Mel Of Bacchus

Between the ages of 9 and 13yo I shared time and for a short time lived with my father in Pakenham. Here are significant places in which I will always remember.

Races Racecourse

My Dad was a big gambler on the Horse Racing and loved to punt. While in Pakenham Dad got to know a lot of trainers and jockeys and was a regular at the Races Hotel. Dad took us to the Racecourse many times and if ever he was not home, we knew where to find him. At the TAB in town or at the Races Hotel. But one of my fondest memories of Dad was when he used to run around the racetrack himself. I always used to try and keep up but he never stopped and would often lap or even double lap me before I’d even finish. I loved those overcast days of climbing up the Stewards tower and watching him run.

The Nestle Factory

I remember my Dad had a love-hate relationship with this place often coming home from work complaining about the laziness of others and people who in his opinion were just “Dumb”. Dad would say “Common sense is just not that common anymore” and would often pick up overtime shifts. My Dad was an early morning worker, when we were younger Dad would drop us to a babysitter who then would take us to the Before School Program at the Pakenham Consolidated School. Dad started work at 5am and walked to work most days. Nestles became Nestle and I remember Dad taking us to the Nestle discount shop to buy boxes of noodles, pizza pockets and Milo. Dad played for the Nestle indoor cricket team and one year took us to the Nestle family day where I experienced my first ever helicopter ride. Dad was such a hard worker, I never remember him taking days off. Every day he worked until one day he was made redundant. He used the money to put a deposit on a house and moved to Boronia after that.

The Pakenham Outdoor Swimming Pool

Absolute good times were had here! Dad was by no means a rich man and along with his gambling he also liked to drink so we never had money for luxurius things. But when Dad handed us $10 in Summer that usually got my brother and I into the Pool and a packet of Burger Rings to share. The walk to the pool was all down hill and we would often ride our bikes and meet our friends there in Summer. I remember Dad teaching me to swim and doing “belly whackers” when he taught me to dive. We always had to ask him if we could go on the slide so he could catch us at the bottom. He never loved that much because we would often kick him as we entered the water. He’d then say “that’s enough now” and we’d jump out of the water but we could have slid that slide all day. He was a great Dad back then and would bring the cricket bat and ball to the pool to play with all of our friends.

The Pakenham Skate Park

As we got a little older the Pakenham Skate Park was the place to be. The Swimming pool was only open in the Summer months so most other months my brother and I would hang out down at the skate park. When Dad gave us $10 here and there we used to buy enough Fish and Chips to shout all our friends down there. Most days after school, school holidays and weekends we went to the skate park to meet our friends. So when Dad went looking for us, he would always come there first or sit there until we got back. Then we would race him home on our bikes.

The Pakenham Train Station

The Pakenham Train Station was our key to the city! or more so.. to Tigerland! Dad was an AFL Richmond Supporter and Member and lost his license for a good chunk of years through Drink Driving, so we used the train to get to and from Richmond Station to the MCG to watch the Mighty Richmond Tigers play. These were the absolute highlight of my time with Dad when he had us on weekend access visits. Trips to the Footy and Cricket by train in all our footy gear. And every once in a while we ventured to the Dandenong markets and a Chinese all-you-can-eat restaurant not far from there. Unforgettable, fun childhood memories with Daddio!

The Pakenham Caravan Park

When Dad first left Mum in Koo Wee Rup, he lived in one of these little units at the caravan park. The magistrate at the time allowed us to visit with Dad on weekends and my brother an I had a bunk bed space. Although it was small and sort of a shock at first that Dad was living there, it was always kept clean, Dad made the best Roasts and Chicken Chow Mein back then and in Summer would whip out the BBQ as we used the bin as wickets to play cricket. Dad bought us our first bikes and I remember we used to ride into town to buy whatever was on his shopping list and get fish and chips and a DVD from the video store on the way home. I remember him cooking more here then he did in the two rentals he had after this place and the food aroma would linger into the night.

Overall Pakenham was a great place to visit and live with Dad. He made many friends and so did we. He always played cricket, kicked the footy with us kids down at the local footy oval and held BBQ’s in Summer. Tigers were always on the TV and the Catani Football Club was were he put his support the most. Dad played both indoor and outdoor cricket for the Nestle Cricket Teams and got us kids into footy and Netball too.