Just after I had submitted my last column a couple of weeks ago I received in the post three letters from readers, two of whom had submitted some of their memories. The third letter was from a reader asking me to give a talk to a group of elderly residents at a Retirement Village. I have to get my act together for that one
But now back to memories from readers as we go back to January 1955 when Ron Schofield of Baulkham Hills was nearly 16 years old and his brother Geoff was 14½ years old
Ron wrote “We were very excited to be heading to Melbourne by train with our push bikes with the intention of riding our bikes back by road to Sydney. Saying goodbye to our Dad at Central Railway Station we settled into our carriage in the coal driven steam train heading to Melbourne. What a wonderful experience listening to the strange noises and feeling the movement of the train with my brother Geoff sleeping in the luggage rack we had a great overnight trip. We arrived at Flinders Street Railway station in the early morning and then spent the day exploring the beautiful city of Melbourne.
Riding our bikes to Camberwell we stayed in a very large two storey house named “Moore Potter House”, named in memory of two missionaries who were drowned on their first mission trip overseas. After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast we left Melbourne heading for Sydney following the Princes Highway.
Our luggage was carried in saddle bags connected to two metal racks attached to either side of the front and rear wheels. Our aim was to travel 100 miles a day, staying in caravan parks in the evening all along the coast. Some of the beautiful towns we stayed in and passed through were Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Nowra. Being January it was very hot and on one occasion Geoff and I spent quite a lot of time at the local pub at Orbost drinking lemon squash. We met a lot of friendly people and some days they would carry our gear ahead and leave it at a prearranged caravan park. We have fond memories of spending some time at the seaside fishing port of Boydtown near Eden where in the early days there was a whaling station at Twofold Bay. On our last day riding from Nowra to our home in Sydney, some kind people carried our gear for us to our home at Punchbowl.
Our journey took us 10 days and we were very pleased to enjoy such a wonderful experience on our ride and were very thankful for a happy and safe journey. Great memories!”
The second letter is from Richard O’Bryan of Hobartville who wrote
“I was reading the Hills to Hawkesbury Living and thought that I would send you some memories that I have had – I moved from Manly to Baulkham Hills in 1967. We moved into our house at Flinders Ave. I paid $14,500 and we lived there for 17 years. I remember an old lady pushing a wheel barrow and picking up horse manure. We had three garages in Seven Hills Rd in the time we lived there. Being a bricklayer I got the job of building the High School in Windsor Rd and also the Dunmore College at Epping. We had good times there. We lived next door to the Boyden’s. My youngest son and Barry are still good mates. In 1974 work was short. I bought a new truck for work at the State Brickyard. I was there for two years and when the State Brickyard closed I went back to bricklaying. To close I wish I still lived there, I now live at Richmond.
Thanks to Barry and Ron for those interesting memories from the past.
Don’t forget to contribute your memories and also any old photographs that you would like to see published in this magazine’s “as we were” section.
NOW WHAT ABOUT YOUR MEMORIES OR YOUR STORY.
You can write about childhood memories of where you may have grown up or moving into the area. Tell us about your school days. Where you worked, played or went on holidays; your first car; that first date, getting married or maybe the history of your family, group or organisation in the district. This page is about memories so tell us yours.
If you have some great memories, or perhaps you belong to a local community organisation and would like to share your organisation’s history or story with us then feel free to share your memories or experiences by writing to 17 Rose St., Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 or email to ivorjones@hillsto Hawkesbury. com.au You can also share memories on any of my Facebook memories groups including Hills District Memories which you will find at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hills.memories/ or Hawkesbury Happenings & Memories which you will find at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hawkesmemories/
