Jenny Rankine spent most weekends and holidays at Bonnie Vale while growing up. Her family began vacationing there in a friend’s cabin in 1955 and Jenny’s father, Noel Blom, built a cabin in 1958, which was co-owned by Jenny’s parents and her auntie Mabel Davies. Jenny has fond memories of spending time with her family at Bonnie Vale and of the community that was there and provides great descriptions of both.

My Bonnie Vale: A recollection of life at Bonnie Vale from 1955 to 1980, by Jennifer Rankine.

Excerpt from Norma Blom’s Eulogy, July 2020, delivered by Jennifer Rankine.

Listen to Jenny’s Interview

Jenny’s audio interview can be downloaded here.

Keywords

Bonnie Vale – Cabins – Shack – Community – Bundeena – Royal National Park – Bonnie Vale Cabin Exhibition – Bonnie Vale Shacks

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Jenny’s Photo Album

P39470 – View from the ‘Merry Inn’ cabin looking towards the water – Bonnie Vale, January 1965

P39469 – View from the Bundeena Shops (i.e., the current Post Office) – January 1965

Jenny Rankine (Blom) and her cousin, Kim

P39471 – Bonnie Vale beach: Kim McMullen (cousin), Jan Brown (friend), Mark McMullen (cousin) and Mabel Davis (Aunt) – January 1965

P39472 – The front row cabin adjoins Helen Scaife’s cabin – Bonnie Vale, January 1965

P39473 – Jan Brown in front of Atkinson’s Cottage – Bonnie Vale, January 1965

P39474 – Jan Brown and Jenny Rankine (Blom) on Bonnie Vale Beach, January 1965

P39475 – Waiting for Cronulla ferry on Bundeena Wharf, Horden’s Beach in background. F: Carol Brown, Kim McMullen, Mark McMullen, Jenny Rankine (Blom). B: Jan Brown, Mabel Davis – January 1965

P39476 – Kids playing in water – Bonnie Vale, January 1965

P39477 – Kids playing in water – Bonnie Vale, January 1965

P39478 – Jenny Rankine (Blom) on friend’s boat in Bonnie Vale – January 1965

P39479 – Noel Blom with a friend’s boat in Bonnie Vale, January 1965

P39450 – Norma Blom at the age of 30 – 1956

P39451 – Gary Blom, aged 5 – 1956

P39452 – Noel Blom, 1956

P39453 – ‘Merry Inn’ – Cabin No. 110 – 1959

P39454 – Jennifer Rankine (Blom), 1959

P39455 – Friends at Bonnie Vale, circa.1959

P39456 – Bonnie Vale friends

P39457 – Jennifer Rankine (Blom) (left), Garry Blom and cousin Kim, 1961

P39458 – Jennifer Rankine (Blom) outside the ‘Merry Inn’ cabin, 1962

P39459 – Jenny Rankine (Blom) and her cousin Kim outside the ‘Aqua Villa’ cabin

P39460 – (Left to right) Alma Archer, Mabel Davis, and Norma Blom, outside the ‘Aqua Villa’ cabin

P39462 – (Left to right) Norma Blom, Alma Archer, unknown, unknown, and Mabel Davis

P39463 – Jennifer Rankine (Blom) with her aunt, Mabel Davis, on Bonnie Vale beach – 1966

P39464 – Noel Blom in front of the ‘Merry Inn’ cabin – 1968

P39465 – Noel Blom outside the ‘Merry Inn’ cabin dressed as Tiny Tim

P39466 – The Blom children and friends on the beach outside Atkinson’s cabin

P39467 – The Bonnie Vale ‘gang’ socialising

P39468 – Ronald Newman and Gary Blom, circa.1961

P39461 – Outside the ‘Aqua Villa’ cabin, circa.1970

Jennifer Rankine