I relate to a significant amount of this newsletter Sophie. I grew up near Monto not too far from Emerald. I had an exhibition at the Emerald regional Gallery in the early 00’s and pick mandarins at 2PH one season. My own shitbox was a Corolla and there are parallels in the condition, treatment and punishment of my beloved first car. I can understand your dear Dad’s concern about a small car colliding with kangaroos. I happened upon a brutal accident near Middlemount years ago. Two 20 year old women hit a big roo in a Holden Gemini. It was a big old buck and his hind legs entered the cabin injuring driver and passenger as he thrashed around. There is something about the first taste of freedom that a car offers that facilitates an experiments in self discovery. I believe that’s why it’s so hard to let go of our first wheels. For one final parallel I live near Byron Bay now and regularly drive past Parkway Drive. Which of course is where the band got their name. Byron Shire elected to write the street name on the bitumen for at least a decade now. As fans kept stealing the Parkway Drive street signs, stashing them I’m sure in a Yaris or a Corolla or whatever brand of first car they have. Just one in a long list of acts of self discovery, that first cars enable.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Dean! You've summed up the emotional impact of that first car so well. I know a few people responsible for the theft of those street signs - they're all sensible parents now, of course.
Great read Sophie
Thanks Anna! Hope you and Ian are well. ❤️
I relate to a significant amount of this newsletter Sophie. I grew up near Monto not too far from Emerald. I had an exhibition at the Emerald regional Gallery in the early 00’s and pick mandarins at 2PH one season. My own shitbox was a Corolla and there are parallels in the condition, treatment and punishment of my beloved first car. I can understand your dear Dad’s concern about a small car colliding with kangaroos. I happened upon a brutal accident near Middlemount years ago. Two 20 year old women hit a big roo in a Holden Gemini. It was a big old buck and his hind legs entered the cabin injuring driver and passenger as he thrashed around. There is something about the first taste of freedom that a car offers that facilitates an experiments in self discovery. I believe that’s why it’s so hard to let go of our first wheels. For one final parallel I live near Byron Bay now and regularly drive past Parkway Drive. Which of course is where the band got their name. Byron Shire elected to write the street name on the bitumen for at least a decade now. As fans kept stealing the Parkway Drive street signs, stashing them I’m sure in a Yaris or a Corolla or whatever brand of first car they have. Just one in a long list of acts of self discovery, that first cars enable.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Dean! You've summed up the emotional impact of that first car so well. I know a few people responsible for the theft of those street signs - they're all sensible parents now, of course.