Food's the focus of my childhood memories

WHAT a great job the Daily has done in highlighting the history of the Sunshine Coast and the Near North Coast, showing photos and stories over the last 100 years or so.

It certainly has brought back some memories for me looking at some of the photos.

Probably because of the trip down memory lane there are a lot of locals sharing old photos on Facebook along the same theme of "then and now".

One in particular that has resonated with me is a mid-1920s photo at Cotton Tree Caravan (Camping) Park of my grandmother, my mum and her brother in what looks like a tepee.

Probably quite accurately, the little group looks like they wouldn't have two coins to rub together.

It just reminds of the simple life on the Coast that I was introduced to 30-something years after that photo was taken and highlights what an integral part of my childhood was about hanging at Cotton Tree.

In fact, many of the places I thought were cool actually related to food.

At Cotton Tree, it was the Cotton Tree Inn that was the place to be in the 1960s and '70s.

I guess everything was impressive for a kid growing up in Eudlo where the only shop was the General Store that still stands today and was probably built off the back of me booking up a Coke and barbecue chips on the family account for seven years of primary school.

The only way my parents could get me to Brisbane and back without too much whinging during what seemed like a massive journey snaking the single lane Old Gympie Rd, was a pit stop at the Bald Hills pub for a red drink on the way down and a pie and peas at Lindy's Roadhouse at Tanawha on the way back.

Even more exciting than the pie was the fact Lindy's had a wishing well where I got to throw dad's money ... probably wishing for another pie.

Food still being the theme - visiting grandad in Caloundra there were two main highlights, a fish and chip shop behind his house on top of Bulcock St and White Fleet fish and chips on the site that Rhumba now stands.

They used to be epic, as was jumping off the jetty into the streaming passage on an outgoing tide.

Heading north to Nambour was definitely a highlight, visiting what was a thriving metropolis of shops, chains stores and cafes with undoubtedly the most prestigious being Collins Café.

It was certainly the place to be.

Their own in-house bakery, burgers and all the gear plus Coke spiders (ice cream and the soft drink of your choosing) made it a fat kid's paradise.

Memories of a serial foodie may be the next series the Daily could do.

Seriously though, thanks to all involved for the trip down memory lane.