Cousins' Lunch 2009

Several of us came together earlier in the year to mourn the sudden loss of Don Jurd, Cousin Joan’s husband and Adrian and Michael’s dad. From places far and near we met at Tuncurry, a pretty little coastal township some 4 hours north of Sydney. The funeral was a very moving event well fitting a man who was clearly dear to many people in the local community. The wake, hosted by the local publican, went from lunch time until late into the evening. It was at Don’s wake that we decided to finalize arrangements for the next ‘Cousin’s lunch’. Cousin Wayne was chosen as the main organizer. He had already given the event some consideration and suggested the Crest Cinema in Granville as a suitable venue; this place being very near and dear to many of us as it was located immediately next door to our grandparent’s house (Fred and Rose Slender née Hopwood) and associated with lots of happy childhood memories.

Brimming with the ideas we left Tuncurry along the picturesque coast road with a boot load of fresh oysters bought along the way from one of the many oyster outlets. Cousins Ned and Yvonne happened to stop at the same ocean lookout and shared the oysters deciding then and there that the food for the Cousins Lunch must, at the very least, include fresh oysters. The remainder of the trip south was spent planning the menu with ideas such as picnic baskets, foods traditionally associated with family festivities and other favourites all being considered. Eventually a seafood theme was agreed by all to be most suitable.

While Wayne worked tirelessly organizing the venue, the audio-visual system, lots of historical photographs and old movies that had once been screened at the cinema, the rest of us went to work discussing catering neds and notifying the entire family about the event.

October 17th saw about 100 family members descend on the old Crest Cinema at lunch time. It had been beautifully restored to its Art Deco glory (the photographs of the workemnwas taken prior to or in 1948). We spent some time exploring nooks and crannies that were as surpisingly familiar to us now as they were then, before settling down to lunch and swapping old photographs, family memorabilia and a few tears for those who were no longer with us and for Olive, the family matriarch, who could not get there because she was ill in hospital. With Yvonne’s encouragement several people took to the floor for an old time progressive barn dance. Old movies were screened late into the evening.

For no good reason at all I didn’t take any photographs on the day of the lunch. However this one was taken the night before at Cousin Dawn’s house over dinner as we planned the last minute details. From right to left: Albert, Dawn, Yvonne, Simone, Berlinda, Me (Colleen).

Family and Food