Christmas at my grandparent’s farm, Glen Avon, Apollo Bay
on the south coast of Victoria
in 1938
complete with gum tree Christmas tree
And how different times were when a new handkerchief pinned to the tree was to be treasured.. This year’s new addition to the family was given a doll and there were some crackers for the dinner table, all displayed on a gum tree branch from down the paddock.
We didn’t know that day that less than 3 weeks later, on Black Friday, January 13th 1939, we would spend the night on the beach watching the smoke and sparks billow from behind the distant headland each time a house in Lorne caught fire. We had come down from the farm with Grandma’s glory box strapped onto the luggage rack at the back of the car. the car was always known as “Susie”
This photo of fire on the horizon came form Jack Jones oral history of this fire in the Otways. Jack was 18 at the time.
But this happy Aussie Christmas song didn’t come until later.
And a very Merry Christmas to you all.
And for more Christmas writings from the sepians go to Sepia Saturday
Oh, Merry Christmas to you Down Under….from far North in the the State of Maine!
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I like the image of the tree with the presents hanging on it. Christmas must be quite a different experience in warm climates.
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Greetings from a damp & cold England!Have An Ace Christmas!Best Wishes From Tony.
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What a beautiful x-mas tree! I’ve never seen anything like that!
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A tree photo to treasure. Let’s hope no fires marr this Festive season, and that we can all enjoy a merry Xmas.
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I think you will have the England Test Team up a gum tree this Christmas. That’s a great idea for a tree.
Have a Merry Christmas down under and sink a ‘tinnie’ for me.
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Merry Christmas to you. I hope all that heat doesn’t bring fires this year. My brother was at Lorne when the Ash Wednesday fires again terrorised that area.
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The fires must have been terrifying. We have a branch from a native tree for our Christmas tree too.
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That is one sepia photo that I’d like to see in color. Obviously the classic fir tree for Christmas is not available for every part of the globe and it’s interesting see how resourceful people can be.
Best wishes for a joyful holiday.
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That’s an amazing picture with all the gifts displayed. Great memories. Enjoy your Christmas and New Year.
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Such an unusual tree — complete with gifts hanging in it. That’s a new one on me! Happy New Year!
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