In My Life: Mary Ainsworth says our self-centred generation needs to rethink

That's how our many of our grandparents started out in the world. Doing it tough but making do.

And for their children, they learned lessons including respect, pay for what you want, having little or no debt and, importantly, sharing what you did have.

So what happened that we are now fighting over toilet paper?

Parklands Village resident Mary Ainsworth says she can only shake her head at the current wave of panic-buying.

And here's how she described today's generation: self-centred.

The 83-year-old can remember watching soldiers dig an air raid shelter in the backyard of a Tamworth guesthouse when she was part of the relocation effort from Sydney because of the threat from the Japanese army.

She can vividly remember the anxiety associated with trying to make the butter and sugar last when ration books were your ticket to food during the Second World War.

"We were living in Sydney during World War II when the Japanese came into Sydney Harbour," she said.

"Because there was a direct threat we, some of the younger children, were taken up to Tamworth.

"Before we left I can remember that we had to black out the windows at our home. I recall peeking out, like kids do, and seeing search lights everywhere.

"There was also barbed wire along all the beaches and there was a kind of boom gate across the harbour to stop midget submarines from entering.

"I had uncles who had joined the war effort; I was very invested in it."

Mary spent 18 months in Tamworth before returning to live in the Blue Mountains.

After meeting and marrying Jim Boxell in 1956, the couple - like many of their contemporaries - had little expendable cash to purchase anything new.

"We were raised to save up until you could pay cash for something you wanted," she said. "I can't remember even considering borrowing money for any luxury items in those early days.

"Our first house was very old; we were married about 15 years before we even considered looking to buy a house.

"Our parents instilled in us a sense of being thrifty and making do because that was how we were raised.

"We were taught to consider other people before yourself.

"So to see people panic buying and fighting over toilet rolls, I just find that hard to believe and to cope with."

Mary admitted she was "disgusted by the behaviour" of some people due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, she can see how the current traits we are experiencing and witnessing were born.

"When we were young, nobody had much money, so you did without and you did the best you could," she said. "And you shared anything you had.

"For these reasons we wanted it to be a bit more easy for our children.

"So we managed to gather a bit more money for our children and they saw the end result of our financial success.

"But that meant that they don't quite think the same as us - they grew up without want.

"And I think their children have become a bit more of a self-centred generation.

"I wouldn't like to be raising children right now. There is a lot of worry at the moment; trying to keep kids out of danger."

While COVID-19 is the imminent threat, Mary says her concerns growing up had always been centred on a possible nuclear war.

"To think that one person ate a bat, and the world is now suffering is a very hard thing to get your head around," she added.

Her advice for the current generation is simple: only buy what you can afford and don't get caught up in going into too much debt.

"It's fine to live modestly," she says.

And what advice would she give her younger self?

"Don't rush to grow up too quickly; there's all sorts of responsibilities when you are an adult."

After her first husband passed away, Mary married Keith in 1994 and the couple relocated to Laurieton before moving to Parklands Village.

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