Flora Wright - 1975

Flora Wright
1975

In 1975 George and I were invited to live at 37 Lancaster Crescent, Long Reef, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. George had boarded there briefly, in 1973, when he first came to Sydney after leaving the Royal Australian Navy. It was at No.37 that George and I first met in February 1973, when he was then lodging there. The deal was that we could live free of charge in the garden flat in return for maintaining the garden for the elderly owner, Mrs Edith Rommel. George and I eagerly agreed. It was an excellent opportunity to save money and the garden flat afforded a private, separate entrance to the property and magnificent views overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Mum and Dad lived at nearby Dee Why and visited often. This charming photo of my beloved mother, Emily Flora Wright nee Glover (known as Flora), was taken on one such visit.

Kerry Wright - 1974

Kerry Wright
1974

In 1974 George and I moved into an apartment at 3 Regent Street, Dee Why, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. This photo of me was taken there. I was 24. George hadn’t long been out of the Royal Australian Navy and I had previously been living at home with my parents. In the background can be seen a glimpse of the little three-piece lounge suite we bought at the Beard Watson store at Dee Why. Also there, we purchased the Murillo print and lamp seen here. Beard Watson was a lovely store, dating back to the 1800s. Sadly, it has since ceased to be. The apartment was a two bedrooms/one bathroom walk-up and was not far from the beach. We spent much of our leisure time at the beach in those days, hence my sun tan. The rent was $30 per week, which now seems unimaginably low, but was average for the time. We were destined to live there for just 12 months – but that’s another story.