In January 1952, I was fortunate in being able to attend the YMCAs ten-day camp
at Shoreham - see this story elsewhere in this site!
During the school holidays in 1951 and 1952, the YMCA organized one day bus trips
to various places of interest - some of these were to the Wonthaggi Coalmines, and Mt Donna Buang.
In the early 1950s, a family friend. who lived nearby, had a small car
- a Ford Prefect, reg no, SS806. He was generous of his time, and took us to many places we would not otherwise have been
able to visit. These included full day excursions and longer camping trips, to Queenscliff, Altona, Mornington,
the Dandenongs, Tarra Valley, and Bulga Park.
The longest trip with our friend was to Brisbane.
In the years 1948 to 1958 I went to many
destinations by country train, with some of these being combined rail/coach day tours. They included Daylesford, Swan Hill,
Echuca, Bright, Walhalla, Warrnambool, Queenscliff, Ballarat, Warburton, Healesville, and Bendigo. Many of these trips were
with a mate who I had met in the PMG's Technician Training Course. Other trips were with my brother, mother, and father.
I didn't do any more train trips after I bought my first car in late 1958!
