Anyone who had doubts that by the end of the 1970s Tracks had strayed somewhat from the path of righteous indignation about the environment we live in and the poison we put in our bodies need only look at the bumper 100th issue, published in January 1979.Anyone who had doubts that by the end of the 1970s Tracks had strayed somewhat from the path of righteous indignation about the environment we live in and the poison we put in our bodies, need only look at the bumper 100th issue, published in January 1979.

Across a double-page spread someone with the apt pseudonym of Brian Bile (cleverly depicted in a series of photographs of then-advertising sales manager Manfred Makauskas in formal wear) explains how to chunder with style after consuming too much of everything, from cheap grog to heroin.

Now this is a long way from Aunty Gwendoline’s Cooking Corner or Fully Qualified Survivor, both of which emerged in the very early issues, which is perhaps not surprising, given that co-founders John Witzig and Albe Falzon were both rather keen on saving the world, while contributor and Simply Living founder, John Stewart was positively evangelical about it.

Of course these were heady times (in a variety of ways) and youthful baby boomers like us had every right to be anxious about a future in which fear of nuclear annihilation would eventually recede just far enough to make way for fear of destruction of the planet through climate change. These themes were in play from the first issue, with the blast furnaces of the Newcastle steelworks billowing black smoke allover the cover and John Witzig opening The Ecology Page with the simple and profound truth of, “They’re dumping shit in the sea.”

In that same first issue the splendid, Aunty Gwendolyn, introduced ...