by Bronwyn Jameson
As kids our summer holiday “place” was
Bateman’s Bay on the New South Wales south coast. Mostly for expedience, since it was the
closest piece of ocean to our inland home.
But this also meant it was the summer holiday place for many other country families and we’d see them on the beach, the fathers sporting the farmers' signature tan and towelling sun-hat.
Catching up with other regulars, most of whom we wouldn’t see between
Januarys, was part of the summer holiday.
We loved that almost as much as we loved the beach and the easygoing caravan park lifestyle.
Then came the year of The Breakdown. Heading home at the end of the holiday,
along with every other end-of-school-holidays family, towing the caravan up
Clyde Mountain, our car broke down. It
was stressful, harrowing – I imagine a thousand times more for the parents –
stopped beside a long drop down the mountainside, in heavy traffic, waiting for roadside assistance.
Eventually we were towed to Braidwood where we waited days for the
necessary parts to get us home.
The caravan was sold. We spent the next six or seven summers at
the local swimming pool, until eventually my parents built a holiday
house. By this time I was at university
and The Bay lost its appeal for a decade, until I had a young family and we
started the trek down the mountain each year along with my sisters and their
kids. Then that next generation grew up and found
livelier places to spend their holidays and my parents sold the house and that
was that.
Except we all still have such fond memories of the place, of the summers, of the family togetherness, and so earlier this month we – my three sisters, my mum and I – went back to The Bay. We rented a house by the beach. It was too cold to swim but we paddled and walked the sand, ate seafood by the truckload, talked and laughed and remembered. And made new memories.
Except we all still have such fond memories of the place, of the summers, of the family togetherness, and so earlier this month we – my three sisters, my mum and I – went back to The Bay. We rented a house by the beach. It was too cold to swim but we paddled and walked the sand, ate seafood by the truckload, talked and laughed and remembered. And made new memories.
Bateman’s Bay will always be that special
family place for us. Do you have such a place, your special place packed to the gills with the
best memories?
Bron, how lovely that the women in your family made it back down to the Bay for a break! Isn't it a terrific spot? We used to take our kids when they were little to Denhams Beach, not far south of there, and sometimes their grandparents came too. I have wonderful memories of the place and so do they.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a breakdown on the Clyde makes me shiver. Brr. That must have been a nightmare. Particularly before the road got widened a little. No wonder you recall it so well.
Oh, Annie, I love Denhams Beach. We went back there for a visit and a beach walk as well as Caseys and Surf Beach. I didn't realise you were a "southerner". As for the breakdown: I remember the stress and fear clearly and, honestly, that was the last time my Dad did that trip with a caravan. We really noticed how much the road had improved on this trip…although I still wouldn't like to breakdown with a caravan hooked on.
DeleteYou paint such a vivid picture with just a few words, Bron. What wonderful family memories you have. Thanks for sharing them with us. How lovely that you and your mum and sisters got to have that special visit just recently.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Yvonne, although I suspect the pictures did some of the heavy-lifting for me. It was a special week which we will always treasure.
DeleteBron, what a wonderful re-visit with your mum and sisters to the family's holiday spot. I love your photos, especially that one at the table with the laughter! It's gorgeous - a classic "picture-paints-a-thousand words" sort of photo!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have a fave family holiday destination - all that moving around as an Air Force brat. I used to adore the times when my sister and I visited Nana and Grandad for a little stay over the school holidays though. And so novel that they had the same house the whole time! ;)
Sharon, that truly is a "picture-paints" shot for when we get together. There is always good food, good wine and loads of laughter.
DeleteThe fact that your favourite place was with yr grandparents, in a home that was familiar and never moved!, is perfect for your upbringing. The kind of classic backstory we paint for characters, isn't it?
Aw, what a gorgeous post, Bron. I too experienced and loved that "easy going caravan park lifestyle." I've never been to Bateman's Bay. I'm more of a mid-north coast gal. A little spot called Halliday's Point is where my childhood summer holiday heart lives. :-) I've been back a few times and the place just makes me smile. I'm so glad you, your mum and sisters had the chance to revisit a place so full of happy memories for you.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where Halliday's Point is, but I'm about to go Google-Map it…
DeleteRight, now I have that sorted. :-) I must say I love little beachside holiday towns, villages even, and the attached lifestyle. Definitely smile-inducing.
I'd love to think I had a sea-change ahead of me one day.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Bron. Looks like such a lovely place and so many great memories. And that seafood - I love seafood!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen we were kids we made the trek down from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. The undeveloped south end of the Gold Coast (the cheap end...well it was back then). It was two weeks of holiday fun in the sun. My parent were very sun smart so we were only allowed on the beach before 10 and after 3 so we spent the rest of the time playing lots of lots of board games. I still love board games (fortunately we does my husband) and we force (oops I mean encourage) our kids to play board games with us on the weekends (because I'm a sun smart parent too). We're currently addicted to Settlers of Catan.
Oh, Jen, you've reminded me of the many summer holiday hours we spent on board (and card) games as well, both with my siblings and then with the next generation. Man, I feel so old when I say that! I also still love the board games, although I confess to no knowledge of Settlers of Catan. I'm guessing it's not the modern day version of Squatter. I am off to Google it...
DeleteBron
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely psot when we were kids we never had a car so we went on holidays on the train Mum would rent a house at Umina Beach on the central coast and then a bit later on my grandparents had a hobby farm at Warnervale on the central coast so that is were we went and it was awesome fun Mum would take us on the train an bus to The Entrance or Toukley for a swim and the others days were spent exploring The Farm as we called it sadly Nana sold it many years ago and when we had kids we would go down to Sussex Inlet and stay on the water and lots of fun was had fishing swimming and the occasional break down of the car on the way home. Love the memories
Have Fun
Helen
Isn't it wonderful to remember those carefree summer holidays, Helen? The train trip, I'm sure, is part of those memories and would have been an adventure in itself. I bet you made plenty of wonderful memories.
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ReplyDeleteSounds like the perfect holiday spot. Can't say that I can think of anywhere that has similar memories for me.
ReplyDeleteI can just feel those memories, Brom. Love the description of the farmers with their tans and towelling hats!
ReplyDeleteWe have a very special place like that. We've been going to "Starfish" Cottage in Golden Bay for the last nine years. The house is right on the beach and has the most breathtaking views. The house is simple but we take the dog and us and fishing rods and we've made so many memoreis we can't make ourselves go anywhere else :)
Loved this blog, Bron! Am a sucker for nostalgia!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first married we lived in Canberra so we actually went to Bateman's Bay quite a bit and always enjoyed it.
We didn't really have a particular holiday spot as kids - Mum was determined that we go far and wide so we tended to travel around a bit. But the one common denominator was that we went by train as my Dad was in the railway which made it a very cheap way for a family of 6 to travel. So my fond childhood memories are of trains - the transport not the destination :-)
What a lovely post, Bron. I'm so glad you were able to re-visit your special place recently and make new memories.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a special holiday place as a child, but I did try to create those memories with my own sons when they were little. We went to the Yorke Peninsula every summer, always to a different small coastal town, but they all have the same relaxing feel about them and they've blurred into one in my mind. I loved those times, fishing with the boys.
Oh, Bron, love those summer holiday memories. My family and our cousins always went to Clarks Beach on the Manukau Harbour (Auckland). I haven't been back there for years but the memories remain. Now my family has it's own tradition with family and friends staying with us as we live at the beach. Each coming their exact same week, every summer. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThat was quite a bummer. However, it's nice that it didn't exactly dampen your drive or push to get through the day. You'll just have to get your car fixed and be ensured that the repair will assure a lasting longevity. All the best!
ReplyDeleteFelicia Simmons @ Brandon Auto Repair
Oh my! Good thing your fabulous trip to the bay wasn’t ruined by your car breaking down. You should definitely check your car’s condition before your trips, especially for the long ones. Anyway, it's good that you still had fun with your family. At least you would remember that, instead of focusing on the car incident. Drive safe!
ReplyDeleteDiane Wilson @ Fletcher Chrysler