EXUBERANT SPIRITS

Evening Star, Issue 22890, 23 February 1938, Page 2

EXUBERANT SPIRITS

SCENES AT EMPIRE VILLAGE AFTERMATH OF GAMES [Writen for the ‘ Evening Star ’ by E.C.I.] SYDNEY, February 18. The final scenes at the Empire Village last Saturday night before the teams began to take their departure from the quarters which had been their home for some weeks will not readily be forgotten by those who took part in the long-promised wind-up celebrations. There was never a sign of any but the best of spirits in the horseplay that took place. Any suggestion to the contrary may have arisen from the fact that members of some teams had quite casually threatened what they would do after the Games were over. One often heard the remark; “We’re going to tear the to pieces after the Games.” That may have been the reason why there was a whole host of police on duty on the Saturday that marked the conclusion of the Games. The men in blue were posted in every quarter of the Village, but the early part of the evening passed without incident. Our team, and members of several others, were entertained at a dance at Maroubra, and nothing untowgrd had happened when the boys reached home in the early hours of the morning. They were preparing for bed, when there came a cry that the Australians were paying us a visit. The New Zealanders held the door against the invaders valiantly, but eventually the Australians, supported by Canadians and members of other teams, found their way in through an entrance at the side of our quarters. • Any rough and tumble that ensued was of a purely friendly nature. I know that “ Rolph ” Kitto and myself very carefully mounted guard over our cubicle, but in the excitement of what was going on omitted to keep a close enough eye on the walls, over which some Canadians and Australians were able to clamber to make a wreck of our beds in common with the rest. By this time pillow fights had been raging between the various factions, some of the walls (made of pulp-board) had been battered in, but the damage in this respect covering all _ the quarters must have been very slight. That there was nothing but high spirits responsible for the happenings was shown by the scenes that followed. Representatives of the various countries joined in singing their national songs, hakas, and war cries were exchanged. and after joining hands for the singing of ‘ Auld Lang Syne ’ it was decided that the time was opportune for a visit to be paid to the English, South African, and Canadian quarters, the Canadians already having made a good job of the Australian section. The greatest havoc _ was wrought in the Englishmen’s cubicles, but here, again,it was of a superficial nature, and many of the Englishmen themselves thoroughly enjoyed the fun. One of the most amusing incidents of the whole affair occurred after the various teams had found their way hack to their own quarters. Two New Zealanders; arriving late, were surprised to find none of their companions at home. As they got ready for bed they heard the noise _ going on in another part of the village, .and, with very little to cover them, scampered along to see what was happening. Eventually, they were locked_ out of their own quarters, but with little ado they raided bed and bedding from the Canadians, and settled down to sleep in the open. A funnier' sight than that provided by the pair of “ beauties ” outside the “ back ” door in the morning would he hard to describe, but they slept on, blissfully unconscious of the' amusement they provided their team mates. That there were incidents in the Village cannot be denied. But of these let little be said. They were of rare occurrence, and almost of an isolated nature. Let them be forgotten for the more pleasant memories of Village life. Members of the New Zealand team were a very happy family. They had many enjoyable times in the Village, and who among them was not sorry to see the happy home being gradually broken up as one team after another left the Show Grounds, until to-day there were but a few remaining, the New Zealanders being the last to depart ? Empire Village may have had its drawbacks, hut to many New Zealanders it will carry pleasant recollections.