IN these days of very fast trains, planes and automobiles, it’s often the case that many families are spread out all over the country and only come together for the big occasions, such as weddings and sadly funerals.

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The ‘Parish’ clan is a classic example.

Not so long ago, the Parish siblings, cousins, uncles and aunties all got together for the funeral of an elderly relative in Lismore, in the State’s Northern Rivers.

“We’d come from all over for Uncle John’s farewell, he was the last of my father’s brothers and aged 96,” Liz Cullen ‘nee Parish’ told News Of The Area.

“We hadn’t seen our cousins for years and what followed shortly after was a sign that our family was destined to have more regular get togethers when I bumped into a cousin again in Sydney a short time later.”

As it happened some of the Parish clan were already holding regular get-togethers at Bulahdelah and the Sydney connection decided to join in.

“The first time we headed off from Sydney bound for Bulahdelah we never made it.”

“A rock on the highway tore our tyre to shreds and being a Sunday the only place that could replace the tyre was on the Central Coast,” Liz said.

A tow truck ride and two tyres made for a $900 trip.

But it was second time lucky, with Liz, sister Sue and brothers Geoffrey and Jonathon making it to Bulahdelah last weekend for a great catch-up with their extended family at the local Bowling Club.

“There was Helen from Port Macquarie, Louis from Toronto, Barbara from the Central Coast, Eric from Farley and Phillip from Vacy,” Liz said.

“We all had a great time and they plan on making it a regular get-together every three months.”

By Margie TIERNEY