I think back on my time in the Valley as a golden decade full of fun, socialising, sport and community activity. Sadly, our time was cut short. But before we get to the ending, let’s see how it began.
Eyeing off retirement, my wife Ginny and I purchased our home on the bend of Kangaroo Valley River in 2003. On Friday evenings we’d leave work in Sydney in time to beat the traffic and be relaxing with a drink on the balcony by dinner time. It was our happy place.
Not long after, in 2006, our weekend escapes were upgraded to a full-time lifestyle when we moved permanently. We were warmly welcomed into the local community. I became closely involved with the local fire brigade, fishing club, bowlo and the Valley Voice, where I wrote The Bowls Report under the name ‘Bias One’ and the fire brigade’s Firey Tales column under the name ‘Cinder Fella’.
Ginny and I also played a lot of tennis and bridge, winning the Min Gray Pairs at the Southern Highlands Bridge Club. Coincidentally, the trophy was named in honour of a close friend of my mother. Min Gray’s own son presented us with the trophy. Ginny was also very proud to be involved in producing the book Art & Soul of Kangaroo Valley, which explored local artists in the region.
Over the years we made incredible friendships and formed a close connection with the Valley. We soon discovered this connection ran much deeper than we imagined.
As part of her love for genealogy, Ginny discovered that the Garbutt family (relatives on her mother’s side) had migrated to Australia from Scotland in the 1800s, lived in Sutton Forest and were laid to rest in the Sutton Forest Cemetery. The family operated a sawmill and supplied the wood to build the Hampden Bridge. One family member was killed while cutting timber used in the bridge. Another great-great-uncle built the historic Rendell Cottage, which was originally in Bendeela and has since been relocated to the museum.
With Ginny as the ultimate host and entertainer, our house was always full of friends and family joining us for drinks, BBQs, holidays and parties. Nothing topped the huge 70th birthday party celebration that Ginny organised for me at the Kangaroo Valley Hall.
Sadly, just a few short years after that, in December 2016, Ginny passed away with cancer, leaving us way too soon. Rattling around in a large, lonely house on my own and feeling sorry for myself, I started to consider whether a change in environment might help me cope. In an ideal world, I expect we’d still be enjoying the beautiful Kangaroo Valley lifestyle to this very day, but alas all good things must come to an end.
