Friday 28 September 2007

Flashback Friday

Oops - nearly forgot. Mum and Dad are back from their travels so I was able to get my hands on an album.


Here is a photo that brings back memories of camping trips taken every Easter at Tocumwal on the Murray River.

Every Easter we would load into the car at some ungodly hour of the morning, preferably while it was still dark, and head up to the Murray. I remember Mick and I would go straight back to sleep in the nest Mum and Dad had made on the back seat. No need for seat belts in the 70's obviously. Why Dad felt it necessary to leave so early I have no idea - must ask him.

We would then spend a glorious Easter with a couple of other families doing what kids do best... swimming, digging, swinging out over the river on a tyre, eating jaffles, hunting for wildlife, making fires, (you could do that in the 70's too!) and generally running amok and having a ball.

There would be a massive communal fire going day and night, trench toilets that you filled in as you went, 3 of the mums were teachers so there were always activities going for anyone who was interested. One year we dyed every tea towel with natural dyes we made over the camp-fire and bark paintings that eventually became part of a gallery exhibition we put on for the grown-ups. Every night there were poetry recitals, charades, camp-fire songs, and more jaffles and sticks sprouting hot runny marshmallows.

The tents were triangular and orange and there were very few mod-cons but what splendid times they were.

Note - left to right, Jenny Pearson, Sally Waring, Georgie Gamble, Jason Gamble (up top), Cindy Gamble, Mick Pearson (on pole)

5 comments:

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Welcome home Mum & Dad, so lucky i got to meet them when they toured Darwin. Lovely people with a passion for life, coffee & Australia. Fantastic photo, how does the Murray River look today?? Love Posie

LBA said...

I am struggling with the 'themes' too.

Most of our family albums were kept by my father after the family separated, so i've only a handful to pick from in the relevant years....

Anonymous said...

I went up to Tocumwal a few times to visit my cousin, lots of fun. Also! I remember ms. Pearson up until half way through year 3! (Just guessing halfway)

Kirsty said...

I LOVE this photo. I also used to holiday on the Murray but at Robinvale. They were the best holidays EVER.

Anonymous said...

Wow, they sound like the best holidays ever....my dad was not a camper so we missed that kind of holiday!!! Im jealous...