Merita Tabain on Melbourne's 1970s alternative music scene and discovering what life has in store for you

When I Was Young features Merita Tabain who shares her journey as the child of new immigrants, growing up in the suburbs of Melbourne in the 1960s and 70s. Merita's story starts with the painful experience of being seen as different at school and moves into the mind-blowing moments of seeing the Sex Pistols on Count Down and discovering Australia's alternative music scene in the 1970s. With all the courage and grit of punk, as a young adult Merita pursued her dreams of travel, higher education and journalism. Over time her career moved into leadership roles in government and emergency management, something her young self never knew would be open to her. It all fits with her belief that "You don't know what life has in store for you", so she tries to appreciate what she has each day.Thank you to Merita for sharing this heart-warming story.This is a Memory Lane Life Stories production with host Nina Fromhold. Recorded at the Narrm Ngarrgu library in Melbourne, Australia. Music licensed through PremiumBeat. Design by Pass the Salt Studio.