A Brief History of Toc H South Australia

The Toc H Camp at Victor Harbor

The land on which the camp now stands was donated to Toc H by Mr. Edwin Bruce. It happened that the Victor Harbor Toc H branch was holding a working bee, cleaning up the Yilki Pioneer Cemetery when Mr. Bruce came past. On speaking to the branch Padre, Rev. C.R. Whereat, he was told about Toc H and its work in the community. Mr. Bruce then explained that he owned a block of land, and that he would be prepared to give half to Toc H and the remainder to the Boy Scouts Association. Fortunately, Toc H was given the top half of the block and the steeply sloping bottom portion was given to the Boy Scouts, who on seeing the gradient of the land, eventually decided that Toc H could have their section also.

The Toc H area executive decided to build a camp and Sir James Irwin drew up the architectural plans for the main hall and also a layout of the surrounding area. The area on which the dining hall now stands had to be levelled and this was done with picks and shovels by memebers from metropolitan branches, Victor Harbor branch and men from the Greenhill community.

At a guest night in September 1938, the Governor of South Australia consented to give his name to the camp, which would be known as the Winston Dugan Camp.

The Advertiser Newspaper conducted a big fund-raising campaign and accepted donations which were acknowledged in the daily paper. Lloyds Timber Mills supplied the building materials for the main hall. When the truck was delivering the timber to the camp it broke down near the electricity sub station and members at the working bee had to manhandle all the timber into the camp on their shoulders.

Sleeping accommodation for the first camps for boys and girls consisted of tents, with palliasses which the campers had to fill with straw. this combined with lighting from kerosene lanterns must have given camp leaders some anxious moments.

Annual camps were held for children from Broken Hill and these proved so successful that the Zinc Corporation set up its own camp at Largs Bay and continued to provide these camps for an ever increasing number of children.

In the early days, people using the Toc H camp had to provide their own cook, and meals were prepared on a large wood stove, which meant that a large quantity of chopped wood had to be kept on hand. The wood stove was eventually replaved with a new gas range, which, together with the provision of a cook/warden and the acquisition of a large range of kitchen equipment, has made the stay of campers much more enjoyable. The latrines and showers were originally situated at the bottom of the property and feet were covered with dirt and sand by the time campers returned to the dormitories. The ablution block was later moved to its present location and a boiler installed to provide host water. After many battles with termites, the wood and iron structure was replaced with the present brick building.

Camping in tents eventually gave way to the erection of the two large corrugated iron sleeping huts and later still the two smaller iron huts. These huts lent themselves ideally to such antics as swinging from rafters, pillow fights, and using the double bunks as trampolines. Improvements to these huts came in the form of walls and ceilings being lined and the floors being covered with vinyl tiles. All of these projects were undertaken by members of various Toc H branches. The sleeping accommodation has now been completely upgraded with the construction of two magnificent new dormitories, which were the brain-child of Mr. Graham Lambert, with building being done as a work experience course by students from Marleston College of Technical and Further Education. Other improvements carried out recently include the insulation and ceiling in the main hall and the complete replacement of the septic drainage system, with materials and labour for both jobs being supplied under the Government Job Creation Scheme.

A Great Contribution by Women Toc H Members

At the invitation of Lord Forster, then Governor General, Rev. Tubby Clayton with Rev. Pat Leonard visited Australia in 1952. During his time in South Australia, Tubby stayed with Mr. & Mrs. Barr Smith and Marjorie Uncle was assigned to cope with Tubby's correspondence. She became enthused by Toc H. The first meeting of Central Branch was held in 1926 and one of the early members, Bessie Clayton, a great personality, made the first banner for Toc H South Australia to be taken to the Festival in Newcastle that year.

Marjorie Uncle became a great leader, not only in South Australia, but she acted as Chairman of the Australian Council for many years.

The earliest service was visiting the House of Mercy, a home for unmarried mothers, coping with piles of mending at the Walkerville Boys' Home, attending dances for the blind, and providing supper at fund raising functions. One task carried on for many years was making a floral cross to be laid at the Anzac service.

During the depression years, the women worked with the men in supporting people in need, and running a girls' club in the city.

A highlight came in 1936 when Marjorie Uncle, Margaret Adamson. Mary Shaw and Bobbie Brown travelled by ship to England to attend the 21^st birthday celebrations. Lamps were lit by the Duchess of York (now the Queen Mother) as Patron for Central Payneham and Unley Branches, Payneham, having been started in 1929 and Unley in 1931. In consultation with Helen Benbow and other members from W.A., Em Cotton and Gwen Crow, they drafted a constitution for Australia Toc H League of Women Helpers as we were then known. Marjorie Uncle became Chairman and Margaret Adamson, Secretary, business with the other States being conducted by correspondence.

During the war years, we worked on camouflage nets for the Army, made sheepskin vests and moccasins for North Sea Drifters and with the scraps remaining, moccasins for children which were sent to England with a bronze coin bearing the head of a kangaroo tucked inside. We also sent food parcels to branches in England with whom we had previous contact. Many of the members served at the Cheer-Up Hut for servicemen, and knitted for the Comforts Fund who sent parcels to servicemen.

In 1949. married members with small children formed an afternoon group and they visited victims of the polio epidemic. This branch eventually became a group of General Members and the now depleted numbers meet as Hawthorn Branch.

Edwardstown Branch and Mitcham were both started in 1939. At the time. Helen Benbow had come out from England but her visit was cut short when war was declared.

In 1943, the League of Women Helpers became Toc H Women's Section and Helen was back with us in 1947. At this time, Renmark and Fullarton Branches were started, the latter very much involved with the Toc H Students' Hostel.

Miss A.B.S. McFie, our founder pilot, had visited Australia in 1939 when there were 11 groups, and on her return in 1953 we had 400 members. She made a further visit in 1973.

In January 1952, the first camp for girls was organised at the Victor Harbor site - then only a main meeting room and kitchen, so it was a case of straw palliasses in tents! Transport was by open trucks by courtesy of the Advertiser newspaper. It was quite an experience for the girls and the helpers, especially those who acted as cooks. No time to let up even when the children were taken to the beach. Camps for girls were held until 1977 when both girls and boys were taken to the Toc H Christmas camps.

Victor Harbour Branch had run a Cheer-Up Hut for air force trainees at Mount Breckan during the war years and were a great support for camps run by Toc H and the women. They have continued throughout the years and we are most grateful. It is a strong mixed branch giving great service to the community. When Lynn Earls was on the staff, branches were started at Oaklands and Elizabeth, the latter very much involved with the Salisbury Migrant Hostel - city branches had contact with the migrant hostel in Elder Park.

Over the years, we had many happy weekend get-togethers at Retreat House Belair and this was the venue for the first Australian Conference in 1962.

As the Women's Council Executive were South Australian members, there was much involvement in the lead up to integration with Toc H which became finalised in 1970. Over the years, there had been good relationships although we had separate administration, and were able to take part in conferences and festivals here and interstate.

Contributed by LEILA ALTSCHWAGER