People of Bondi | Bryon Jones and Vanessa Fergusson

People of Bondi | Bryon Jones and Vanessa Fergusson

We often see this lovely couple strolling around the neighbourhood.

In 2000 part time teacher Vanessa was turfed out of her apartment in Bronte (familiar story!) and moved into an apartment above where Porch and Parlour on Ramsgate Avenue is today. “I bumped into Bry on the beach and around the suburb and we eventually had our first date at Ploy Thai. He turned up in his orange Kingswood and that was it!!

Our daughter was born in 2003 and we spent each day at North Bondi, at the pool or on the grass when she was a baby. Every morning we went to Jed’s Cafe on Glenayr Ave for coffee. She went to Bondi Beach Public School and for sport they had surf lessons! Every Friday night we went to Gelbisons for an early dinner followed by Gelato at Pompeii. Nowadays we go to Shuk Bakery on Mitchell St for coffee. I love early mornings at the beach, our fantastic neighbourhood and neighbours, the big sky, the sea breezes and swimming in that water. There is nothing better!!”

“Poor musos” Bryon and his brother Jonathon left Darlinghurst to move into a Warners Avenue flat in 1984. They paid $90 a week! “Very different back then, it wasn’t green at all. Not a lot of trees … or people?! You could park a car anywhere on our street anywhere where you liked any time of day. I think the school was down to about 90 kids and nearly shut. You could get good coffee and food at the Gelateria on Campbell Parade and a 2am pie after work at the Flying Pieman. The water could be less than good quality especially after a storm, so we’d give it a miss on those days. I’ve lived over half my life here now and it’s home. A lot has changed, but much remains the same. Namely that gorgeous deep bay beach that I still gaze at in wonder every morning.”

Back in those days Bryon and his brother along with Ray Medhurst were primary members of R and B band, the Rockmelons. These days Bryon manages indie folk trio Sons of the East.