Sydney- A day in Summer Bay (Palm Beach)

Tuesday 20th of May 2014 was a day that I will never forget. This is the day I got to meet a legend in his own right Ray Meagher, better known to most of us as Home and Away's Alf Stewart. Ray has played the role of Alf Stewart since 1988 (the year I was born) and is the only original character left in Australia's longest running soap. A trip to Palm beach again better known to most of us as Summer Bay has been on my to do list since moving to Sydney in March of this year.

Last Tuesday I got to put a great big tick beside this. After working a 12 hour night shift it was home, shower and out the door. I threw a few lattes into me to psych myself up for the day and keep those stinging tired eyes at bay. Accompanied by my good friends Amanda Fahey (Robeen, Hollymount) and Suzanne McNeela (Newport) I made the trip from inner Sydney to the beautiful Palm Beach which lies 46km North East of Sydney.

On the bus the three of us discussed our expectations for the day. Who will we see? Will we even get to meet anyone at all. How disappointing will it be if we don't get to see anyone. One thing the three of us agreed on is that if we met Alf or Brax (Steve Peacocke) we would be very happy.

At 11am we hopped off the bus and it was the most surreal feeling. Actually looking up turning my head to the left and to my right and seeing that long beach I have seen on television since as long ago as I can remember. Ever since mother dearest would gather the four of us (my siblings Tommy, Gerard and Fiona) in the playroom give us a glass of 7up and a packet of tayto which kept us quiet for a half an hour and gave her some well needed peace. 

The show has seen me through thick and thin. Through all my secondary school days in Mount St. Michael Claremorris and later in my college years in Sligo. I know a lot of my buddies will agree that the majority of our lunchtimes in Sligo were spent watching Home and Away with a roll from the regional, a can a coke and a packet of crisps.

To me this programme represents a break, a precious half an hour to relax and do nothing and the minute I got off that bus in Palm beach I felt completely at ease. I definitely was in my happy place.

We strolled leisurely up the famous beach taking it all in. It was beautiful. The first jolt of excitement was when we saw a sign saying ''filming in progress''. Brilliant I thought. There must be someone here. We ventured up to the surf club and low and behold who was on set but our beloved Alf, Brax and an added bonus Leah (Ada Nicodemeu). What amazed me was the laid back atmosphere of the place. The whole crew were so friendly and welcoming and after they finished filming the scene Brax and Nate (Kyle Pryor) came out and asked if anyone would like photos. The security guard took each persons camera and the two lads were very happy to take a photo with anyone who wished for one. Steve told us he was coming to Ireland in July. So all you folks at home should go along and see him if he's in your hometowns cause' he's a real nice guy!!

After lunch we came back to see if there was any hope of meeting Alf. We waited and waited and at 5pm as he passed us by he said he could see we were waiting for a long time and he'd come back once he had a break in his next scene. True to his word he returned and was more than happy to pose for photos. Again an unbelievably nice, normal down to earth guy who funnily enough is actually quite small in real life. With that, followed by a quick picture with the lovely Leah we left Palm beach with beaming smiles and caught the L90 bus back to the bright lights of Sydney. A magical day with lovely memories we will hold dear forever. My favourite day in Oz thus far! Needless to say I slept well that night.....