Wednesday 10 July 2013



Crossing the mighty Clarence River into Grafton.  Looking down river towards Maclean.
 Our old chemist.  We knew a couple of the girls who worked in here over the years.  It was where we had all our photos developed as well.
 One of my favourite house in Dobie Street.  In the time we were in Grafton it was used as a Nun's home and then sold privately.
 The Small Sisters' house in Alice Street.  This is where Yvette and Alicia had their piano lessons.  The house had never been altered since the elderly sisters were born.  It had 12' ceilings, original wall papers, brass picture rods mounted on the walls.  Alicia had her lessons in the front room while Yvette had her lessons out the back in the kitchen dining room, which was along the verandah from the main house, with the verandah open to the elements.
 Westlawn School where all the children spent their happy infants and primary years.  It was a lovely little school with a lovely big grassy playground.  I remember some plovers set their nest in the middle of the playground and guarded their eggs ferociously.  The Principal  put a fence of sticks around the nest and banned the children from playing near the nest until the eggs had hatched.  The lawn was mowed by weekend detainees from the Gaol.  When they had finished all their mowing they used to play touch football until the van came to take them back to the Gaol.
 !03 Cranworth Street.  Our first house was provided by Jeff's work.  It was brand new when we moved in.  It was straight across the road from Westlawn school.  In was also on the bus route.  The first time I caught the bus with 3 little girls and a pram, the bus driver said "Don't fold up your pram.  I'll get it!"  He put it in the boot of the bus fully erected and when we got into town he took out the pram and set it on the footpath for me.  I was astonished.  The whole trip had cost me half of what it had cost at Engadine and the bus driver didn't start the bus till we were all seated!
 The flood drain from North Street through to Carr Street.  The girls rode their bikes to school along the bike path beside the flood drain. Cows used to graize along the flood drain at the end of Carr Street.  The reeds were to protect the frogs.  We had an enormous variety of frogs.  I miss them.  Especially when it rains.  We don't have ANY from here.
 The Gallagher's house in North Street.  They always had a prize winning garden. Elva used to say that Mike must garden with a miners lamp in the dark to get as much done as he used to in the garden.  They had a great BMX track out the back for their 4 sons.
 Earl Street looking north towards Junction Hill.  Cars used to roar along here at 100kph making a huge dust cloud when it was dry.  The cows used to come down twice a day along the road and turn left to be milked.  I spun out in the gravel on this road once with Felicity.  We got the car stuck in a ditch and had to walk home and get Jeff to come back and get it out.
 Our lovely house in Carr Street.  We did a lot of the building ourselves. Jeff did all the verandah railing as well as making the 'whalebones' for the bull nosed verandah.  The girls painted their bedrooms.  The stained glass windows in the entrance and stairwell came from Jeff's father.  He was taking them to the dump and I rescued them about 10 years before we built the house.  At the time I didn't know what I would use them for, but they were just perfect in our house.  My brother Rod built the kitchen and the wash stand vanity outside the toilet.
Phil and Belinda's lovely old house that they restored. 











 The beautiful Christ Church Cathedral in Grafton where we worshipped for 22 years.  It was wonderful going back and seeing all the old 'aunties' and our lovely friends.
 Lunch at the Crown Hotel on the riverbank.  So wonderful catching up with so many friends.
Gwen, Alan, Ian, Coral Lyn, Bill, Julie. Selwyn, Betty, Ron, me, Gwynne, Kaye and Cathy.
 Selwyn, Betty Ron, me Gwynne, Kaye, Cathy, Daryl, ........Billy and Julie.
The beautiful Clarence River looking towards South Grafton.

2 comments:

  1. I loved seeing all the old building and old friends!

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  2. I was bummed in January when we were home to see that our old house has virtually none of our Front Gardens left! Don't these people garden? And what's with the hedge right up against the house when they have a whole half acre at the front to garden? Can they not be bothered to step 1m from the front verandah!
    Did you notice the fence is gone from around the drain too? No cows there now! I wonder why they took it down? I used to Moo at those cows as I rode to school, and if I had the right tone of voice they would put their heads up and moo back. If not, they ignored me. I learnt to moo like a real cow with those cows!

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