I raise a taboo subject just in case it benefits someone out there. As it is obvious many of you are a similar age to me and a child of the 70s it may or may not be relevant.

I have been a support person for an old mate who has unknowingly had hep C for about 37 years. Hep C is a silent killer which fcks your liver without any obvious signs. Like most liver related ailments ,alcohol makes it worse. The end result is liver failure and the need for a transplant or the other , more final, solution. Prior to last year I'd never heard of it.

Why taboo? Hep C is only acquired blood to blood. Prior to the mid 80 s when it was identified you could get hep C through blood transfusions of effected blood. Intravenous drug use is the most common manner of acquiring hep C. I now know now of several men and women who acquired hep C after relatively short period of social drug use. Some using only 2 or 3 times. Many but not all have been cured through treatment.

In the 70s I can remember the local dealer telling mates of mine , "I can't get any smoko but I' ll show you how to use smack." This was when Lou Reed sang about it and many of the Oz pub bands and other Cool types were known social users. I have read an extract from the 80 s Royal commission into drugs which stated criminal groups held make 'soft' drugs and flooded Sydney suburbs with heroin.it is estimated there is over 250,000 hep C cases currently .

I went to the funerals of two 19 year old mates In 1978 I played footy with and had known since primary school.

These were Friday night users. Blokes who were apprentices, bankies and council workers went to the pub Friday arvo and had a hit before going to the RSL to see a band and drink more beer. They mowed the lawn for the old man on Sat after a surf and played local footy on Sunday. Not bag snatchers or B&E artists supporting habits.Just like somebody you might know

I ummed and ahhed about using this forum to raise the subject for quite a while ...but....
If someone you know of shared a needle once a blood test can save their life and many of us knew some wild boy down the beach.

To keep this relevant....Glad to see so many reports of good surf lately.

Interesting post Pete and well said. This forum has become very open in recent times !!

I was a child of the 70's but never saw any of the needle stuff - thank goodness. Those things are evil!

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pete53 said.. If someone you know of shared a needle once, a blood test can save their life

Thanks for adding the topic, pete

Good & relevant couple of topics fellas, a great side to this forum.