A Gift

STORY BY ANTHONY CARRUBBA

Small voices babbling, unrestrained laughter singing out into the open air. The sound of tiny wheels rolling across stone, taking off fast and gradually slowing to a complete stop. Exclamations, excitement as the toy is propelled back and forth between the two small children. The kids play happily with a little wooden man on a horse, with wheels attached to the legs. They shout out dialogue, narrate his actions, weave a story between them. Imaginations run wild. The children are ecstatic, but so too are the parents. It is a deeply satisfying feeling. Seeing loved ones enjoying a gift, especially little ones, knowing you have given them happiness. 

Such wheeled toys have been found by archaeologists the world over. Ancient Mesoamericans, Mesopotamians, Greeks, Indo-Europeans and more all satisfied their children with these small, wheeled devices. Some surviving artefacts are in excess of 7,000 years old. To the adult eye, a misshapen lump of wood or stone resembling a horseman, chariot or ox would seem quite plain. Boring. But through the lens of a child’s imagination, anything is possible.  

My own favourite toys as a child were almost always received as gifts for birthdays or Christmases. A plethora of wheeled vehicles, which gave me joy for years thereafter, complemented by a raft of Lego, action figures, army men and plastic dinosaurs. The gifts we receive as children are always more than they appear. They house something much larger than their stone, wood or plastic forms imply. They are fuel for our imagination, constant reminders of the love of our families and friends. Memories. 

Surely, we can all remember our most treasured toy from childhood. Hold it in your mind, now. The best toys are not necessarily the flashiest or the most expensive. Rather, we value one or two simple things once held close for so long, mementos of our youth. A teddy bear, a particular truck or doll. Symbols of times and games past, reminders of jubilant birthdays and joyous Christmases.

We watch on as consumer trends spur manufacturers onto creating more intricate toys every year, especially to compete with the never-ending stimulus of digital entertainment. Lights, sensors, voice commands, multifunctionalities all listed on the box alongside hazard warnings. And yet, these presents are made and discarded at record rates, left to gather dust or thrown into landfill. Perhaps less is more. Gifts should be given with love, and toys should rely on their owners to bring them alive with imagination.

With Christmas on the horizon, we look forward to a time of reprieve. Modern Australian Christmas traditions kicked off in the 1850’s, around the time that Daylesford was founded. From the first, Aussie Christmas was a time to gather with loved ones, to enjoy the outdoors and the sunny weather not to be found in the Northern Hemisphere. After a tough, isolating year, it might be best to focus on the important things and keep our celebrations simple like that. Honest and joyful, like a good present.