Letter: Down memory lane

Prof. Bernard Balkisson writes from Thornlie, Western Australia:

It was quite nostalgic for me to read The North Coast Courier (April 27, 2018) brought to me by a friend returning to Perth after a holiday in SA. B

eing born and brought up in Umhlali, I emigrated to Perth 17 years ago after retiring as professor and head of department of the then University of Durban-Westville.

I was intrigued to learn that my childhood village of Umhlali is now ear-marked for a high school.

But the letter of Page 8, “Which is the Salt Rock centre?” triggered (my recall of) a bit of trivia which would give background to a local name.

Towards the northern side of Steven’s Rock in Sheffield Beach and just below the ‘steps’ is a rock from which one can only safely fish at low tide. The locals refer to that rock as ‘Bob’s Rock’.

My late dad, who was called Uncle Bob by the local fishermen, very often fished from that rock because he caught heaps of black bream, his favourite fish.

Hence, the locals identified that rock as ‘Bob’s Rock’, a name that persisted (and I believe still persists) after I left Umhlali in the mid-70s.

Incidentally, my dad who was a builder/carpenter by trade, was responsible for building the tidal pool at Salt Rock in front of the hotel.

I hope these bits of trivia might be of interest and I look forward to some feedback.