Austinmer Beach

[Neville Briggs]

This is a rewrite of an old one of mine. based on prompts " coast road" and "nothing lasts forever "


AUSTINMER BEACH


We used to stand on Bulli Lookout
gazing rapt, far out to sea,
and see along the coastal strip
from Austinmer to Wollongong
the surf and suburb tapestry.

Where Lawrence Hargrave flew his kites,
hang-gliders circled round and round,
while jaded city trippers drove their
cars along the coast, to find
a little beach or picnic ground.

In our old car, the Bulli Pass,
gave us a kind of thrilling fear,
descending while our ears would pop.
Down on the old coast road, we loved
to find the beach at Austinmer.

Old Austinmer is not Bondi
for seaside fun, as beaches go.
The Norfolk pines stood solemn watch
where Tasman’s rolling ocean swell
breaks on volcanic rock plateau.

Though Austinmer was small and quiet,
it seemed a tropic paradise,
where urban souls could wash away
the grime of soulless city moods.
(The fish and chips were really nice !)

We plunged into the salty waves
and relished spicy fresh sea air,
then ate our salty fish and chips
surrounded by a horde of gulls,
all squabbling for their share.

How soon the beach at Austinmer
became a thing of memory,
old faces and old voices gone,
and gone the bonds of family.
Those former times just history.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Oh that took me back I don't recall ever having read it before Neville, we used to go to Stanwell Tops area a lot - many moons ago when I lived in Engadine, so I know the are you write about. That Bulli Pass was hair raising, I was always glad I never lived in some of the houses at the bottom of it that were constantly involved in collisions with runaway vehicles. Nicely done - I especially liked the surf and suburb tapestry line - very apt.

[Terry]

G/day Neville

It's good to look back sometimes to see what used to be,
and remember what for us of advancing years were the good old days - well, for most of us..

But we still have the option of a trip down memory lane - or keep searching for new gems today.

Terry

[Neville Briggs]

Cheers Maureen, cheers Terry. We used to live in what was then mid western Sydney suburbs , I loved the south coast Austinmer, Thirroul and Fairy Meadow particularly. also Kiama.

[Shelley Hansen]

This is lovely, Neville.

Most of us "oldies" have these kind of beach memories - for me, it was chasing soldier crabs at our coastal village of Boonooroo, or fish and chips at "The Pines" park at Hervey Bay ... before it succumbed to "Development"!!

Cheers
Shelley

[Neville Briggs]

Thanks Shelley.

[Catherine Lee]

This is lovely Neville. I remember the Bulli Pass well, and used to love going away down south for weekends. You paint a clear picture here, and I too love that line 'the surf and suburb tapestry'

[Neville Briggs]

Thanks for that Catherine.