Pekeri

I grew up living most of my childhood years in Bega Court and couldn't have wanted it any better. We knew the neighbours and the neighbours knew us. It was a safe place to be and my parents never stressed about where we were, or at least they never seemed to.

We were always off with friends and exploring the area. Heaps of parks, playgrounds and nature destinations. The internationally recognised Edithvale wetlands are just a bike ride away along the Mordialloc to Patterson River bike path which is quiet, pretty and nowhere near roads except to cross them a couple of times - with traffic lights. The beach is even closer. Mordialloc creek and both public and private golf courses, Scouts, dancing lessons, Life Saving club, football and cricket, little athletics. This list goes on. We never were wanting for something to do and it didn't have to be electronic to be 'fun'.

It's close to several great schools (although I must admit I miss the Aspendale Tech school not being there anymore) and my parents had a choice of Kindergartens to send my youngest brother to.

Public transport was easy to access with the train station being within an easy walk although we tended to ride our bikes everywhere anyway.

The Aspendale shops at the train station? I miss the green grocer, fish and chips shop and the Bank that used to be there BUT the Butcher sells quality meat that's worth going to from other suburbs! And the supermarket, Milk Bar and the Butcher have service that puts too many other stores to shame. The fish and chips near the Primary school does make a great fish and chips though and Aspendale Gardens shopping centre is only a hop skip and jump away on foot.

The good thing about walking or riding everywhere while growing up was that you got to know all the faces around the neighbourhood and even now I find people stopping me to chat because they recognise me when I've gone to the Aspendale Butcher for my meat (he REALLY is worth it!).

Bega Court is close enough to just about everything to be viable on foot while being just that little bit awkward enough in the directions to make it a quiet and private area.