We had the Shirts, we had the Hats and Jumpers. We had even changed our car for a Holden Rodeo so we could put the shiny new ladders on the roof for use in our new roles as 'Broulee Window Cleaners'. Yes, we were forsaking Victoria for a new start on the south coast of NSW as the local window cleaners. This was our way of starting afresh in a new village and state.
We letter boxed the Village and waited for the phone calls. These were slow in coming, but come they did - the one thing that is constant in a village by the sea is the need to clean the windows of sand and salt. We also replied to advertisements in the local Bateman's Bay paper for cleaners for weekenders and holiday homes. Now this work was not to make a fortune, but it meant meeting people and starting to learn the culture of NSW by the sea. This all revolved around the surf club and possibly the local school.
In between all this activity we bought the only beach cottage we could afford with the intention of doing it up for our new home. This exercise introduced a range of characters among the permanent residents.
Having always been interested in how communities tick, we discovered a local community group which met once a month, but didn't seem to have any agenda to watch over the community. It didn't take long before we joined like minded community members and over drinks plotted a takeover of the community group, with the promise of more action on behalf of the village. This led to the development of such things as markets by the beach and action to ban jet-skis in our bay. All this entailed presentations to the Local Council and submissions for small grants for such items as a community notice board which Godfrey, with the aid of local members, built.
Conservation of the local area was also close to our hearts, With the support and wisdom from others around us, we started a conservation group called "Nature Coast Marine Group". This often meant morning gatherings in wet suits to count fish and send off reports to the University of Tasmania which was coordinating the data. Godfrey enjoyed this activity while I stayed home to make soup and scones for the returning heroes.
We didn't make a fortune with our window cleaning, but we did finish the house which we delighted in.
All in all, we had a wonderful time at Broulee, but family ties called us back to Benalla where our grandchildren were growing up fast. It also gave us the chance to wallow once again in Victorian culture, which we had missed.
Carole Marple
February 2017
We letter boxed the Village and waited for the phone calls. These were slow in coming, but come they did - the one thing that is constant in a village by the sea is the need to clean the windows of sand and salt. We also replied to advertisements in the local Bateman's Bay paper for cleaners for weekenders and holiday homes. Now this work was not to make a fortune, but it meant meeting people and starting to learn the culture of NSW by the sea. This all revolved around the surf club and possibly the local school.
In between all this activity we bought the only beach cottage we could afford with the intention of doing it up for our new home. This exercise introduced a range of characters among the permanent residents.
Having always been interested in how communities tick, we discovered a local community group which met once a month, but didn't seem to have any agenda to watch over the community. It didn't take long before we joined like minded community members and over drinks plotted a takeover of the community group, with the promise of more action on behalf of the village. This led to the development of such things as markets by the beach and action to ban jet-skis in our bay. All this entailed presentations to the Local Council and submissions for small grants for such items as a community notice board which Godfrey, with the aid of local members, built.
Conservation of the local area was also close to our hearts, With the support and wisdom from others around us, we started a conservation group called "Nature Coast Marine Group". This often meant morning gatherings in wet suits to count fish and send off reports to the University of Tasmania which was coordinating the data. Godfrey enjoyed this activity while I stayed home to make soup and scones for the returning heroes.
We didn't make a fortune with our window cleaning, but we did finish the house which we delighted in.
All in all, we had a wonderful time at Broulee, but family ties called us back to Benalla where our grandchildren were growing up fast. It also gave us the chance to wallow once again in Victorian culture, which we had missed.
Carole Marple
February 2017
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