307. Holiday travel plans – first step: split up!

Family holiday destination

The Gold Coast.

Long drive, car towing boat.

Mum, Roger, 4 brothers & friends.

Doesn’t fit.

Our proposition: we’ll hitchhike!!*

Proposition eventually accepted,

We plan route, strategy.

3-man “hitching” group, impractical.

Group to split.

A single & a pair.

Lone hiker changing at

Designated rendezvous points & times.

 

Note:

* By “we” here I mean me and the two friends I had coming along – Greg Totman & Paul Smith.

Hitch-hiking from Penrith to Gold Coast – 900km (560 miles)

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304. If it’s treasure you’re looking for, look in the right spot.

Opal Fields – mounds concealing shafts

Desolate fields,

Mounds concealing shafts

Dug by early fortune-hunters

Hopefully, quitting their stake within

Whiskers of wealth.

Opals, the elusive prey.*

Lightning Ridge.

Hour upon hour

We sieve dusty fields.

Nightfall, open camp,

Laying side-by-side, looking up,

Amazing sky, stunning show

Shooting, sparkling.

Together we gather

A most remarkable treasure.

Daytime: Labouring in the dust for gems. Nighttime: Lying in the dust being gifted them.

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303. The time has come …

Interested in the political,

Political Party membership doesn’t fit.

I try,

As I did with

Religion

Air Force Cadets

Like them,

Too many rules,

Not enough action.

But party politics is driving passions,

Or

Election agenda is driven

By a generation of issues, actions

Forcing Party relevance.

Nevertheless:

It’s Time!

Extra:

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302. Ah-ah-aah-Ah, Ah-ah-aah-Ah!!!

No seats reserved,

Gates open. Rush

To secure best spots.

We aim for grandstand.

Distant but removes height challenges

(Especially for Phil)

Band takes the stage,

Crowd surges across barriers

Filling vacant grass.

Slow motion.

Human tidal wave, watched from above,

The perfect choreography for concert opener

The Immigrant Song.

Extra:

 

 

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301. On the shoulders of a giant.

Overnight stay means

Indulgences (somewhat tempered),

Dusty morning,

Early place in Showground entry queues.

We are near front. Success.

Crowd builds,

Queues turn to mobs

Crushing mobs. Relentless & uncaring.

Ten year old in terror

Eyes fearful, tearful.

In a flash,

Phil’s safe,

Astride the shoulders of

Giant-hearted Ian Elliott.*

Note:

* You’ll find Ian’s presence in a number of Short Memories, and he is an unnamed presence in many. He appears in a couple of the rotating heading banner photos … and he is in the class photo at Short Memory #70. Ian’s status in the Cowan family annals is one of legend – the story of Phil being rescued by Ian at the entry to the Sydney Led Zeppelin concert is told and retold.

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300. Camping, comedy, vampires – summer in the city.

I’m taking along brother Phil, turning 10.

Camping,

With mates.

Traveling light – it’s Summer.

Campsite:

Moore Park. Kippax Lake.

Kippax Lake – the lake in the middle of Moore Park

Big group, includes …  “Rosie McCann”

We split for Saturday Night entertainment.

Some have tickets for comedian, Marty Feldman.

The rest of us … ferry to Manly,

Cinema.

The Return of Count Yorga, Vampire.

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299. The secret gets out before it is any fun.

OK, kids. If anyone asks
“Where’s Roger?”, ..
YOU DON’T KNOW!

On alert!

Roger’s secret trip to South Africa.*

Freeing Mandela?

No, … scouting for Panthers.

Phone rings, race to answer,

Wanting our place

In his clandestine mission.

Not 24 hours later

Back page headline,

Revokes our role.

No secrets in Rugby League!

Note:

* There were 4 people on this trip – Roger, Leo Trevena, Bob Boland, and Pat Russell.

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298. Sharing the waves.

The Club’s cabins at Bendalong

Clubs Cabins & Beach at Bendalong.

A bush track to isolated beach.

No life-guards, no flags.

Beautifully clear water, refreshing

Waves well-formed for bodysurfing.

“Max!, Steve!”

Urgent shouts from the shore.

“Come in, quick. there’s a fin!”

We scarper.

Another fin appears, and another, and …

A pod of dolphins.

Bodysurfing.

Beautiful.

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297. Speaking of sports … a moment captured.

Reel to reel is turning

Pumping continuous sounds

Through speakers in my back room

Speakers shifted, facing driveway.

Table dragged out, unfolded,

Net erected.

Someone bouncing ball on bat,

Coordinating eye with hand,

And simultaneously counting.

(We are skilful!)

Music on …

Challenge on …

Camera rolls,

Capturing a moment with friends.*

Note:

* I suspect this is late 1972. The competitors are, in order of appearance, Michael Talve, Noel Coughlan, Glen Davidson and me. Brother Phil makes a cameo at the end. I know many readers would have seen this before but it rightfully belongs in this collection.

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296. Plenty of choice for sport & sports alternatives.

School Squash! I diligently attended sport.

Senior sport, multiple options

Team sports, standard seasonal mix.

Then …

Off-site individual selections,

Allowing latitude.

Squash & Ten Pin Bowling

Venues near home (or friends)

Offer easy early escapes.

Golf at Leonay,

A few holes, then down to the river.

Sport, well attended, easily escaped for

More imaginative, more indulgent, alternatives.

 

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