Mum and Dad left "Baroonga" in
1963. I have only been back in the area once since then and that was in the
mid 90's. One thing I remember was that the hills seemed so much smaller than
I remembered them as a child.
A little bit of an up date on the "Smith
family" for you.
Mum and Dad built the motel in Bermagui and moved
there in 1963. After they sold the motel (approx 10-15 years later) they
stayed in the area and went back farming. I think this farming was
perhaps the happiest time of their life until Mum was diagnosed with the big C
in 1984. They found it especially hard going to Canberra for Chemotherapy
etc. In 1987 they sold "Baroongatoo" and moved up to the central
coast of NSW at Lisarow. Mum died in 1996. Dad has done it pretty hard since
Mum died and he has now moved into a retirement village in Forster NSW. He has
just turned 79 and is in pretty good health except for arthritis.I think he
was quite surprised to hear from Bev and I think he may be reluctant to go to
the reunion due to flooding of memories that he can't share with mum. I know
that I will be there with bells on!! I just need as much notice as possible to
organise leave and replacements for me at work.
I do agree that we had the best ever possible
childhood at Kybeyan. I really think the kids today would freak out with the
things we got up to. Those were the days! However I still remember some of the
other things that were not too good. The cold was a pretty strong issue. Dumb
sheep were another. I hate the snow 'cos it usually meant that we had to walk
to catch the school bus 'cos the road was too slushy... the low bridges
were another memory. Getting caught between bridges in the school bus and
having to stay at the Greens place overnight etc etc.
Irene Lines (nee Smith)