I was born in Berala and remember the day
 the Berala Hotel and adjoining shops were opened. 
Great excitement. 
 It was a little village with turn of the century shops 
until the new stores were built..

(Photo courtesy of:Jim of Sydney City and Suburbs)
http://sydney-city.blogspot.com/2010/02/berala-pub.html

In 1971, My dad aged 54yo had a massive stroke while playing snooker (pool)  in the games room of the pub and a friend of his came to fetch Mum and I, Mum had been wondering why Dad was late getting home. We got there just as the ambulance arrived. This was at a time when no women were allowed in the public bar (men only) so it was rather a strange feeling walking into the pub. He spent 3 months in hospital until my mother insisted he be cared for at home.My dad survived another 14 years in the care of my mother.

Every time I pass by the pub I remember that day. It was a life-changing event for me. It was 1970, the liberation of women was happening. I had recently gone against my mothers wishes (I was working in a Bank - Bank of New South Wales) and entered the Public Service (Public Trustee) because of the sex discrimination of women in the banking industry. In the PS I was treated as an equal plus I got an extra week holiday/sick leave, better pay and more job opportunities. Unfortunately, I was too inexperienced at the time to take advantage of it. I was a young 18.

My brother and his mates refer to the pub as "Berala Beach" as they would tell their mothers they were heading off to the beach for the day and in reality spend the day
in the beer garden. lol.