An Exciting Trip

Thirty five years ago (October 1990) my friend Maggie and I started the Bellerive Historical Society. I say ‘friend’ although we’d only recently met. However, we discovered we shared a love of history. We realised that the lovely town of Bellerive opposite Hobart on the Derwent River’s eastern shore where we had both settled had so much history - but not much was documented, and the people I asked for information about the old buildings would say, ‘Oh I don’t know. It’s always been there’.  

For the next few years we established regular meetings, a newsletter, guest speakers, took people on historical walks around the town, began a photographic collection and wrote books on Bellerive heritage.

Fast forward to today and the Society is still going and still attracting new members. The current President invited me to join their 35th anniversary celebrations. These included giving a speech to members at their monthly meeting, then attending a reception at Government House the following day. How could I resist? Off I flew to Hobart.

My talk was well received. I met people I hadn’t seen for years and there was lots of reminiscing and laughter. The following afternoon we set off for Government House. A friend was trying to get the entire Government House into this photo and slightly disregarded Maggie and me. 

Into the gracious reception room we gathered. Here, Her Excellency the Governor (Barbara Baker) made a speech about the Society and what we had achieved in its early years. And then … quite unexpectedly, she called on Maggie to receive a gift and make a short speech, which she did beautifully even though it was on the spur of the moment. And then it was my turn. I was so nervous I have no idea what I said. Surprises are great, but I wish we had been warned. The Huon pine bowls we received were lovely.

Here I am nervously shaking hands and saying ‘Thank you Your Excellency’

And here is Maggie, me, Her Excellency and Mike, the BHS President.

More mingling over an elegant afternoon tea and then it was all over. An exciting moment in my life. Here I am in the ballroom. I needed one more photo to assure me I really had been here.

Lovely to catch up with friends Andrew and Jane.

Maggie and I are proudly displaying our Huon pine bowls.

I spent the next few days strolling around the streets and getting reacquainted with Bellerive. I loved the coastal path with its views of the river, the rock pools, limestone caves and the distant Mount Wellington.

The houses are all beautifully looked after and, being spring, the gardens were awash with flowering magnolias, rhododendrons, wisteria and a host of cottage garden plants. 

And lastly, a glimpse of my former home.

Watching bandicoots scamper across Maggie’s lawn was a ‘David Attenborough’ moment for me.  

We had a couple of fabulous meals overlooking Kangaroo Bay and the moored yachts.

What an exciting few days I had. Staying with Maggie in her charming apartment, rediscovering the delights of Bellerive, catching up with people I hadn’t seen for at least 20 years, and battling the fierce Tasmanian winds are memories I will always savour.