As I read Claire Mactaggart’s Christmas memories for My Country Childhood – one of my favourite stories in the magazine – her description of being “packed” into the car

with her four siblings for a 10-hour drive to celebrate with family reminded me of my own journeys home when I was a child. ‘Home’ was (and still is) Kyogle, and no matter where we lived, we would drive home for Christmas. We had a canary-yellow Daihatsu Charade – a small car when empty, but add two tall adults, two children, and luggage for us all for six weeks, plus presents for us and the extended family, and it was extremely weighed down. Getting up hills was a struggle as we drove the 13 hours from Henty in NSW near the Victorian border, we didn’t have airconditioning, and my brother and I fought for exactly half of the back seat between complaining of being bored. My poor parents! I look back on it so fondly now (and so do Mum and Dad) – it is such a stand-out memory for me that just means Christmas.

It made me realise how driving to spend Christmas with people we love is such a defining part of the Aussie celebration. But will we be able to do that this year? While we didn’t cross any borders to get home for Christmas when I was young, my extended family are much more spread out these days, with some in Victoria and Queensland. Of course, we’re hoping to celebrate together, but if this year has taught us anything, it’s that we don’t have to be in the same room to have a good time and mark an occasion. We’ve had some long, laughter-filled video chats in the past several months that I know I’ll remember for years to come with a smile, just like the long annual drive home for Christmas. And I hope however you celebrate Christmas 2020, you have a wonderful time.