A Christmas Many Years Ago

By Jennifer Shand, Bairnsdale U3A Writers Group

 

It was war time and school teacher Dad had been drafted to do holiday work for the war effort.

 

The job was to spread harvested flax out to dry to make linen thread for parachutes. It was in a field near Ballarat and Dad had been granted an increase in his petrol ration for the trip, so it was decided the family could go with him and the caravan would provide accommodation for Dad.

 

The caravan was packed and we travelled from near Maryborough in central Victoria to Ballarat on Christmas Eve. Camp was set up in a park close to the field where Dad was to work.

 

There was some talk whether Santa Claus would know where to find us...I was well aware of the true identity of Santa Claus and knew that Mum had places several presents at the back of the highest shelf in the caravan.

So yes, Santa Claus did find us the next day. Christmas Day was close to the usual; Christmas stockings were unloaded, gifts were opened and we listened to carols on the radio. Christmas Dinner consisted of cold roast chook with salad and Christmas pudding warmed in the boiler on the kerosene stove and served with cream out of the ice chest.

 

Next day, Boxing Day, Dad went to work in the field close by and children and Mum explored the surroundings. The camp park was an old pine plantation and the piles of pine needles were materials to play with similar to sand for sand castle.

 

Nearby, were the Botanic Gardens where squirrels were running around among the trees and also there was a zoo which provided much interest, for a whole afternoon.

 

We had a trip to town on the tram, to look round the shops and go to the pictures.

 

When Dad finished his work after a week or so, we went to Sovereign Hill to see the displays of the Gold Rush history of the area.

 

Then we went home, very happy with our Christmas holiday activities.

 

 

 

 

Done