A JOYOUS ADVENTURE COMES TO AN END FAREWELL TO THE BACKBLOCKS CHILDREN Convalescing at Dilworth House.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

A JOYOUS ADVENTURE COMES TO AN END

FAREWELL TO THE BACKBLOCKS CHILDREN

Convalescing at Dilworth House.

You can imagine what a jolly evening was spent shopping in the city. At seven o'clock the children departed, each little group of six accompanied by a guide. At nine o'clock they were back at the bus, and, oh dear, what an astonishing sight it was to be sure. For a moment we really imagined that our perfectly nice bus had been turned into the haberdashery department of a city store. All sorts of odd things had been bought by the children an egg beater for mother, six whistles for six little brothers and sisters, a bag of bananas for dad (because he J '^ tm so muc^l: ®ven little presents for Wendy and myself, as we discovered later. There was great rustling and crackling of wrappings in the dormitories that night before time came for "lights out."

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14—Sunshine and Showers at Motuihi. Bright and early on Saturday morning there was a general scamper for the windows to see if the weather man had been kind. It was fine, but that was about all that could be said. However, with hopes high off we set for the launch steps, where the Gipsies and Starlets and members of Wendy s Sunshine Committee were awaiting us. The trip down was very jolly; likewise the walk across the island to our little private bay. But alas I we had no sooner settled ourselves comfortably on rugs on the grass when—patter! patter! down came the rain. After this a large part of the afternoon was spent dodging the showers. Even the rain, however, did not banish the children's smiles. They joined lustily in a sing-song under the trees, and then, when the weather cleared a little, went for walks along the .sands. We returned to the city slightly earlier than originally planned, and hot baths were the order of the day when the party arrived at Dilworth House. This was the only occasion during the holiday tour when an outing was marred by rain. SUNDAY, JANUARY 15—Hurrah for the Lockheed. This morning was known as "lie-in" morning, as breakfast was not until 9 a.m. All were up on time—some before—and very hungry when members of the staff appeared for the first meal df the dayl After a hearty breakfast, and beds having been made, children got ready for church. "Bussy" again provided transport, so that all members of the party were able to attend their own church. Those who attended St. Mary's were fortunate in seeing the Governor-General, Lord Galway, and Lady Galway. The lessons were read by his Excellency. Transport back to Dilworth House was also provided. After a delicious dinner, one and all scrambled aboard the bus amid high glee and great excitement, as Mangere aerodrome was the destination. Speculation as to what flying really would feel like was rife. When Mangere was reached, out they all tumbled, to be split into groups to examine various types of aeroplanes in the hangar. Tiger Moths, a Miles Hawk, a Beechcraft (cabin 'plane) and many others were all examined with careful and intelligent interest, while the names and uses of joysticks, throttles, rudders, elevators, etc., were all explained to them. Then came the big moment I Tickets for flights were issued I Tongues wagged and eyes shone, as, with tickets tightly clutched and bated breaths, the children watched the large twin-engined and twinruddered Lockheed Electra, in charge of Commander White, taxi into position to take on board the first load. Ten of the party were ushered in. The Lockheed taxi-ied down the field, turned into the wind, and with a roar of motors sped quickly along the ground and was soon into the air. Thus began the first flight. Five trips in all were made to enable all members of the party to enjoy to the full the thrills of air travel. When the first "bump" in the air was experienced, anxious faces were evident, but they soon passed as the great views opened and the country spread out below the fast-speeding 'plane. John, of course, sitting up in the front seat, had his eyes glued on the pilot's cockpit and the instrument panel—as well as trying to see everything outside. George and Morris grew gradually more while Charlie began to exclaim: "Good." "Oh, corker" every so often. Grown-up members of the party all enjoyed their flight, too. Thus did some experience yet another—the latest and thrilling form of travel—while others added another flight to their lists. Photos of members of the party grouped with pilots, and in front of the Lockheed, were taken later, Chas. being thrilled at being so associated with pilots. Before the children left, Squadron-Leader Lf. M. Alien "turned on" a wonderful series of aerobatics or aerial acrobatics loops, stall turns, half-rolls, flick rolls, slow rolls and inverted flying. When he dived on the crowd, did some children scatter? Laughter and joy were evident, and as Mr. Allen taxi-ied back to the hangaff a heauty dap and a tumultuous "kapai" greeted his ears. After a truly wonderfuL afternoon, once more the-bus was'packed and off all-went home for tea,' Still-talking flyi-g

Dear Boys and Girls— The Holiday Tour is over now. Those twelve wonderful days are past, and only memories remain o remind us of a very brief chapter of our lives, during which we shared the joyous adventures of thirty-six young folk who are now our friends. Two days ago we said our last farewells at Auckland station. True, some members of the holiday party sti remain; plump little Merrill is tucked up in bed at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, where she appears to be every bit as happy was at Dilworth House! Upstairs in the Tasman room Lily, Lorraine an onnie are recovering from tonsil operations. Eleven-year-old Connie is busy painting; her Christmas tree git was a box of water colours, and she is quietly happy at her work. Lily and Lorraine are reading. All are making splendid progress. In another room John and Rex are having good fun with a portable gramop one. John is minus several teeth, but he still has a big smile, and he and Rex, who has had his tonsils °u , are great little pals. Out on a sunny balcony are the convalescents. They are a merry band, and one wou never guess that only two days have passed since they too were at the Mater having teeth extracted. , ar j ' wrapped in Sunshine quilts and curled up on stretchers. Some are reading; some are playing u oor draughts; others are guessing what they will be having for tea! But the story of these convalescent o ana how it came to pass that they remained behind when the rest of the party left Dilworth House .. . t is is a story m itself and may be read elsewhere on this page. Looking back oyer the past fortnight it really does seem that this holiday has been the best ever. Perhaps we say is because deeper friendships seem to have been made among the children than ever before during any previous holiday tour. In those quiet hours spent at Dilworth House this was very apparent. Wherever one went one would come across little groups of girls sunning themselves out on the lawns; laughing girls and oys taking turns at the swing; girls curled up on beds in the dormitories helping each other with their iaries. An air of great friendliness and happiness pervaded Dilworth House while it was the home of the back blocks party. For twelve memorable days the children shared a new and joyous life. Boys and girls who had never n °wn , pleasure of companionship, experienced the fun of tumbling out of bed when the "getting-up" bell • ' r . am . g to bathroom with a laughing troop of room mates. They learnt the happiness or lifting their voices in a song of^ thanks when grace was sung each meal time; experienced the peace and contentment of a roomful of drowsy good-nights" when time come for lights out. f m!* ° n M ° nday we farewell. They were not sad farewells, for although the children were leaving new friends behind, were they not off home to mum and dad—to little brothers and little sisters—off home with tales tf the wonders of city life—of Dilworth House and all their new friends? And so a glorious adventure came to an end—our 1939 Holiday Tour was over.

When dusk came an air of suppressed excitement hung over Dilworth House. For forty-eight hours the children had been guessing just what could possibly be behind the closed door. Weird and wonderful had been some of the conjectures. Actually the secret was that Wendy and myself and other members of the staff had been planning a Christmas tree for the children's last evening at Dilworth House, and of course, in order that it be a complete surprise, it had been necessary for us to explain that one of the rooms was quite out of bounds. At eight o'clock the children lined up outside the room, and, with hands on each other's shoulders and eyes tightly shut, were led into the room and grouped round the tree. As the word was given to eyes," the Christmas tree lights flashed on. and simultaneously came the children's gasp of wonder and delight The Christmas tree looked enchanting. Lit with dozens of fairy lights, decorated with stars and spangles, and laden with gaily-wrapped g.fts it seemed like one of those wonderful Christmas trees one finds only m the pages of story books. Wendy cut the presents down amid much cheering and clapping, and no one was more astonished than we two to find that, amazingly enough, there were gifts on the tree whistle r Tat received a .*ip£ing rope, and my%,ft was a "n ,1 , , r the even| ng. however, we were to receive two nifts Ind M mT for ° urßelves - and there were gifts, too, for Miss Prime and Mr. McEwan. Miriam presented them, and made a little speech Tbo °U COUr ' C e r; y ° ne lustily. Wendy and I shall remembe^ those cheers, and treasure our little gifts for many and many a long year.

Mr iSf TT T or f.* ht i ! , e , B P eec hes, cheers for Miss Prime and Mr. McEwan— and. lastly. "Auld Lang Syne." Hearts were just a wee ™ °1 mg ° n the morrow we would all be rushing round packing— seeing parties on to their various trains, shaking handf vigorously with all these young friends of ours but to-night we were saying our real good-byes, and the thought that years and years might S 1 " m I" 1 J B3 '? I t,n ® ed th °* e Partings with sadness. So wh nearirove, * thr ° Ugh Dl,W ° rth H °u»e-the holiday MONDAY, JANUARY 16—And so Farewell. N .lPk WOr j h H ° U " e Wa " ear, y astir on Monday morning, for the North-bound express was to depart from Auckland station at 8.45 a.m friendT* 'b fcf* »*' Northl ® nd homes twenty of our young backblocks ull o.;tvor?6 K W "/ ar er than usual - and for the iLt time the •tai™ ran tl kfcF* Fx* gFaCC t°B*ther. Upstairs and downintL /Jl t children with their luggage. There were last-minute peep, into dormitories—last-minute swings on the old swing—a few minutes busy scribbling m autograph books. And then, into the bus and ™7hJ WK carriage ,n order to wave their last farewells. And , Wh»n«are, express steamed out from Auckland » £ to their Northland homes a batch of fn 1 ' takm s h,d b«„ U p w4in th ° P tr™ w '., v "r d -" d Then across to the Taneatua train to say farewell to Alf, who was travel' ling on his own, and later to the Rotorua express whicK w« V Murray and Ted to their homes in the South. The afte/nUn f *J once again at Auckland station. This time to sLv eood-h!! ♦ M to 3 Te Ku°ti. n and EUie " WH ° madC 3 Say Uttle party for the "turn trip

hl'-piul."' , """ d """" WC h * d of th« "D^orX lone V ?" WKll,t * ißter Wa * makin 8 Ae patients comfortable in bed long-distance wires were carrying to anxious parents word of successful operations—often times per medium of a neighbour who was connects! m«n e a 8 "ffi ™ Ui »S>y "rried the happy news even though * meant a journey of five miles and more. lU* C °j V f le *? ent day * wer « ha PPy day—quiet, of course, at first but J | nCt !|- I, ? ten,ng to Ae radio so kindly lent by Bond and Bond and by discussing amongst themselves their exr>erienc M ir. Tk M ? with th. lovely .i.t.r." Who h.U dSn~ ~,v.k „"T ,h. c.„ and h.ppi»... of , K , little .... t« mp o„ r ,|y f°*£