We love to swim in the Brogo River at a spot just upstream of the big bridge at Brogo.

We found the swimming hole and beach just after we bought the Bridge House. It looked quite different back then in the early 1980s. There was a big sandy beach on the southern bank and the northern bank was open and rocky with no trees at all. The river formed into a long shallow pool at this spot. Sometimes we would cross the river to walk under the bridge to a beautiful little swimming hole further down stream. A huge tree had fallen across the river making a deep hole for swimming and lovely little waterfalls that you could sit in for a water bubble massage. Back then we could walk across the rocky river bed easily but it was very hot on a summers day. Standing under the bridge we could see massive paper wasps nests attached underneath.

Now the rocks and sand are covered with green- grass in some places and the northern bank is now so thickly covered by a forest of she-oaks (casuarinas) it feels like a great adventure to push your way through the trees.

The river beach is a place where lots of Brogo people get together and catch up on hot afternoons.

When my children were little we would go to the river at about 3 pm. By then the big trees shaded the water making it a cool haven away from the heat of the day. They loved to swim and play in the water and during the afternoon their friends would arrive so they happily entertained each other. All the mums sat together at the rivers edge, their feet in the cool water, and caught up on the local gossip while the kids played together happily in the water.

Eventually the children would get cold and move on to eating and drinking (‘Mum, I’m Hungry’) and playing on the beach. Finding interesting shaped pebbles and rocks was a favourite activity. Some children worked out that if they scratched different stones together they would get coloured powder. When they added water they made an ‘ochre’ which they used to paint each others faces.

One of our family’s traditions is to go to the river for our Christmas lunch. After we have ‘done presents’ in the morning, we load up the trailer with chairs and tables, a mattress, food, cold drinks and mangoes and the children’s favourite presents. Don tows the trailer behind the tractor down to a shady spot under the casuarinas where we set up camp for the day. After a tasty lunch of smoked salmon and salad (no roasting Christmas lunch for me) we can relax. Don always has a sleep (hence the mattress) -his first rest after the frenetic activity of the build up to Christmas. We eat our Christmas mangoes sitting in the river. "The only way to eat mangoes," my mother always said.

Later in the day friends and neighbours arrive groaning from the excesses of Christmas. The children play together and everyone can finally relax: sleep off their Christmas lunch or catch up with friends they haven’t seen for a while.

It has become a tradition for Brogo people to celebrate Australia Day by floating together down the Brogo River. All types of craft can be used: canoes, surf skis, large inner tubes and ‘noodles’ have been trialled but the favourite and most enjoyable flotation device is the humble air mattress (the canvas and rubber ones, cheap plastic ones don’t last the distance). This allows a relaxed and comfortable float using only arm power, with a little thrill as you negotiate the small rapids between the long slow pools. We finish with a barbeque at the beach near the bridge - great fun and a good chance for a last summer get together before busy lives whisk us into all the activities of the new year.