January 3, 2012, was an important day in my life ... it was my 76th Journal anniversary!

At the age of 12 years and seven months I was appointed as a cub reporter on the staff of the then Dandenong Journal straight after completing my intermediate certificate at Dandenong High School.

I attended DHS in the days when J L Griffiths was principal. He encouraged me to write for the school magazine and to do a course in shorthand - essential for taking notes.

In those days we did 11 subjects for the

intermediate. My days at the DHS were, as the school song emphasised, "great days and jolly days, at the best school of all".

Quench your thirst

With summer days upon us, what better than some cooling homemade orangeade or lemon squash?

Here are two quick and easy recipes:

Lemon squash

6 cups sugar

grated rind and juice of 3 lemons

1 tablespoon tartaric acid

1 tablespoon Epsom salts

2 tablespoons citric acid

3 cups boiling water

(I buy tartaric acid, citric acid and Epsom salts from a pharmacist.)

Put all the ingredients and lemon juice together in a bowl, add boiling water, mix and dissolve, and chill.

Another old favourite is orangeade.

Orangeade

1& #xbd; cups sugar

2 cups water

rind of two oranges

1 cup orange juice

Put water and sugar in a saucepan and heat sufficiently to dissolve sugar. Pour over finely pared rind. Stand aside to cool. Strain and add orange juice.

For a children's drink, dilute with water - 1 cup orangeade to 2-3 cups water. Add one bottle of ginger ale to this amount of orangeade for teenagers and adults.

Keeping your cool

By taking care, you and your loved ones can avoid heat-related illnesses. Drink plenty of fluids and keep cool - I find a lightly soaked face washer is effective.

Our furry friends, too, need extra care and these same tips apply if we have to take our treasured dachshund down the street on a hot day - plenty of cool water and lots of dampening her fur.

Do you have a milestone, memory or question for Marg? Email marg@yourweekly.com.au or post submissions to A Moment with Marg, c/o Greater Dandenong Weekly, PO Box 318, Dandenong 3175.