The Ellacott family arrived in Edmonton from Gordonvale in 1952. Ernie and Jean and their four children Sylvia, Mark, Frances and Elaine.
I attended Hambledon State School from Grade two until I transferred to Balaclava School in Grade 7 and then to Cairns State High School.
Edmonton in my youth was very safe and friendly. We were fortunate to have a family vehicle so our Dad could take us camping during school holidays and beach visits.
I would ride my bicycle or walk to School each day. Most times when walking we would take a “short cut” through one of the properties that linked through from Sawmill Pocket Road (Now Mt Peter Road) to Stokes Street. No locks needed for our bicycles – You just left them outside the railway station or beside a local shop if travelling by bus.
I didn’t play a lot of structured sport until I played hockey with other Edmonton girls and we would practice in Down Park and travelled as a team into Cairns in the open back of a utility. I was a member of the Edmonton Brownies and we shared many friendly and fun meetings with some of my school friends.
No swimming pools locally in those days and all the youth would swim regularly at a local creek. Many swimming holes along the length of the creek from the base of the mountain down toward the inlet. The area near the railway bridge was the most popular with my age group. We did learn to swim because the Hambledon school children would travel by bus to the Cairns saltwater baths as the pool was known.
I rode my bicycle up to a swimming hole popular with the locals area a few times in the company of my elder brother.
We had a picture theatre in Edmonton too – the Regent – and when I was about 14 I was allowed to walk down in the evening every so often. Anzac Day was also commemorated at the Theatre each year with a concert of local residents.
Although I did move away for work at different times I did return to Edmonton with my husband Fred and we built our home next door to my parents on Cattle Street. This was great for our children Rachel and Mark who had the love and support of grandparent’s right at their doorstep. I began volunteering with Meals on Wheels and my friend and I would take our youngest children with us in delivering the meals. Quiet roads even then and the children could ride their bicycles to Hambledon School when old enough.
I entered Mulgrave Shire Local Council as an elected Councillor when Tom Pyne was the Mayor in 1991 and enjoyed 17 years working with the Edmonton and wider community. Prior to the Amalgamation with Cairns City, Mulgrave was a very hands on Council with monthly inspections by all Councillors and Staff to see problems identified by residents.
One of my favourite places to visit is the Sugarworld Gardens – A group of supporters helped to establish and form the Friends of Sugarworld Botanical Gardens Inc. in 2007. We continue to meet as a Committee and with the support of Council staff and volunteers with Green Space Our Place, we meet for gardening duties such as weeding, replanting new varieties of fruit trees, mulching, fertilizing etc. The sealed pathways make this a wonderful visit with all members of the family. The Peacocks and Curlews roam freely in the area – No dogs allowed.
Edmonton area has many kilometres of sealed pathways in beside the creeks and they are perfect for recreational cycling or walking. Some people feel they are not safe but the more people that use them, the safer they will become. The Council has a small booklet showing these pathways. I use them for recreational cycling.
Some 20 years ago our family moved home – But not away from Edmonton. Just up the road to a quiet Close with a creek at the rear of the property. A great place to live with a garden that seems to continually change (If it grows in the wrong place I just replant!) Close to the local shops, friends that live close by and Cairns by motor vehicle at the quiet time of the day is only 20 minutes. Our hillsides are beautiful and I do hope they are not built on as heavily as some areas are.