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| KIAMA :: SOUTH COAST :: NEW SOUTH WALES IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU ARE AT YOUR MOST IMPRESSIONABLE, TO THE POINT WHERE EVEN A RANDOM AND INSIGNIFICANT EVENT WILL MOULD YOU INTO THE PERSON YOU BECOME? The malleability of children is well known; I posit, however, that there comes a certain point in your development when your personality is suddenly snapped into place, and frozen in the very hardwiring of your brain. It happens at a certain time, in a certain place...
AS BJORK SANG ONCE, I HAVE A RECURRING DREAM. There are plenty of variations but one of the most common finds me back in the backyard of my childhood home, Marsden Street, Kiama. Hitting a ball against the back red brick wall. To my right, a Hills Hoist spins, jeans and shirts and grey school uniforms sprayed all directions by the salty breeze. To my left, beyond the hedgework of my English pensioner neighbour's place, bare green hills rise like a simulated Ireland... the view used to pique my J.R.R. Tolkien imagination. There is an extinct volcano (Saddleback Mountain) back in that hinterland, somewhere past the ski slopes of Jamberoo, and it is responsible for all the beautiful bubbly black shores around here. Go for a walk around the rocks on a bleak winter day and it can almost look like a little piece of Iceland dropped into the south Pacific.
 Now I am living in the lavaflow of another volcano: Mt Fuji, Japan. On cold windy days you can see Fujisan from atop the river bank near my house. But I am progressing; I ought to digress. Back to that old recurring dream: I am hitting a tennis ball against the back wall. I used to that every day in my youth, from Trundle to Wollongong, 4pm to 6pm. It was my thinking time. Now I live in Japan I go for long walks instead, exploring the megalopolis and dodging all the bicycles and deliverymen. Don't know what I am going to do when I live in Vietnam. If I am to turn my head in the dream, a magnificent vista awaits: a brown timber fence, a neighbour's small brick house, and behind that a grassy headland drops rapidly past sharp volcanic rocks to the yellow sandy cove of Easts Beach, one of the few private beaches in Australia.
 Walked around Kiama one rainy night in March 2007 -- finally the dream has become a reality again (and ready to be transfigured back into dream, upon my return to Japan.) I did the full circuit of the headland which juts out into the sea, between Easts Beach in the south, and Kendall Beach in the north. I ducked down the hill past Todd Christianson's house overlooking the Oval, past Anthony Kabel's beachside pad.
 As they taught us in Year 9 Geography, Kiama was selected for the site of a town due to its proximity to the coast and the natural harbour nearby. The CBD started near the harbour and gradually spread along the main transport routes. Terralong Street linked the harbour to the rail areas and quarries to the west and it contained the main businesses. Later expansions followed along Collins and Manning Sts. As the railway, then roads became more important, the centre moved away from the harbour.
 Diary of a Desperate Houso wrote: "But it's not the undies that undid Matt Brown in DH's eyes. What a man does to unwind in the privacy of his Ministerial suite on his own self-funded sofa is his own business. If keeping the lid on such antics wasn't the civilised media norm, we'd have heard a lot more, for instance, about how a certain Minister from one of our barbarous neighbouring states earned the moniker of "Swizzlestick". But admittedly, that particular politician is believed to be sufficiently talented to be worth preserving..."
 BACK in 1986 when I was ready to seal my TIME CAPSULE I wrote: "Unfortunately this period of my life is not the best that life can give. This could perhaps be the worst period of my life. The reason for this is for a few people at school. The main ones are... These 3 spend there whole time making me feel bad. Other people who help them from time to time are C.J., J.B., G.G, M.B., and many, many others. The only way to stop this thing I am going through now is to move from Kiama, which could be before the end of the year. Soon time will pass, and if it all goes well, I will be a pop star in 2003."
 Some the names I have been called (Bungon being the latest, in my end of 2009 alt.Universe Indochinese dream series): Sullo, Bib Gilliven, Rodert Dullivan, Gull, Gullivan, Gullo, Dori James, Gobert Gullivan, Bib Bullivan, RJS. That Bungon dreamname is the one which has really stoked my imagination because it turns out Bungon is a legitimate Thai name! Alas, it seems to be a girl's name. Once every six weeks or so, after school, my Mum would drag me along to see a chiropractor (CJ Owen, of Manning Street) about my back. As this website has reported: "The extensive Koori knowledge of natural resources around the Jervis Bay area continues to expand. Wreck Bay people use the bush as a natural classroom for younger people. The bush is also for collecting foods and medicines, learning stories and interpreting indicators of seasonal and climatic change. "The opportunities for visitor education about local Koori culture are among Booderee's most important assets. The Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community has vast experience in cultural interpretation. Booderee Botanic Gardens are the only Aboriginal-owned Botanic Gardens in Australia. The Botanic Gardens are becoming known as a centre for interpreting plant uses by local Aboriginal people.
i n + m a t t + b r o w n ' s + k i a m a rk includes Green Patch Beach (which I believed I visited on a school excursion from Kiama Primary School in 1984 or thereabouts; no wait a minute, was that the place where all the Year 10 girls were busted GETTING IT ON with the naval dudes during the Kiama High School camp of 1988? I wasn't there at the time anyway, I was up at the other camp at Bundanoon, with my buddies Heath Jones and Andrew Thompson and the like, hunting for funnel web spiders in the dark, looking at glow worms, etc!)... yeah, like I said Green Patch Beach, and other notable beauty spots such as Hole in the Wall, Bristol Point and Scottish Rocks.Also available are a Visitors Centre, many bushwalking trails, boat ramps, picnic and barbeque equipment and camping areas. A ruined lighte read online. As WalkAbout reported on their website: "It is a commives in a protected area near Wreck Bay on the southern peninsula and the Jerringa people still live in an unprotected area on the northern peninsula. "The archaeological evidence indicates that the original inhabitants moved regularly from place to place within the area. They tended to camp in the open on headlands or along the beaches, though sometimes in more secluded rock shelters. "A few eucalypt trees in the area still bear ancient scars from those occasions when bark was stripped for shelters and canoes. Their diet consisted of shellfish, fish from the estuaries and small marsupials, penguins and mutton birds from excursions to Bowen Island. Tools for cutting, chopping, scraping, sewing and killing were made of Captain Cook sighted the Bay in April 1770 while sailing north along the coast. In his diary he wrote of a 'point of land which I had discovered on St George's Day, and which therefore I called Cape George' [Cape St George]. "While in the vicinity Cook noted 'smoke in several places near the beach'. Arriving at the Bay he recorded that it 'promised shelter from the north east winds, but as the wind was with us, it was not in my power to look into it without beating up, which would have cost me more time than I was willing to spare'. He named the northern point of the bay 'Long Nose', the whole resembling a face in profile. "The bay became 'Jervis Bay' in August 1791 when Lieutenant Richard Bowen, named it Port Jervis after naval officer and, later, admiral of the British fleet, Sir John Jervis under whom Bowen had served. "Whalers from Twofold Bay began to frequent Jervis Bay in the 1790s using it for anchorage. In 1801 naturalist and explorer George Caley arrived aboard Lieutenant James Grant's Lady Nelson and between them they made favorable reports of the flora, fauna and safety of the harbour..." For a complete guide to the history of Jervis Bay, include the ambitious plans to create a great new city there, visit the aforementioned WalkAbout site. ark. This large white and grey eagle is the guardian of the Aboriginal people of Wreck Bay, and is represented in the park logo.
JERVIS BAY ACCOMMODATION The Beach Penthouse Jervis Bay: Phone: 0412 720017. Homepage: Click here. THE BEACH PENTHOUSE JERVIS BAY is a stunning new 3 bedroom penthouse, Beachfront reserve to Sharknet Beach Jervis Bay with stunning views of Jervis Bay, centrally located, walk to shops and restaurants. 3 queen rooms, main has ensuite. 2 bathrooms, Spa Bath Gourmet kitchen, Ducted airconditioning, 2 outdoor entertaining areas, Gas BBQfs, TV, DVD, Cd sound system. Laundry, w/machine, Dryer etc and Secure under cover Parking. All linen included, s Bay Beach Holidays Online Premium Selection. Callala Beach View Apartments: 62 Emmett St, Callala Beach, Jervis Bay. Phone: 02 9620 1251.
Dolphin Sands: Tomerong St, Huskisson. Phone: 02 4441 5511. Email: info@dolphinsands.com. Homepage: Click .
"Your hosts: Wayne and Beatrice Whitten have designed your luxury accommodations creating an intimate and relaxing atmosphere, while mainch room has all the features expected of a luxury retreat; mini-fridge, television, queen size bed, bath robes, tea and coffee facilities and your own private lounge area. A twin room and 2 spa rooms are also available.
"Enjoy a healthy hearty breakfast with many fine home made breads, poached fruits plus the hot breakfast of the day. "
Dolphin Shores Motor Inn: 53 Beach St, Vincentia. Phone: 02 4441 6895. Homepage: Click here.
Jervis Bay Backpackers: 16 Elizabeth Drive, Vincentia. Phone: 02 4441 6880. Homepage: Click here.
"Jervis Bay is only 2 1/2 hours South of Sydney, 3 hours East of Canberra and one of only a couple of marine parks in New South Wales boasting some of the whitest sands and clearest waters in the world.
"Jervis Bay is surrounded by vast areas of national parks, state forests and wilderness areas providing habitat for a variety of abundant wildlife on land, in the water and in the air.
"Jervis Bay Backpackers caters to independent travellers, groups and families alike who want to experience some of Australia's most beautiful coastline and best kept secrets. With many years experience in the Jervis Bay area we have the knowledge to make the most of your stay whether you are staying for a weekend or a week. Jervis Bay is one of the most visited regions in Australia by Australians yet is still relatively unknown to international travellers so why not make the most of your time and spend a day in Jervis Bay.
"Jervis Bay Backpackers has a range of accommodation to suit your needs starting at $25pp/pn. Although we are only a small place we can offer a combination of shared dorms, double rooms and family cabins depending on you needs. Simple clean and comfortable accommodation is what we are known for and what we are proud to offer. With an easy walk to pristine beaches, national parks, shops, cafes and tour operators the bus stops at our front door by request which makes getting to us easy. We highly recommending advanced bookings as we have limited beds available and there is minimal budget accommodation in the area (we are the only accommodation dedicated to backpackers)."
Jervis Bay Getaways: 81 The Wool Rd, Worrowing Heights, Jervis Bay. Phone: 02 4443 8912.
Kullindi Holiday Apartments: Ellmoos Rd, Jervis Bay. Phone: 02 4441 2897.
OzStays Jervis Bay: Homepage: Click here.
Akihabara Japan - Christiana Denmark - Kathmandu Nepal - Sydney Dining Challenge - Reykjavik Iceland |
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According to the website: "Jervis Bay Backpackers is centrally located to Huskisson and Vincentia (Jervis Bay) and only 50 metres to the white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of Jervis Bay.