My mother, Irene Smith, first went to the Bay in 1909 with a church choir. Auntie Lister was chaperone. The ship unloaded their tent and supplies in the pass. I have no idea how they got them to the beach. Mother's first husband was killed early in World War One.  In 1917, she married my father Hedley Smith.

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About 1919, my parents made a start at putting up the house on the present site. Year by year it was added to and improved.  I made my appearance there in 1920.

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On a Friday evening in September 1959, the house burned to the ground. Joe Dunn had lit the garbage burner in the Davidson's house next door. As Bill and Boo came into the Bay, they saw their house ablaze. The fire spread to our house. Tag Nygard, with his bulldozer pushed the Marion house into the fire to make a break. It worked, the fire was contained.  Our present house was built the following spring.

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As many of you know, there was a badminton court at the back of our house. We still call the cracked pieces of concrete The Court. It was built around 1935 when Louie Fulton the farmer, hauled up the sand with his team of horses and Mac McCullough mixed the cement and did the job.

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The court was used on sports day for costume parades, entertainment, prize giving and serving food. I remember Alfred Hailey, with beard and cigar, dressed as his grandfa­ther, Captain Hailey, master of the Empress of Canada. Barry and his sister Penny were Adam and Eve and Nell Hailey was a mermaid. No imported costumes were allowed. Adults also participated in the entertainment. Bruce Carmichael said It all goes in one ear and  out the other, with a prop that made it look as though water was going in one ear and out  the other.  Boo Davidson and Mary Jones danced and sang Side by Side.  Rose McLaughlin and I had a great time sorting the prizes in the sleeping house adjoining the court, and passing them out the door for distribution. Food, served to all, consisted of hotdogs, ice cream, pop and lemonade.

The badminton court used to be surrounded by big trees so it was sheltered from the wind. We had many exciting tournaments. There was a successful gambling night to raise money for the two skiing and diving floats. The court was the place for dancing, the  music from 78 records or radios at each end of the court.