Picturesque Balmoral Beach is one of Annette Young’s special places.
North Head and Middle Head from Balmoral (car park), 1929, Samuel Wood. Public domain.
State Library of NSW Collection
Balmoral was a friendly alcove with waves that delighted in whispering secrets to the sand. Benny greeted his lady friend on the promenade and left us to set up our own picnic which we chose to do on the beach. Lily had packed us each a newspaper shell of fish and chips. Pim returned the greeting of a group of boys who were playing shuttlecock nearby. ‘St Allos boys,’ she explained. ‘I’ll see them at Mass tomorrow.’ Children were building sandcastles or drawing with sticks. A little girl was being tossed over the waves by her mother and father.
Annette at Balmoral Beach, 8 June 2003
Pim and Phoebe, meanwhile, were romping through the water. They were watched by Della who shrieked with a mixture of fear and delight every time the waves rushed round her knees.
I lay back and tried to imagine the water trickling around my toes. But it was not enough to imagine, especially when my feet were trapped in a cumbersome pair of boots.
How I wanted to play in the sea!
Cautiously I drew up my legs and began to undo my laces. I glanced around. Everyone else was far too engrossed with seaside pleasures to notice anything ugly. So I began to undo my callipers as well. I rolled down my stockings and let my feet feel the sand. It was velvet soft. Now, all that remained was to crawl down to the water. I consoled myself with the fact that I could always stop and pretend to look for shells if anyone chanced to spy me.
Balmoral Beach Island, c. 1929. Samuel Wood. Public domain.
State Library of New South Wales collection.
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