Johan Muller – Beer and Bike Night, the old cinema above Mozambik, Boston’s, Beira Mar and the Salt Rock Life Saving Club with volunteers on a Sunday. Willard Beach Life Saving Club was so well equipped you could literally do open heart surgery! Way less traffic, the only traffic light was at Umhlali School. Umhlali village was the place to do your shopping unless you took the drive to Ballito Dolphin Coast Mall. The bike track where Odyssey Mall is now… aaaa the good old days. Not to forget that when you went for a surf there would only be about five guys out, now you have to fight for a wave.

Cara Dickens – The really relaxed beach culture of ‘real’ locals, AnX Bar at Saltys, Sub Zero at La Montagne and a small awesome community that really supported each other and stood together! Everyone knew you, your family and your story. Now the community feel and small surf town feel has been lost. I am sad but grateful to have had the best years! Long live the Salt Rock Hotel!

Lizette Du Preez – Toff dog, our local hangout. Then when they closed, it was Jokers. The Wimpy down at the bottom. Beth’s beach shop. Everybody knew each other and greeted. It took hours to just get bread as you had so many people to chat to on the way. Just loved it back then. Such a different atmosphere. Like family almost.

Di Mather – The gym under the pool at La Montagne, Mini Chef, bread from Henry’s in bottom village and pizzas from the Umhlali hotel. Dinners at the Chaka’s Rock hotel. My daughters being able to walk safely to the beach and spend all day there. Watching the train shunting across the road on the way to school in the morning! Beth’s Beach shop. Mariners!

Vanessa Armstrong – Catching the train from Umhlali Station to Durban and back. In the featured image, Vanessa is seen at the Umhlali Station with Jane Woodhouse, Gillian Turkington (Thompson) and Karen Stransky (Hulett). All four started at Lorraine Pre-Primary, later attending Umhlali Prep and St Mary’s DSG. Forty-one years later, they are all back living in Salt Rock!

Lise Hayes – Walking to the school bus on a farm road, walking dogs in the cane fields and, back in the day, Blythedale and Zinks were the place to hang out!! Ballito had one or 2 roads, a drive in and cane fields!

Karen Louise Delport – The early days of the Mini Chef entering Ballito, the drive-in, Sunday lunch at Chaka’s Rock Hotel (even Pierre De Charmoy played there) and The Grill (aka Stanley’s), Salt Rock Club Discos (Dog Style) which moved to the La Montagne garage/verandah, Ballito, before all the development since. Mariners, Christmas lunch at Salt Rock Hotel, parents playing darts at Salt Rock Club for frozen chickens complete with the beautiful spaniels, and us kiddos would swim or play squash. Blythedale Beach with the original caravan park by the Panna’s Tea Room and parties at Zinkwazi Caravan Park. Watching polo matches in Kearsney and The old Stanger Country Club before Gledhow CC, the old Victoria and Stanger Hotels. Everyone knew everybody! What has changed? Most things, but hosting The Ballito Pro has been a positive.

Patrizia Douglas – No traffic! A small seaside town in the 70’s. No malls. Safe to walk at night. No developers building everywhere! You knew all your neighbours. Wonderful to live there. Has it got better? I don’t think so.

Jane de Beer – Stabling horses at my parents home in Hewitt Road. Galloping up and down Tiffany’s beach and riding our horses into the low tide. Riding through the sugar cane on what has now become big estates. The good old Umhlali Hotel that hosted a litchi party on Christmas Eve. The wonderful Salt Rock hotel Wednesday and Saturday night live band and dancing the nights away! Having to stop at the railway line waiting for the train to pass by!

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