The Erickson Family Pages

ERICKSON NEWS - CHRISTMAS 2022

This is the twenty third year I have produced this little Christmas page, and it continues to be an enjoyable yearly exercise.

To all our friends, local and remote, we wish you a Christmas filled with peace and joy and hope that 2023 will be a year where the world moves closer together in unity, tolerance and mutual love and acceptance.

You can read the finer details in our Christmas letter: Our Christmas Letter

And now onto the usual annual collection of photos.


In March, our cousin Tom opened his own pharmacy in Darwin.Tom pictured with his mum Diana and dad Terry who is one of my elder brothers.	Dinner at Carosello in Moonee Ponds in March, when our cousin Eric was down from Darwin. Left to right: Eric, Chris, Amie, Sally, Matt, Annie, Ollie and Dave

On Sunday 20th March, the new stained glass window at St Linus Anglican Church in Merlynson was officially unveiled. It is in memory of Lois and of the vicar Jo-Anne Wells. Left to right: Matt, Dave, Tim, Paul, Chris and Amie, with Ollie and Annie in front.	April 2022 - Annie celebrates her ninth birthday. And she gots lots of pressies!

April 2022 - Brian Delaney and I participated in the Mini Vic 3 Day bike ride around the Grampions. Tent city on day 1 at Halls Gap.	And Brian celebrates his first day in the saddle with a beer.

March 2022 - my newly purchased Eddy Merckx EMX-5. Fantastic!	April 30th - Chris and I getting ready to ride in the Otway Classic (140km) around the Otway Ranges and along the Great Ocean Road. Of course he beat me!

Paul (far right) mixes with the big guns at the official Labor Party Election Campaign Launch in Perth on 1st May.	And who could resist such a photo from the Launch - Australian Prime Ministers all -Kevin Rudd, Anthony Albanese and Paul Keating. What legends!

May 2022 - Ollie in his goalie gear at Hockey Training with the Essendon Hockey Club. They won the U12 Premiership.	Tim at the walkers club in Middle Park in official mode - with Ela, one of our up and coming future champions

June 2022 - Matt (on left) with Ajak Kwai and the band on tour in the Northern Territory (photo from Ajak's WhatsApp gallery)	Paul looks relaxed at his National Press Club address on Monday 15th June. Dave, Chris, Matt and I all attended.

July 2022 - Matt in Sweden with our Eriksson relatives - From left to right: Håkan, Matt, Marianne, Anette and Stefan.	A spot to fill up so a file shot of Chris and his coach Brent in the snows at Flagstaff, Arizona, in March 2009 - altitiude training with bad weather thrown in as an extra challenge

July 2022 - Ollie having a walk at the Victorian Race Walking Club at Middle Park	July 2022 - Annie having a walk at the Victorian Race Walking Club at Middle Park

In August, I spent 3 weeks ridig in Europe with my former racewalking mate Harold who is based in Luxembourg. This shot is at the top of the Col de Petit Ballon in France.	Here's Harold in the main street on the French town of Bourg d'Oisans. This is at the foot of the Alpe d'Huez, one of the classic Tour De France Climbs and one of the best known climbs in the world.

The sign at the base of the Alpe D'Huez says it all - 13 km to go at an average gradient of 10.1%, with a total of 21 hairpin bends.	And here we are on our way up Alpe d'Huez. That's not a green screen background. That is a real photo. How spectacular!

And here we are at the top othe Alpe d'Huez climb. We continued on that day with further climbs and a total distance of over 100km in very hot conditions. I was absolutely spent at ride's end. Harold has a lot to answer for!	My favourite meal - spaghetti carbonara. Lunch in Bourg d'Oisans.

Straight onto the Col de Sarenne after conquering Alpe d-Huez. Part of a long ride that day.	How's this for a back drop for some mountain riding. Over the top of the Col de Sarenne and down the other side.

Tim in front of our hotel (Hotel Milan) in Bourg d'Oisans. What a lovely little town in which to spend a few days.	We didn't think our paths would cross but Harold and I met up with Amie and Chris while they did a short side trip to France during their own European holiday. Morning tea in Nance.

Chris hired a bike and attacked a few mountains himself while in France. One of the Tour De France classis - the Col du Galibier.	And then onto the Col du Telegraphe for Chris

Riding around Luxembourg City with Harold and his wife Fernande (that's Harold behind the camera - oh, you can't see him!)	My brother Mike and I made the sad trip to Darwin in October to say goodbye to our brother Terry who died from cancer on Friday 28th October. This is a fantastic shot of Terry talking at a 2013 AMSANT conference.

Mike and I with our nephew Eric at the Mindil Beach nightime market in Darwin.	And here is Mike with Eric and his partner Nikki. Darwin is much too hot for me!

The site for my brother Terry's ashes in the Eltham Cemetery. An absolutely wonderful spot.	Our Cousin Fr. Peter Carrucan officiated at my brother Terry's ashes interment at Eltham Cemeteru in December.

Terry's funeral at Eltham - the final goodbye	Cynthia, Diana and her aunt at Eltham Cemetery

Christmas lunch in the back yard at Pascoe Vale - Chris, Amie, Jenny, Neil, Jill, Bev	Christmas lunch in the back yard at Pascoe Vale - Greg, Sarah, Tom, Annie, Ollie, Dave and Paul (Matt and I were there but missed the photo)

Christmas in Darwin for our niece Sue with husband Tom and children Terry and Jemima	What Christmas is complete without a Christmas Tree and presents - Jemima and Terry in Darwin