Actually, I still have a pair of my Dr Martens "monkey boots" from 25+ yrs ago:O

I do remember thinking, would I still be wearing these when I'm old :^O:_|

I missed the whole Doc Marten thing in High School, never really liked long boots.

I was the best in the family for school shoes lasting, I could get three years out of them and they'd still be looking good except that the sole was so thin that my feet would get wet if I stood in a puddle!

Bata still exists... I buy my kids school shoes from the Bata factory outlet.

thanks for all that info.   will investigate Bata...but DGD is still growing.....at 14 she has a size 10!   Her mum has a size 11! and my OH takes size 13, so it's in the genes.....apart from that I grew a whole size when Iwas 21....so don't want to spend too much  $$ only to have to buy a new pair in 3 months.

link to Bata

http://www.pricecompare.com.au/gsearch?aid=37405&q=Bata+Shoes&gclid=COWAxuCaj7YCFQocpQodM3cAPw