Loretta Upton nee Croston
Period
1964 - 1967
Loretta is the daughter of Rachel and Bill Croston who were canteen managers at the Cheynes Beach Whaling Station.
“Days were really so free and easy back then. Apart from the daily trips to school during the week our time was our own and we were free to roam most parts of the station. We did occasionally get ourselves in trouble thinking that we had free run of the place. Like the time we came across some used cable bobbins. We thought that it would be great fun to roll these huge reels into the ocean. Mr. Murray had different ideas however, and when we were summonsed to his office he kindly shared his concerns with us. We never tried that one again.
I remember several of the workers very clearly as they were very friendly. I was always quite intrigued with the handkerchief tied with knots that formed Louis Kzinuic’s head wear. Some other names I recall were Scotty (Des Scott ), Mr. Udecz (Ging Udecz), Jimmy Shanhun, Ray Woonings, Mr. Ralph (Bill Ralph). I think it must have been Scotty who loaned us his boat (without knowing) to row around the lake (well it looked much bigger back then). In fact everything looked much bigger back then. How did we ever fit into that tiny accommodation, I am sure it was larger than that?
I loved the freedom we had to go down to the beach every day and swim; it was like a permanent holiday. I remember walking around to a back beach; I think we used to call it Boat Harbour.
Guy Faulkes nights and a whole beach to ourselves – what bliss.
Whale’s teeth were just toys that we saw no real value in. We seemed to have so many of them. We often just gave them to kids at school. I wish I could get them all back now. They might be worth something.
I also remember standing watching the flensers slicing up the great hunks of blubber and dropping them into the boilers. My favourite would have to be when a new whale was reeled in and you could see the bite marks where the sharks had snacked while the whales were tied up at the pontoon.
I have been back to the station several times since those days and everything seems so much smaller, but my memories of that time there are still huge in my mind - they were great times.
Loretta Upton nee Croston