There are lots of things I love about this town, and about living here in this beautiful place, but what I love most are the people of Lakes Entrance. I would like to do a series of photos, following the trend of the “People of New York” series called the “People of Lakes Entrance” to try to capture the diversity of people who live here. But photos don’t tell the whole story, they capture but a moment in a lifetime. Everyone has a story, it would take a lifetime to record everyone’s story, but I would love to try!
You have to admit that there are those with the “small town mentality” that seems impossible to break, not only here, but in all small towns I think. Particularly prevalent amongst those who have lived their whole lives in a small town, or the majority of their lives in a small town, most especially if it’s been only one town. It’s like they get “closed in” by the environment of a particular area, and are no longer capable of seeing anything different or new. I am not saying that everyone who has lived in a small town all their lives has this mind set, certainly not, I am simply observing a fact.
That being said, there are many new people coming to live here, not only retirees, and there certainly has been a wave of those recently, but also young people, perhaps trying a “sea change” or simply choosing to bring up their children in a safer, cleaner and healthier environment. We are also seeing “old” businesses being bought by younger people, who are bringing new life and breath not only to the businesses, but to the town as well. I love that young people are committing to the town, and setting about to make a life and living for themselves here, thereby enriching the town and it’s culture for all of us.
There are others who have run businesses here for years, people who have dedicated their lives to the tourist industry and who are still, after many years doing so, enthusiastic about promoting the area and all it has to offer. There are those whose small businesses do well during the holiday seasons, but who struggle in the off season, but they stay on, patiently, stoically almost, because they love the town and can’t see themselves anywhere but here.
When you go shopping in the town, it can take a long time sometimes, because everyone wants to chat, particularly during the “off” season, when the tourists have gone home and it’s just “us locals” around. In the Supermarkets, people will stop and chat whether they know you or not, people will help each other, and most people will say “gday” or simply smile when you catch their eye. As a country girl from a small rural town, living in the city for many years, I had forgotten this aspect of small town life, and I’ve rediscovered the pleasure of knowing and being known. Of course, this aspect of small town life can be an aggravation for the young people, being known can get you in trouble if you step out of line. No big city anonymity in a small country town!
We love seeing tourists in the town, they are the life blood for many businesses, and we encourage them to come and stay in our beautiful little town. What gets me going though, is when people do come, and show such disrespect and lack of consideration, speeding through the town for instance. We know that 40 seems slow to you city folks, but here it’s the norm and not only that, it’s the law, so please, slow down, obey the speed restrictions, you’ll get there safer and really, a few minutes here or there does not matter, after all you’re supposed to be on holidays! Dumping rubbish is another thing that I really find hard to understand! Why come to enjoy the beauty of our sea-side heaven, and dump your rubbish everywhere? How hard is it to take your rubbish to a bin, especially along the foreshore and park areas that are enjoyed by everyone? It is bewildering to me, that people come here for a holiday, but rush around as though the town is on fire, pushing their way ahead in the Supermarket ( I actually had one woman physically push me out of the way so she could go ahead of me in the line at the register, if she had only realised, I had actually stepped back to let her go ahead of me anyway, since I was not in a rush to go anywhere!) Surely you go on holiday to relax, unwind, enjoy some “down time” with your family, if you are pushing and shoving and rushing all around, what is the value of a holiday?
But then, of course, human nature is a strange thing! How absolutely wonderful that we are so different! How boring would the world be if we were all the same, clones of the one model? As I get older, I realise that I am not going to change the world, I am not going to be the bringer (is that even a word?) of some newer better thing, I am simply me, a small pebble on the beach of life, hopefully bringing some pleasure and joy to the lives of those I know and care for, and making some precious memories with my family. Perhaps that is one of the most precious things we can give to the world we inhabit, pleasure, joy and happiness to those we know, a good example before others, especially the children, respect for all and love, acceptance and wise guidance to the family we cherish. Would that change the world, if we all endeavored to live by that creed? I am sure it would.
There are those who live here, and only find things to complain about, for those of us who have chosen to come here and embrace the town and the lifestyle, it’s a little slice of heaven right here on earth, our very own “sea change” and the ideal retirement destination. Here you can as involved as you like, or not involved at all. You can choose to become a part of the community, or to stand apart from it, but Lakes Entrance will find a place in your heart like no other town I know!
So, if you do live here, make the most of it, contribute to it, bring your own special talents to it, but don’t come here and complain about it, we don’t want to know! If you don’t love it, leave it, move on, find your place elsewhere. And if you’re visiting our town, do so with respect and with consideration for “the locals” you are visiting OUR town!
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