We had a wonderful time being part of our first Grand Prix as well as walking around Adelaide after the event closed for the day. As is often the case when away from home, there was a lot of chiacking and laughing, lots of fun and memories made.
Moving onto the annual Scrutineers Christmas function that year, where all members of the families were in attendance, I worked my way around the group as I had not seen some of the families for a time, not only mixing with my fellow scrutineers but their wives, girlfriends, and children, and of course the new babies, as well.
I noticed that when I was on my own and speaking with the wives of fellow AGP mates, suddenly the respective husband would appear and join in the conversations that we were having.
This had never happened at previous functions, as I got on well with the families, enjoyed meeting with them and was well accepted by the wives and girlfriends. The sudden appearance of the scrutineer husband happened several times and I was getting concerned that I had done something to upset the guys.
Then the penny dropped! When we were in Adelaide and we were walking around, guys being guys would make comments regarding any good-looking female that passed by etc. In those days some of the comments were a little risqué, but it was all in good fun. I enjoyed their banter but was very careful not to make any comment myself as I learnt very early in my scrutineering days that it was OK for the men to comment, but not for me. (I made a comment about a well-known blonde female at a major race event saying that she was nicely dressed and looked good, but it was a pity that she didn’t visit the hairdresser during the week and get the dark roots of her hair done – this did not go down well with the guys and I had a quick lesson in when to keep my opinions to myself!!!)
Back to the Christmas function. Once I realised what was going on, one by one I made my way around all the AGP guys and quietly said to them that I hope they understood what happened in Adelaide stayed in Adelaide, not only at the track and our outings at night, but also at the after-event dinner dance which we all attended until well into the early morning following the Grand Prix. I felt the mood changed with the guys and I was able to enjoy the Scrutineers Christmas function as I am sure the guys were now able to do.
I was always treated well by the guys, and they had no concerns with me going to the AGP or other events that we attended.
Heather Wallace
July 2023