The Abbey Girls Play Up At Camp

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Here is where to find out who and what the Abbey Girls are all about.

Nunyara Conference Centre, Adelaide

October 1997

Nunyara is an Aboriginal word meaning "Place of Healing". It was originally established as a convalescent home and health retreat. Nunyara is now owned by the Uniting Church and the original terra-cotta brick complex with wide verandahs is surrounded by rolling lawns and beautiful trees. Set high in the hills of Belair we were also able to enjoy stunning views of the city below us, particularly spectacular at night.

Arriving at the campsite about 6pm I was warmly welcomed by the ladies on the registration table, handed my "goodies bag", and directed to my room. First, and most important, I read my camp program from cover to cover. As this was my first Abbey Camp I had no idea what to expect, so imagine my delight when I discovered the wonders in store! Feeling hungry, I did as my program instructed me and "followed my nose" to find the sausage sizzle on the lawn pictured above. I discovered some of my comrades from Sydney, grabbed something to eat, and feasted my eyes on the glittering lights springing up in the city below. As my mother would say, "it looked just like fairyland!"

After tea we (about 75 campers) were welcomed "officially" by our hostesses and the manager of Nunyara, introduced to our camp "Matron", Chris, and cordially invited to sit around the Guide Campfire and join in a sing-song. Sue, one of the organisers, is a keen Guider and had prepared a great song book for all to enjoy. There was just one small problem: it was only about 10 degrees with a wicked wind blowing up from the Antarctic. This campfire was not for the faint-hearted! We all wrapped up in rugs from our beds and thankfully the fire, the singing, and the fellowship kept us warm. The program laughingly set down 10.30 for bed time and 11pm for "lights out" - all I know is there was a lot of toing and froing that night! My room mate was Ruth from Queensland and we seemed to get on well together; our love for the Abbey books bring us together but we all seem to have many other things in common. We really do seem to be "Bound In Friendship".

After breakfast I set up my computer in a corner. Anyone interested in searching the internet for book collecting, or checking out Barbara's sites on various authors and groups, could come here through the weekend. I could also printout anything of interest. During the weekend everyone was invited to decorate a square for a wallhanging depicting our favourite Abbey moment. Also available for spare moments (?!) during the weekend was the ever popular Jigsaw Corner.

The 3 workshops running on the Saturday morning were: Wallhanging Project, Country Dance Workshop run by Patricia from NSW, and Rubber Stamping and Card Making run by Marilla from Victoria. Following morning tea was a guest speaker, Vicki Humphrey, from Art Lab. This was a fascinating insight into the preservation and restoration of artworks.

Following lunch we all gathered on the lawn to have our official camp photo. This was a complicated business getting everyone organised and rearranged several times, but the result was definitely worth it. Our hostesses looked really good in their colourful dance frocks which they wore most of the weekend.

Then we found a real treat in store for us. Several members of the SA Abbey Girls belong to Glorishears. This is an Adelaide women's morris side who dance the Cotswold and Border Tradition morris dances described in the Abbey books. For many of us this was the first opportunity to see morris dancing and enjoy the tapping of the sticks, the movement of the handkerchiefs (Pixie's "wavies"), and the tinkle of the bells. This dancing really is unique (and extremely energetic!).

Following afternoon tea (which our dancers certainly deserved) were our afternoon workshops. A choice of workshops is always offered at camp but sometimes the decision which to attend is very difficult! Here was Line Dancing with Heather from SA, Ribbon Embroidery with Pat from SA, and EJO and the Guide Movement with Pam and Judith from SA.

Several of the state Abbey groups hold an annual re-enactment of the May Day crowning ceremonies so beloved of Elsie Oxenham in her Abbey stories. When the queen is chosen it is a whirl of excitement to choose a colour and a flower, to find a suitable dress and to decorate a train with colour and flowers. Some of the queens dress up a doll in replicas of their queens robes as a momento of their special day. Here was a display of some of these dolls.

My Darwin friend, Elaine, was chosen to be crowned queen at the camp. When I stayed with her I was caught up in her excitement as I saw her beautiful dress and robe. We held a dress rehearsal down the hallway for David who was suitably impressed. Elaine had decided to be the Bougainvillea Queen with a deep green train. She chose 2 "maids of honour", her granddaughter Angela, and Rita, an Abbey girl from England who is a great friend. Here is her special crowning cake.

After the workshops we had some free time. Those of us who were performing in the Hamlet Club concert that evening used this as an opportunity to practice. Some of us - well, I - certainly needed to practice! Dinner came and went, and we all made our way to the Chapel where the evenings festivities were to take place. As MC we had the formidable headmistress of Wycombe School, Miss Macey (aka Pat). She kept us royally entertained during intervals with various Abbey trivia questions and took great delight in beaning people with sweets as rewards for correct answers.

The Hamlet Club meeting began with a procession of queens from all states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The array of different styles, colours and designs of all the robes made for a spectacular parade. There were flashes galore as photos were taken by the appreciative audience of this group of Abbey royalty!

This was the first Abbey camp to actually hold a crowning although there had been processions at the other 2 camps. The South Australian girls felt that it would be a nice gesture to crown someone at the camp who would otherwise not have the opportunity. As there were only 2 Abbey Girls in the Northern Territory, and Elke was not able to attend the camp, they asked Elaine if she would like to be crowned. As you can see, she was only too delighted! To have her granddaughter and her best friend from England to attend her was the icing on the cake, and as Elaine grew up in Adelaide, her family and friends were on hand to see her great day.

After an interval for the queens to change, and for "Miss Macey" to indulge her talent for trivia and throwing sweets, it was time for our Hamlet Club concert. We had a Stanley Holloway recitation, a school play, a parody of a Gilbert and Sullivan song, a spoof dance class, a belly dance - the variety and talent were amazing. Six of us from the NSW group decided to do 3 dances. The first 2 were actually dances that can be seen in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice: Shrewsbury Lasses and Mr Beveridge's Maggot; the 3rd dance was one well known from the Abbey books: the Mary and Dorothy (pictured). It was Jenny Wren's first dance and to quote her, "it is a dear little dance!"

Supper was very welcome after our long evening. People gathered in the common room to chat and jigsaw - snacks were provided by some who had midnight feasts in mind. About midnight Elaine decided that it was time to open her royal gifts. There were oohs and aahs as we were able to admire the ingenuity with which people found gifts representing bougainvillea, or abbey themes in general. The gifts were laid out for those sleepyheads who had taken to their beds to see the next morning.

By this point in the weekend lack of sleep and an air of general bonhomie had led some of the campers to emulate various characters in the Abbey books and their pranks. "Matron" appeared partway through the gift unwrapping to demand who had sewn up the arms and legs of her pyjamas - and again later to display the rubber "creepy-crawlies" left in her bed. Susan (pictured) found Twisties in her bed. However, Matron did have her revenge - nasty medicine was given to the culprits at breakfast the next morning! A prize was given at the end of the camp to my room mate, Ruth, who had slept in her bed all weekend without finding her spidery bedmate!

Lady Jehane's jewels were on display during the weekend except when - shock, horror! - they were stolen by a highwayman. The troops were mobilised and the treasure hunt was on. Most of the jewels were recovered by the searchers, but a few were still missing. Was there a mystery in progress? The next morning all was revealed. The remaining jewels, along with a note of apology, turned up. It seems that Angus Reekie's conscience would not allow him to benefit from the proceeds of his crime. A happy ending ensued - especially when the jewels were shared out amongst the searchers.

On Sunday morning a dawn walk was arranged for the early risers through the Warrawong Sanctuary. I heard that it was lovely. I am willing to take anyone's word for it - I am not at my best in the morning!

Transport was arranged for those wishing to attend early Mass, and after breakfast an ecumenical service was held in the Chapel. Uniting Church minister, Rev Sue Langhans (sister of Pat), led the time of worship which was enhanced with several hymns written by John Oxenham (aka William Dunkerley), father of our Elsie. It was a real celebration of our friendship and faith.

Morning tea was followed by Country Dancing with Patricia from NSW, Beading with Marick from Victoria, Games and Quizzes with Jo from SA, and the Internet with Barbara and me from NSW (pictured). It was interesting what people wanted to see on the net besides book collecting and their favourite authors. We looked up the Cistercians, camp fire, and dancing to name a few.

Lunch was followed by Pamela Hubmayer presenting her collection of Dress Clips (pictured). Pamela gave details of the original invention which was patented by her grandmother, Dorothea Carruthers, early this century. A variety of the clips were displayed for us to see and admire the different styles and materials used.

Following the display of these dress clips was another step back in time when Gloria Ward presented a fashion parade, "Gowns of the Abbey Era". This was a collection of evening and bridal wear from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. The evolution of women over this time became clear when only Angela (Elaine's granddaughter), aged 13, was able to fit into one of the earliest wedding gowns. The gowns were exquisite. Some of the evening gowns were so laden with beading that they must have been quite heavy, and even uncomfortable, to wear. But I think that the results were spectacular.

The fashion parade was also great fun. The models were taken from the campers and they all strolled around displaying their outfits with great aplomb. The flapper clothes almost created a riot with the models sashaying around, twirling their beads, and we even had impromptu perfomances of the Charleston! They say that laughter is good for the soul -we were all certainly uplifted that afternoon.

Following afternoon tea came one of the highlights of any Abbey get together - the book-sale! Everyone who had books or crafts to sell had tables set up and we all walked around, spending lots of money, and clutching any treasures we had found so that they didn't evaporate. I was very lucky: I found 3 semi-rare Abbey books, other books by favourite authors, a video of the Glorishears Morris dancers, stationery made by Marilla, and some other bits and pieces that I could give to my sisters and cousin who are also Abbey fans. I think I can say that everyone enjoyed themselves here! Over dinner there was much discussion of who had found what, and where.

In the Abbey books the Camp Fire movement was discussed extensively. There were pros and cons for the Guides and Camp Fire, and more than one of her books has a heroine wrestling with the decision of whether to become a business-like Guide, or whether to join the more romantic and poetic Camp Fire. Elsie herself was Guardian to a Camp Fire and was very dedicated to helping her girls to grow and make the right decisions whilst teaching them about the beauties of nature, and the motto of Camp Fire which is Work, Health and Love.

Some of the Queensland Abbey girls founded Camp Aowakiya with Ehawee (Laughing Maid -Jeneve) as their Guardian. Some others from other states have joined, but they are only able to join in the meetings at camp. I had decided to join at this meeting. I had to burn my real name in the fire and take an Indian name: I chose Gáhan which is Apache for Mountain Spirit which I thought appropriate as I live in the mountains. The Ceremonial Meetings are very special and they have an element of fun with some of the games that are played after the official business has finished. I am looking forward to my next meeting at the Sydney camp.

After the Camp Fire meeting I was feeling quite exhilarated. I went to the common room after changing from my gown to have some supper, see how the jigsaws were coming along, and join in the various conversations going on about the room. It wasn't long before I was too tired to stay up any longer so I went off to bed. But poor Jo and Deanne! They wanted to go to bed too, being exhausted with running the camp - but all their papers and books and clothes were on their beds and they were too tired to do anything about it!

Monday, our last day at camp. It didn't really seem like we had been here 3 days already! The morning workshops were Line Dancing with Heather from SA, and the stitching and hanging up of the wall hanging that had been completed over the weekend. Then it was time for the Closing Ceremony. Firstly, everyone wanted a photo of our South Australian hostesses.

We enjoyed a lovely display of maypole dancing and then the fun began - volunteers were called for to learn the dance. With Patricia there to call out the movements it didn't go too badly. The plaiting of the maypole didn't look exactly as it should do, but everyone had a great time doing it and that was the main thing! The dancing finished with everyone dancing Sellengers Round around the maypole in true Abbey tradition.

Then time for the final speeches, the vote of thanks for the wonderful time had by all, the cutting of the camp cake by Elaine, Queen Bougainvillea (Camp Fire name - Nokomis, daughter of the moon), and the handing over to Sydney for the next camp. Lots more photos were taken of new friends and old, group photos, final farewells, promises to write. Then the last moment packing and cries of, "I'll never make my plane!" But just think - we all get to do it all over again in 2 years in Sydney - I can only hope we do as good a job as our predecessors!

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