RECENTLY I took a personal trip down memory lane, thinking about my childhood Christmas holidays. Inevitably these involved a family road trip. Visiting the “rellies”, mostly up the eastern seaboard, though sometimes Adelaide too.
These trips consisted of my family of five — with Mum, Dad and two siblings — travelling in a Holden with a trailer on the back containing our ‘house’ for the few weeks we were away; a bottomless canvas tent (the old four-sided flapping wall, no base, oldie goldie), an Esky and sundry boxes.
My mum used to make up sandwiches each morning, which were soggy by lunchtime due to the ice melting in the Esky. This was a daily occurrence. I still gag at soggy sandwiches.
We stayed at caravan parks along the way and discovered Australia, one small town after another. Warm Australian hospitality greeted us everywhere we went. I still remember my first blue heaven milkshake in a little town somewhere up the coast — I was 7. The shopkeeper was as excited as me that it was my first.
Highlights as a kid included visiting major Aussie icons like the Dog on the Tucker Box in Gundagai, the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and, finally, the Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast. There was no Movieworld or SeaWorld or Dreamworld in those days, the Gold Coast served in my memory as the best beach ever, with fantastic fish and chips and ice cream stores. There were no skyscrapers.
The road trip has provided fond memories for many Aussie families. Our stories might be different but one undergirding principle has been our freedom to travel “our Australia”. My only recollection of travelling between states were large welcome signs. Borders had no power to hinder the Aussie family holiday experience.
COVID-19 has caused a kind of parochialism we have never experienced before. Once our borders fully open, we must ensure that our national freedoms are never removed again.
The narrative of fear must stop, this pandemic has taken more than enough away from us, particularly in the regions. It is time for Australians to get back to what we love, and that includes visiting our families, getting out on the road and soaking up our great nation. Bring on the Christmas hols!
