The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Fay Berry 2013 © - Chapter 33 - 1957 05 25 - Fay Berry

The Blacksmith’s Daughter – Chapter 33

It seems to me that I have been looking forward to the Southport Youth Conference forever. The Black Point weekend had been the highlight of my year to date, but today was the day I took my first plane flight ever, that is if I didn’t count the joy flight I took in the little Auster at Pinnaroo last time I was at the Wurfel’s. Today was my first flight on a commercial aeroplane at least, firstly to Sydney and then on to Coolangatta.

At Coolangatta as we all were alighting from the plane, we discovered that we had been the traveling companions of “Miss Teenager” and so our plane was met with flashing cameras and a crowd of VIP’s. From Coolangatta, we were conveyed by bus to Southport and to our respective “hostels,” either “Bellevue” or “Chelmsford, “ which were to be our homes for the next week.

I found I was billeted in “Chelmsford,” but my friend Merrita Spencer was in “Bellevue.” The two places could not have been more disparate. Bellevue was new and shining with a lovely modern kitchen and dining area. Chelmsford was old and uninviting. We all joked that Chelmsford could easily have been the set for a “Count Dracula” movie. I never did actually see Chelmsford’s kitchen. The food that emanated from wherever the kitchen was, was enough to keep me away. Once again we all joked that Count Dracula was down there somewhere in the dungeons of Chelmsford, preparing our food in a room full of his mad and fiendish alchemy. Eric Mansfield who was at my table most of the week ate almost nothing of Chelmsford’s food, and by the end of the week I found that I was a few pounds lighter than I was when I arrived on the first day.

The Conference was fast-paced and the week went by in a blur. I found it impossible to keep my diary up to date because I was so distracted by so many choices and activities to occupy every last minute of my time. I did my level best, to keep writing, but my best was not good enough. Then when I got back home, my life took over and so I lost much of the detail.

At the end of the conference, there was one thing I was sure of, and that was that it had been worth every penny I had spent to attend this conference. I had met so many people who showed me love and kindness. It had expanded my horizons and helped me to see “the big picture” and refine my choices for my life. I was especially grateful to two of the hosts, Stan and Sheila Bailey, who “took a shine” to me and gave me their time and their wisdom and helped me to see with clarity that there were some changes I would need to make, when I got back home, to redirect my life.

SOUTHPORT YOUTH CONFERENCE – 25th May – 3rd June 1957

19570525 My adventure begins

We are in the air at last and it’s wonderful. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The houses all look like toys and the Torrens looks like a little trickle of murky water. To think I used to swim in it! I saw The News building as we flew over Adelaide. Won’t be there for 3 weeks! Yippee! Joan can have Mr Barrow all to herself.

I guess I’d better go back to the beginning. Mum and I got everything ready last night and after a lot of panting, grunting, and groaning, we got the cases closed. We had to take time off at one stage for Mum to recover from having “convulsions.” She seemed to think there was something funny about me putting my foot on the case and straining like mad to do it up.

I went to bed at 11.00 am and went straight to sleep. It didn’t last though, because at 2.00 am I woke up and stayed awake for the rest of the night. Mum called me at 4.45 and I went into the lounge to dress. At 5.45 I went into the bedroom, kissed Beth goodbye, and promised to give her love to all the Josephs. Then I went into Charlie’s room and kissed him goodbye. Then to the airport. Soon it will be Beth and Charles who will be leaving and I will be kissing them goodbye. I’ll miss them terribly.

There was quite a crowd at the airport, parents, relations and well-wishers and a lot of moping young people who were wishing they were going too. Lewis Osborne demanded a full set of the notes I take. He’s hopeful! I’ll have my hands full as it is. We all climbed onto the plane, found our seats, and stowed our hand luggage. Max Kennett came up and said, “You’re keen, you brought your typewriter.” I told him that I intend to keep a detailed diary about all the mischief everyone gets up to. He said, “How much do I have to pay you to keep it all quiet?” Wow, I could start quite a roaring trade at this conference.

We are all going to have our luggage transferred to Ansett in bulk. This will mean that we can get out of paying for excess weight that way. Trust us to think of that. I pity the poor hostesses on this bus, everyone is walking up and down the aisles, talking excitedly together. Des Manser and Rob Hicks are arranging things and altogether we are having fun. We’ve been flying over clouds and only now and then do we get a glimpse of Mother Earth. There’s a rainbow that keeps following us. It’s like a circle of colored lights, the seven colors combining to make the pure refracted light of God.

Everything below is just a sea of frothy clouds and above us, the sky is blue as blue. O good, we are coming to a break in the clouds. This is such fun. Some of the girls made a mistake and went into the Men’s instead of the Ladies. They came out a little redder than they went in. The break in the clouds has grown bigger now and finally, we have left the clouds behind. Everyone is taking photos. Wonder if they will come out. For miles and miles, the ground looks completely flat and it looks just like linoleum with patches of brown, grey, and blue. There are a few ridges now covered with trees. You beaut! They are letting us into the cabin with the pilot three at a time. Wow, that was an air pocket. There’s a pine plantation over there. This is getting a bit disjointed. We are about 3/4 an hour from Sydney.

We touched down at Sydney Airport at about 10.10 am, walked to the Ansett Building and paid for our excess luggage. Mary Cobbledick was a bit upset because something had gone wrong with her bookings and she was not booked in on the Ansett plane. She got in though because someone else agreed to transfer to another plane. We didn’t get a very good view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge because the air was all fogged up from Sydney’s fireworks night. Trust us to come in on Fireworks Day. Evidently, they go for it in a big way over here. It was so bad that the airport where we landed had been closed the night before because visibility was soo poor. If fireworks can affect the air so much and for so long after just one lot of fireworks, what can the Atomic bomb do?

The country around Sydney is beautiful. Before we flew into Sydney we passed over the Blue Mountains and they certainly are an inspirational sight. We passed over Katoomba and the three sisters. It looked as though someone had scooped a big hole out of the earth with their bucket and spade. We have changed planes and are now going on to Coolangatta, and the country is becoming more barren now, just hills with a scattering of trees. On the right, I can see a long strip of sand fringing the sea. It’s peaceful.

We arrived safely at Coolangatta and as the plane taxied to a halt, we looked out of our windows and saw that the plane was being met by a bunch of VIP’s and newspapermen with their cameras and quite a crowd of people waiting on the Tarmac for our plane to come in. We truly thought that it was a welcoming party for us. But then we were told by one of the air hostesses that actually, we were honored by having “Miss Teenager” on board with us, and the welcome wasn’t for us at all. Will we never be famous??

We were transported from the airport to our various “homes” for the week by bus. The conference was so large that they had to house everyone in two different places. One is called Bellevue and the other Chelmsford and every day we will have to walk from Chelmsford to Bellevue for meetings.

I found that I was not in Bellevue where Merritta Spencer was going to be. I was in Chelmsford, it was “fated to be.” Bellevue was a beautiful modern complex with a lovely modern kitchen and dining room which provided the most beautiful meals for its guests. Chelmsford, on the other hand, was a medieval sort of place (even though built along Queensland lines), a place where Dracula would have felt at home, and the food! Well, it was simply awful For most of the week I sat at a table on the first floor with Eric Mansfield, Malcolm Kirkwood, and Barrie Stretton etc. and the food was really dreadful.

We soon found that if we didn’t eat a meal for breakfast or lunch, it came out as “Bubble and Squeak” for the next morning’s breakfast. It was not long before we began throwing our food out of the top window to the bullnozed verandah below so that they couldn’t recycle our food. (This proved not to be a very wise move because before the end of the week, it became necessary for one of the boys to bring a long hose up the stairs and into the dining room where we hung Malcolm Kirwood out of the window by his feet and he took the hose and hosed down the bull nosed verandah which had begun to stink.)

Eric, who had a weak stomach couldn’t eat the food at all and he became skin and bones before the week was over. I lost weight too, but there was an upside for me out of this. After the conference was over a group of us went to a resort called “The Oasis” and swam there in a beautiful swimming pool surrounded by palm trees. I was wearing a pair of borrowed leopard skin bathers and because I had lost so much weight I was told that I looked “quite stunning”. Then we were approached by a group of photographers (agents for one of the local Airlines) and asked to pose for them around the pool for a publicity poster.

They placed a huge beach towel on a half circle of concrete that was a decoration feature beside the pool and they posed me against this and all the rest of the girls and boys around me. Then “click” and it was my moment of glory!! Barrie Spencer was there and he took the same photo that the photographers had taken and later he gave me a copy. I kept if for years and years. It was a small photo as photos often were in those days and one day I put it in with a bunch of photos to get copied and enlarged. When I went to pick up the prints, to my sorrow, they had lost the original photo and so there was not only no enlarged print but the small picture was gone too. Gone was “my moment of glory.” Isn’t it always the way?

Conference Program and timetable

Program:

9.00 am Assemble at South Brisbane to be conveyed to Southport by rail motor.

12.30 pm Lunch

3.30 pm Service of Welcome at Tennis Hall.

Chairman Ray Tutticci (Brisbane)

Hymn No 14.

Address of Welcome by Chairman.

Host’s remarks,

Bro H. Pearce (Newcastle).’

Hymn No 4.

Response by Visitors –

WA: Nicholas Warren, (Manjimup)

SA: Ruth Eakins (Adelaide)

Vic: Richard Ladson (Malvern).

NZ: Fred Marley ( Wellington).

NSW: Lynette Spencer (Granville0

Isolation: Cleve Bundesen ( Yalboroo)

Prayer of Dedication.

Hosts’ Remarks:

Bro. S. L. Bailey (Brisbane0

Bro. R.C. Day (Brisbane0

Announcements: Secretary.

Hymn No. 248

Prayer.

7.30 pm Social Evening at Tennis Hall.

Chairman, Ray Mogg (Brisbane)

Prayer

Reading II Tim 1:

Robert Hicks, Adelaide

Social program arranged by Social Committee

Prayer,

Supper at Tennis Hall

10.45 pm Lights out at guest houses.

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord.”

———————————————

Those attending the Conference

Girls:

Arthur, Betty, Brisbane

Arthur, Irene, Bundaberg

Kennett, Pauline, Victoria

Boardman, Joan, NSW

Bonner, Judith, NSW

Broadbridge, Julie SA

Brown, Beverley, NSW

Brown, Enid, Vic

Bundesen, Betty, Qld,

Bundesen, Clare, Qld

Bundesen, Jean, Qld.

Bundesen, June, Qld.

Buttsworth, Lois, Qld

Clare, Desley, Qld

Cobbledick, Mary, SA

Coffey, Valerie, NSW

Dawson, Val, NSW

Dell, Pam, Qld

Dryden, Laurel, WA

Duncan, Marion, Qld,

Eakins, Mary, SA

Foulis, Barbara, SA

Fredrickson, May, !ld

Fredrickson, Margaret, Qld

Galbraith, Valerie, Vic

Galbraith, Wilma, Vic.

Hillhouse, Beth, NSW

Hillhouse, Jane, NSW

Hosking, Margaret, SA

James, Gwen, NSW

Johnson, Martha, Qld

Joseph, Faith, NSW

Jolly, Wendy, SA

Kennett, Nea, Vic

Kenney, Esther, Vic

Ketterer, Roma, WA

King, Nancy, SA

Laker, Marie, Qld

Lawrey, Dawn, SA

Lawrey, Glenis, SA

Laxton, Joyce, Qld

Littler, Margaret, NSW

McAfee, Noela, Qd

McDonald, Elaine, Qld.

MacKinnon, Margaret, NSW

Mansfield, Elaine, NSW

Mansfield, Denise, SA

Mansfield, Judith, SA

Mogg, Heather, NSW

Mogg, Jean, Qld

Nettelbeck, Joy, SA

O’Connor, Fay, SA

O’Toole, Enid, Qld

Palmer, Lynette, SA

Pearce, Sylvia, NSW

Pearson, Margaret, Vic

Phipps, Jennifer, NSW

Randall, Janice, SA

Rosser, Joyce, NSW

Russell, Evelyn,

Russell, Norma, NSW

Seth, Beryl, Qld.

Sharman, Helen, SA

Spencer, Marion, NSW

Spencer, Lyn, NSW

Spencer, Merrita, NSW

Steele, Joy, Qld

Stretton, Judith, NSW

Thatcher, Annette, NSW

Thomas, Ronda, NSW

Towner, Betty, NSW

Vinal, Judith, SA

Warr, Margaret, Vic

Watson, Joyce, Qld

Watson, Margaret, SA

Weldon, Bev, Qld.

Weldon, Gae, Qld

Wigzell, Fay, SA

Wigzell, Roma, SA

Boys:

Anderson, Noel, Qld

Bacon, Graham, NSW

Boon, Errol, Qld.

Boon, John, Qld.

Bowen, Eric, Qld

Bowen, Hugh, NSW

Boyd, Gill, Vic

Briggs, Brian, SA

Bundesen, Cleve, Qld

Bundesen, Dan, Qld.

Bundesen, Errol, Qld

Bundesen, John, Qld.

Bundesen, Neville, Qld

Bundesen, Paul, Qld

Bundesen, Peter, Qld

Carroll, Dennis, NSW

Carroll, Morris, NSW

Clothier, Bill, SA

Cutler, Barry, Qld

Dalitz, Bill, SA

Denford, Graham, NSW

Denford, Kelvin, NSW

Dieckmann, Beresford, Qld.

Evans, Fred, NSW

Fotheringham, Ken, Vic

Franklin, Murray, SA

Goodwin, Max, SA

Green, Jimmy NSW

Hardinge, Geoffrey, Vic

Hardy, Trevor, Vic

Hawkins, Allan, NSW

Hicks, Robert, SA

Hill, Colin, Qld

Hill, Edward, Qld.

Hill, Graham, Qld.

Hill, Malcolm Qld.

\Holt, John, Qld.

Johnson, Bob, Qld.

Kennett, Max, SA

Ladson, Richard, Vic.

Leadbeatter, Arthur, NSW

Leadbeatter, Lawrence, NSW

Lowe, Don, NSW

Manser, Brian, SA

Manser, Des, SA

Mansfield, Eric, NSW

Manser, James, NSW

Marley, Fred, NZ

Martin, Miles, SA

Matthews, Dean, SA

McCarthy, Gerald, Qld.

McColl, John, NSW

McColl, David, NSW

Mogg, Don, Qld.

Mogg, Len, Qld.

Mogg, Ray, Qld.

Neilsen, Keith, Qld.

Nitschke, Gerald, SA

Palmer, Langdon, SA

Pearce, Walter, NSW

Peden, Frank, Gladesville.

Pitt, Dean, SA

Powell, Andrew, NSW

Provis, Colin, SA

Seth, Peter, Qld

Seth, Owen, Qld

Shaw, Edward, Qld

Shaw, Richrd, Qld

Spencer, Barrie, NSW

Stokes, Robert, SA

Stuart, John, NSW

Topham, Ian, SA

Towner, Ray, NSW

Tregenza, Ian, SA

Tutticci, Ray, Qld

Wallis, Robert, SA

Warren, Nickolas, WA

Watson, Ray, Qld

Wauchope, Grant, SA

Weldon, Rodney, Qld

Weller, Lance, SA

Woods, Lee, SA

Conference Hymn:

Lord God, we thank thee as we pause,

On this our road to Zion’s Hill,

We thank thee through our risen Lord,

Who did Thy every wish fulfil.

We pray that we may tread His path,

That we may walk the road to Thee,

Grant us Thy Grace, Thy Truth, Thy Strength,

That we may tread it worthily.

Be with us now Lord as we meet,

As pilgrims on the way to Thee.

Let us with one accord and will

Rise up and walk more worthily.

Chorus:

Walk worthy of the Lord

And in His statutes stand,

Approved of God, steadfast and sure,

Have faith and take his hand.

Words by Beth Marriott

Music by Robert O’Toole.

Still on 25th May, 1957

Almost the first person I met after I had dumped my bags in my room was Barrie Spencer, Merrita Spencer’s brother, and the boy I had been writing to for so many months. He was not anything like I had expected. I don’t even know what I expected him to be like, but whatever it was, he wasn’t like it. He was very good looking though, that was for sure. He was tall and well-built, had strong features, dark eyebrows, dark hair, and a square almost “Chesty Bond” jawline. He was easily the most attractive boy I had seen for quite a while and would probably prove to be the best-looking boy at this conference. We all kicked around together and got to know each other before the welcome meeting.

The Welcome meeting was held in a lovely hall by the tennis courts. Ray Tutticci was chairman and the meeting went with a swing. The representatives of each State gave speeches of thanks.”Skeet” Spencer (Merrrita) was there, but she was in “Bellevue” not “Chelmsford,” which was a pity. I was sorry about that. After the meeting, we drifted back to our respective homes and on the way I found myself joined up with a redheaded Scotsman, by the name of, of all things, William Boyd. He can play a ukelele and sing highland songs and ballads which he proceeded to do right throughout the Conference. I tried to copy his brogue, without much success.

He sang for us this song right there and then in the little room with the table tennis table.

“Grandfather’s Clock”

tick tock, tick tock [x4]

Now my grandfathers’ clock
was too large for the shelf
so it stood 90 years on the floor
it was taller by half than the old man himself
though it weighed not a pennyweight more

now it was bought on the morn
of the day that he was born
and it was always his treasure and pride
but it stopped short never to go again
when the old man died

oh now my grandfather said
that of those he could hire
not a servant so faithful he found
for it wasted no time
and it had but one desire
at the close of each week to be wound
and it kept in its place
not a frown on his face
and his hands never hung by its side
but you know that it stopped short
never to go again
when the old man died

now rang an alarm
in the dead of the night
an alarm that for years had been dumb
and we that his spirit
was ‘plumming’ for flight
that his hour for departure had come

still that clock kept the time
with a soft and muffled chime
as we solemnly stood by his side
but you know that it stopped short
never to go again
when the old man died

you know that it stopped short
never to go again
when the old boy died

On the way to the meeting, I met up with Uncle Arthur Clark whom I had met earlier at Coolangatta. He was taking movies. He was the one who wrote the “Reflections” at the last youth conference and was pretty popular there. I sat with the Scotsman and his friends at dinner and also Better Arthur, Bro and Sis Sheila and Stan Bailey. This was my first meeting with them and we got on so very well. They are lovely.

There was another lad I liked that I met but I have already forgotten his name! It is terrible, I’m going around saying “hello, er, er, what’s your name?” Somehow everyone’s name tags seem always to hang the wrong way around, so they’re not much help. Malcolm Kirkwood was playing the fool as usual and I nearly found myself on the receiving end of a Remington Shaver which he threw for some reason. Malcolm is quite mad!

I walked to the social with “Scotty” my new Scottish friend and again sat with him and his friends. Faith Joseph was there and I talked to her. She looks different somehow. Her hair doesn’t seem to be so red anymore, it is fair, sun-bleached even. She wants to change rooms to be with me but I don’t think anyone wants to change. I had Scotty for the “Jolly Miller” which developed into a nice old rough and tumble.

It is funny, I have noticed that at a conference everyone can be completely different to their usual selves. Jan Randell was getting along very well with Allan Hawkins, I noticed. “Nice going Jan,” I thought, he’s a nice boy.” I think I made the rounds of the boys. I couldn’t miss Malcolm Kirkwood, for one of the games, though I tried, because it is dangerous to life and limb to be in a game as Malcolm’s partner. It was the wildest game of “Oranges and Lemons” that I have ever been in. Malcolm cheated all the way through (causing me to cheat too since I was his partner). I laughed so much that my sides were aching. In one of the games a form collapsed and Betty Arthur’s leg was hurt. I helped her over to the side of the room and the hosts had to perform their first job of first aid for the conference, but not their last by any means.

Graham Bacon showed his films of Honolulu. They were so good. He is a Flight Engineer or something like that. I have a funny feeling that he has quietened down a lot since I last met him, how unusual! I came back on the bus with Barrie Spencer. He’s very nice, I am finding out. I am so glad I had the opportunity to get to know him by correspondence long before the Conference. I really don’t plan to “go with him” though. I want to meet lots of people at his conference and not be tied to one person, if I can help it, at least.

19570526 Sunday

Program:

10.30 am Memorial Meeting at Diggers’ Hall

Presiding, Bro. Ken Fotheringham (Melbourne)

Hymn No 75

Reading II Tim 2.

Bro David McColl (Sydney)

Prayer

Hymn No 96

Exhortation: Bro Jim Green (Granville)

Emblems

Hymn No 57

Announcements: Conference Secretary,

Freewill Offering

Hymn No 137

Prayer

3.00 pm. Open Air Meeting at Park in front of “Chelmsford.”

Chairman Bro. R.C. Day (Brisbane0

Hymn No 2.

Prayer

Addresses. “Religion in a Modern World.

The Jewish Cry of Nationhood, Bro Dennis Carroll (Sydney0

Choir, “Cry Out and Shout.”

Peace in our Times

Bro Don Mogg (Brisbane)

Choir, “ All they who in the Lord confide”

Christ’s Message for You, Bro Allan Hawkins (Granville0

Hymn No. 115

Prayer

7.30 pm Gospel Address at Digger’s Hall

Chairman, Bro S Bailey (Brisbane0

Hymn No 40

Prayer

Reading

Hymn No 12

Address: “Youth’s Witness to Christ’s Second Coming,” Bro H Pearce (Newcastle).

Hymn No 143

Prayer.

9.30 pm. Supper at Diggers’ Hall

10.45 pm Lights out at guest houses

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord

———————————————-

My first morning at Chelmsford! I was still determined to keep my diary up-to-date, so I rose early (6.00 am) dressed, and went out onto the veranda to type. So far so good. From the veranda, we had a lovely view of the sea and the islands. It’s wonderful to be here at last. I wonder what this conference will bring? Walter Pearce (the boy who stayed at our place when he was playing the wedding march at a friend’s wedding) came out later and asked me if I would do some stencils for him. I said, “Yes” but he couldn’t find any stencils so I said I’d do them when he did. I heard some noise coming from down below, so I went down to see what it was and where it was coming from. Very shortly I found myself involved in a woeful game of table tennis with a group of the Young People. The board was terrible and the balls only bounced about an inch off the table and with Eric Mansfield taking me as a target, well there was not much chance of a real game. I did eventually get to play a game with Barrie Spencer and he won 21:19.

I tore upstairs after the game and dressed for the morning meeting. I wore my white frock and white “flying-saucer” hat that I wore at my brother Maynard’s wedding. A lot has certainly happened since yesterday. As I thought, Jan Randell has paired off pretty successfully with Allan Hawkins. Des Manser is still floating around from one to the other and me, well, somehow or other, I have got partnered with Barrie Spencer.

At breakfast, I sat with Brother and Sister Stan and Sheila Bailey again, Jimmy Green, Eric Mansfield, Malcolm Kirkwood, and Betty Arthur. Eric Mansfield began to talk about the “Signs of the Times” and the coming of Jesus. Eric has a very good understanding of the Bible for a boy his age and Malcolm Kirkwood, when he is not acting up, is not too bad either. I liked all three of the boys at our table. The food, however, was really terrible. I certainly hoped that it improved. It was really quite vile.

We went by bus to the morning meeting held at the “Diggers Hall” and I sat down the front with Betty Bundesen. Ken Fotheringham was the presiding Brother (Melbourne), David McColl did the reading and Jimmy Green gave the exhort. It was a really good meeting. Afterwards, I spoke to Skeet (Merrita) Spencer and Nea Kennet and we took some photos. Barry Spencer was taking quite a few with his camera too. He is so nice. I got around and met quite a few of the conferencites and enjoyed the morning.

We all got into our buses and were taken back to Chelmsford for lunch and those who were at Bellevue were dropped off there. I had a few more games of table tennis when we arrived and I beat Barry and the others that I played. Barry and I then went for a walk up the main street after that and very soon, we were walking along hand-in-hand. Things seem to progress fast at a conference. We passed Wendy Jolly on our way and I said “Hello.” She looked at me in a very strange way and I wondered what was up with her. I bet I will find out sooner or later, she usually ends up telling me “What’s eating her.”

19570527 Monday

Program:

10.090 am. Discussion Period No 1.

“Separateness from the World and worldliness

Chairmans

(b) Cleve Bundesen (Yalboroo)

Hymn No. 53

Prayer

Dispersion to Discussion Sites

11.15 am Re-assemble

Prayer

1.45 pm Assemble at Park near Jubilee Bridge for Hike to Surfer’s Paradise

7.15 pm. Assemble at Tennis Hall

Chairman, Fred Marley (Wellington)

Readings II Tim 3 and 4:

Grant Wauchope (Adelaide)

Discussion Group Reports.

Prayer

Barbecue

MC Ray Tutticci (Brisbane0

10.45 Pm. Lights out at guest houses.

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord.”

———————————————

At 10.00 am there were discussion groups and then in the afternoon, we walked to Surfer’s Paradise. We went for a hike to Surfers and walked along the beach. The sea and the waves so different from our flat waters at West Beach.

19570528 Tuesday

Program:

10.00 am Discussion Period No 2.

“Practical Christianity as exemplified by the Life of Christ.”

Chairmen:

(b) Trevor Hardy (Moorabbin)

Hymn No. 107

Prayer

Dispersion to Discussion Sites.

11.45 am. Re-Assemble

Prayer.

1.30 pm. Assemble for Bus Trip to Point Danger and back via Currumbin Bird Sanctuary

7.15 pm. Assemble at Tennis Hall

Chairman, Richard Ladson, (Malvern)

Readings, Isaiah 19: Graham Hill (Rockhampton)

Discussion Group Reports.

7.45 pm Scriptural Problems Evening.

Chairman: Ken Fotheringham (Melbourne

Hymn No. 24

Prayer

Questions were answered and discussed by the panel.

Hymn No. 238

Prayer

9.30 pm. Business meeting

Chairman Eric Mansfield (Malvern Hall)

Prayer

Business matters, including the next Youth Conference,

Supper at Tennis Hall,

10.45 pm Lights out at guest houses

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord.”

———————————————

We went down onto the sand for some of the study groups. We all sat around in groups and we had a leader and an assistant who led the discussion and saw to it that no one got “hot under the collar” and that the discussion was kept more or less on the subject.

We took lots of photos then in the afternoon we went by bus to Currumbin Bird Sanctuary. I love the tropical nature of the forests that we saw on this trip and the birds were amazing. They flew down on your hands, arms and your head and they were all so colorful.

In the evening there was a panel where we could submit questions and have them answered. I spent most of the day with Barrie Spencer.

19570529 Wednesday,

Program:

10.00 am Discussion Period No 3.

“The meaning and significance of Prayer

Chairman

(b) Colin Hill (Brisbane0

Hymn No. 263

Prayer

Dispersion to Discussion sites

11.45 am Re-Asssemble

Prayer

1.30 pm. Assemble at “Chelmsford” for Launch Trip and Tour of Islands.

Afternoon Tea at Picnic Point.

7.15 pm Assemble at Tennis Hall, Chairman: Ray Mogg (Brisbane)

Readings, Isaiah 20, 21 Robert Stokes (Adelaide).

Discussion Group Reports.

7.45 pm Musical Evening

Chairman, Don Mogg (Brisbane)

Hymn No. 47

Prayer

Musical Programme

Hymn No. 121

Supper at Tennis Hall

10.45 pm Lights out at guest house

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord”

———————————————

Once again we had group discussions and then in the afternoon we went on a launch trip which was really great and we passed a lot of islands and had a picnic at Picnic Point. I noticed Barbara Stretton on the boat. She is Barrie Stretton’s sister. Des Manser was getting on well with the girls and I wondered which one or ones he would end up spending time with. I guessed I would hear all about it when we got to Adelaide).

In the evening it was a musical evening and we sang a song called “Song of Birds” which was really lovely, I thought.

Merrita and Graham Bacon played a violin duet. Everyone sat listening to it, and then after a while, we all started looking at each other trying to get confirmation as to whether there was something wrong with our hearing or something wrong with their playing. The music sounded awful! I finally worked out what was wrong when Graham finished playing and began packing up his violin in its case whilst Merrita kept on stolidly playing. They were supposed to finish together and so they had been “out of time” right throughout the piece. Everyone began to crack up laughing. What was so funny is that they both had known they were hopelessly out of kilter, but just kept on playing to the bitter end. Everyone just laughed at first, and then began to clap and stomp their feet to show their approval.

19570530 Thursday

Program:

10.00 am Discussion Period No 4.

“What is Conversion?” “What does it mean to be in Christ?”

Chairman:

(b) Morris Carroll (Sydney)

Hymn No 231

Prayer

Dispersion to Discussion Sites

11.45 am Re-Assemble

Prayer

1.45 pm. Assemble at “Chelmsford” for Active Witness Campaign,

715 pm Assemble at Tennis Hall

Chairman, Morris Carroll (Sydney)

Readings: Hebrews 1, 2 Lance Weller (Adelaide).

Discussion Group Reports.

7.45 pm Practical Problems

Chairman: Bro H. Pearce (Newcastle) Hymn No 62

Supper t Tennis Hall.

10.r45 pm. Lights out at guest house.

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord”

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We went out in pairs for the active witnessing in the afternoon. In the evening I went looking for Stan and Sheila Bailey and asked if I could see them that evening or the next day. They came and sat with me on some seats outside of the table tennis room. I told them that the young people needed better answers from the hosts at a conference. We were probably all having some sort of problems with the opposite sex back home and all needed help, not platitudes. I ended up telling them all about my relationship with Bob W back home, how that I knew he was engaged, knew I should not be having anything to do with him but didn’t seem to be able to stop myself. We talked about so many things that night, but the major outcome of it all was that they said there was only one way to escape from such temptation and that was to do what Joseph did, FLEE! Do whatever is needed to escape the situation, even if it meant leaving my garment behind, as it were.

Of course, I knew this, everyone knows it, but what Stan and Sheila Bailey did for me was to make it REAL to me. I made up my mind that when I got back to Adelaide, I would do WHATEVER I needed to do to end my relationship with Bob W. I had a number of conversations with Stan and Sheila after this and they were all helpful and positive and I was so grateful to them. I had grown to respect them and love them so much. (Sheila and I corresponded for some years after the conference.)

19570531 Friday

10.00 am. Discussion Period No 5.

“Signs of the Times”

Chairmen

(b) Cleve Bundesen (Yalboroo)

Hymn No 246

Prayer

Dispersion in Discussion Sites

11.45 am. Re-Assemble

Prayer

1.30 pm. Assemble for Bus Trip to Natural Arch and Numinbah

7.15 pm Assemble at “Bellevue”

Chairman Cleve Bundesen (Yalboroo)

Reading, Hebrews 3,4 & 5 – Ray Towner (Lakemba)

Discussion Group Reports

Prayer

7.45 pm Indoor Games Evening at “Bellevue”

MC Colin Hill (Brisbane0 Supper at “Bellevue”

10.45 Light out at guest houses

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord”

—————————————

At 1.30 we assembled for the bus trip to Natural Arch and Numinbah. It is located about 35 minutes scenic drive from Murwillumbah and there we found the rock archway known as Natural Bridge. Behind the Bridge, the mountain-fed waters of Cave Creek form a waterfall that plunges through the roof of a cave into a sparkling pool below, which then flows into the Nerang River and down the Numinbah Valley.

Apparently, at night the forest and caves are alight with the largest glow-worm colony in Australia, but unfortunately, we could not stay there until night time.

Surrounding the creek is dense sub-tropical rain forest, and to the east there are towering cliff faces that form the edge of Springbrook Plateau. We went for a hike to see the rock formations and walked along the rainforest paths. You can also swim in the very cold waters of he caverns, but we didn’t do that. We just walked along and enjoyed the company of all the young people.

In the evening we had the games night. This was a really fun night. Jimmy Green recited Banjo Patterson’s Poem, Clancy of the Overflow.” He recited the poem with enthusiasm and a lot of action. He hadn’t got very far before Malcolm Kirkwood, Eric Mansfield, and Barrie Stretton began to provide their own brand of “action” to go with the poem.

If Jimmy was describing the droving of the cattle, Malcolm would jump on Eric’s back and go charging around the hall being horse and rider, if there was cracking of whips they would crack whips. They were actually very clever in their “miming” actions and they were very funny. We laughed and laughed until we couldn’t laugh anymore.

Clancy of the Overflow, by Banjo Patterson

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of a better

Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,
He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,
Just ‘on spec’, addressed as follows,

‘Clancy, of The Overflow’.

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected,
(And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar)
‘Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it:
‘Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving, and we don’t know where he are.’

In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy
Gone a-droving ‘down the Cooper’ where the Western drovers go;
As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing,
For the drover’s life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know.

And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,
And at night the wond’rous glory of the everlasting stars.

I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy
Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall,
And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city
Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all.

And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle
Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street,
And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,
Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet.

And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste,
With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy,
For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste.

And I somehow rather fancy that I’d like to change with Clancy,
Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and go,
While he faced the round eternal of the cash-book and the journal —
But I doubt he’d suit the office, Clancy, of ‘The Overflow’.

Then there were lots of games which were loud and hilarious and there were some singing items and certainly, “A good time was had by all.”

19570601 Saturday

Program:

10.00 am. Discussion Period No 6 “The Millenial Reign.

Chairman (b) Max Kennett (Kadina)

Hymn No 139

Pryer

Dispersion to discussion Sites.

11.40 am Re-assemble

Prayr

1.30 pm Assemble for a walk to Main Beach for Swimming and Beach Games.

7.15 p.m. Assemble t Tennis Hall,

Chairman, Max Kennett (Kadina)

Redings Heb 6 & 7 – Paul Bundesen (Monto)

Discussion group Reports

Prayer

7.45 pm. Social Evening at Tennis Hall

MC Eric Bowen (Brisbane0

Social Evening arranged by Social Committee

Prayer

Supper at Tennis Hall.

10.45 p.m. Lights out to guest houses.

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord”

——————————————

On this day we went swimming and played beach tennis and volleyball and other beach games.

I very quickly found that swimming at Southport was very different to swimming in Adelaide where the water is often as flat as a lake or a pond. Here the waves can be ferocious. I had a good time and managed the waves quite well until….there came a wave that was a real dumper. I found myself thrown up in the surf and then dumped down onto the sand below. When I finally dragged myself out of the water and lay down flat on the sand to recover I found that my neck felt like the whiplash you get in a car crash when your car is hit from behind. It couldn’t have been too bad because although it gave me trouble for that day, by the next I was feeling okay, and I have never had any trouble with my neck since then.

19570602 Sunday

Program.

10.30 am. Memorial Meeting at Diggers’ Hall

Presiding Bro. Graham Bacon (Malvern Hall)

Hymn No. 243

Reading, Acts 15 Bro Ray Watson (Brisbane0

Pryer

Hymn No. 107

Exhortation, Bro. Allan Hawkins (Grnville)

Emblems

Hymn No. 260 A

Announcements: Conference Secretary

Freewill Offering

Hymn. No 257

Prayer

3.00 p.m. Open Air Meeting at Park in front of Chelmsford.

Chairman Bro. R.C. Day (Brisbane)

Hymn no 59

Prayer

Address: “Back to the Bible”

1. How we know the Bible is True, Bro W. Pearce (Malvern Hall)

Choir: “How Beautiful upon the Mountains

2. Bible Prophecy of the 20th Century, Bro. E. Bowen (Brisbane0

Choir: Hymn 146

3 Gospel of God’s Kingdom

Bro Ray Tutticci (Brisbane)

Hymn No. 120

Prayer

7.00 pm Gospel Address at Diggers Hall

Chairman Bro. H. Pearce (Newcastle0

Hymn No. 140

Prayer

Reading

Hymn No. 144

Address, “Christ Triumphant – A purpose for Life and Living, Bro H. Finch (Brisbane)

Hymn No. 136

Prayer

9.00 pm. Farewell Meeting at Diggers’ Hall

Chairman, Eric Bowen (Brisbane0

Hymn No 264

Prayer

Address of Farewell by Chairman

Hosts Remarks

Bro R Day (Brisbane)

Bro Stan Bailey (Brisbane)

Response by Visitors.

SA Murray Franklin (Adelaide)

WA Roma Ketterer (Perth)

Vic. Nea Kennett (Melbourne)

Isolation, May Frederickson (Townsville)

NZ Fred Marley (Wellington)

NSW Eric Mansfield (Malvern Hall)

Hosts’ remarks – Bro H Pearce (Newcastle)

Announcements” Conference Secretary

Hymn No. 261

Prayer

Supper and Evening Meditation at Diggers’ Hall

10.45 pm. Lights out at guest houses.

“Let us walk worthy of the Lord.”

————————————-

The Farewell meeting was very sad. No one wanted to go home but that was it, the Conference was over. We all went around meeting up with all our friends, lots of hugs and kisses and promises to write. Most of us were feeling pretty brain dead by this time and all of us were short of sleep, so there was a lot of emotion. But that is good because, without emotion, memories are not made.

19570603 Monday

Program

9.30 a.m. Depart for Brisbane

——————————————

Getting ready to depart.

I couldn’t sleep last night and every now and then I would find myself singing “Till We Meet.” I got up at about 5 o’clock, dressed in my suit, and went out onto the balcony to watch the sunrise. I felt as sad as sad. I saw David McColl, Eric Bowen, “Skeet” (Merrita) Spencer and a number of others off then moped about a bit more until some others started to get up. Nicky Warren from WA came out and asked me if I had seen Judith Mansfield and I told him that she was still in bed. I went into her room and told her that Nicky was waiting. She dressed in a hurry, tossing clothes on until she looked rather like a clothes horse or a scarecrow or something. Nicky is from the country WA and he talks a lot and fast, and so does Judy; they make a good pair I think. I wondered if they ever actually heard anything the other said because they really did talk in unison.

Harry ? got up later and more photos were taken, some of Barry and Me, Dan Bundeson and me, and one of Lawrie Leadbeatter and me. We stood on the stairs of the building for the photos. Lawrie is a very shy boy from Qld and he really likes me. I like him a lot too. He wants us to write. Ron Mogg was the first boy to kiss me goodbye this morning, then Barrie Spencer kissed me goodbye, but we did that in private. Then Barrie left in the Mogg’s mobile. I went upstairs then to Uncle Stan and Aunty Shiela’s room and gave them the notes. I stopped and talked to Aunty Shiela for a while and she told me that she would never forget me. I love her so much. We were both crying.

Everyone was signing their names on my name tag and cameras were popping all over the place. Uncle Harry Pearce and Aunty Elva signed their names on my tag (she must have forgiven me) and I took a photo of all the hosts and hostesses. I will miss them all. Everyone’s faces were so long and tears were trickling down here and there. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” I shook hands with everyone over and over again and I was fighting the lump in my throat all the time.

Jimmy Green and Ray Mogg took me to the station in the car to take a photo of all the “ports.” Jimmy was the official photographer for the conference and he took movies of everything that moved it seemed to me. On the way I spoke to him about the movies he had taken. I told him that I had the feeling that he had been following me around because I felt sure I had appeared in more “scenes” than I should have. He said, “Yes, well, I did follow you around quite a bit and I can tell you I got some good shots too and I have been thinking of captions for them.” “Such as?” I said. Well there is a beauty of you going “head over turkey” down a sand hill, and I have already decided to label that “Fay-a-Way,” said Jimmy, gleefully. “Oh. great, Jimmy. You know that your film is going to be shown in Adelaide after the conference don’t you?” I sighed. “Yes, I know”, said Jimmy but he was completely unrepentant.

We returned for the last time to Chelmsford. Just think, no more study groups, no more fraternising with the Young people, no more rotten meals at Chelmsford, no more rotten soup to throw out the window, no more “ripping the boot” into people. No more Bill Boyd and his ukelele and his guitar and his “There’s a hot air current up the top there Jock” to explain why he missed the ball playing table tennis. At breakfast, I sat with all the Bundersen crews and the country mob. I changed seats halfway through and sat next to Jim Mansfield and Eric Mansfield. Uncle Stan wrote his name and address for me to write to him on the back of the “Chelmsford menu>” I love them both and I’m going to miss them terribly.

At last, it was time to leave for the station. I took one last look at “Chelmsford”, our moth-eaten, white-ant-ridden Conference home, then turned steadfastly away and walked to the station with May Frederickson and Marion Duncan. When we arrived at the station we removed our luggage onto the platform and then continued the hand-shaking and farewell kisses. Colin Hill came up to me and said he’d see me at the Spencers in Sydney if he didn’t see me before that in Brisbane. He kissed me goodbye, then Ray Tuttici arrived with Lyn Spencer in the car and I went to the door to say Goodbye to them. Ray opened the door and lost no time in kissing me goodbye. I’ll miss him too. Then I went to say my third and final farewell to my beloved “Boss cockies”, Aunty Sheila and Uncle Stan. I kissed Aunty Sheila goodbye, hugged her and we both shed tears on each other’s shoulders and promised again, for the third time, that we would write.

We all got into the train then and I got into the baggage carriage because there weren’t many people in there. Colin Hill came up about 5 times and each time he kissed me goodbye. Ray Tutticci came up too and told me that if I got lonely to ring him up and he would relieve my loneliness.

I kissed so many people I can’t remember who half of them were. Then we were off, the friends we had made rapidly disappearing behind us. It felt awful. I turned away and walked down the carriage into the guard’s room and there I saw Lawrie Leadbeatter sitting all alone in the seat by the window, staring out and looking really sad.