bread box at 26 Duncan Street Victoria Park had two doors, one opening inside the house the outer door for the baker to use. I can still recall the sound of the baker closing the outer door, foretelling of crusty slices liberally smeared with butter.

Does everyone have a Memory Lane, their own secret thoroughfare, that they visit often? Does anyone anymore greet their neighbour, ask how they're doing? Has the art of 'dropping-in' disappeared? Once upon a time we didn't need an invitation we just knocked on their front door.

So, so much that was once commonplace has gone forever. Children felt safe doing their newspaper round, now parents are terrified at the thought of letting their kids roam the streets. Memory Lane, it's a side street off the Nostalgia Highway, may you find your lane in the map our mind builds.