During WW2 a large Australian Army camp was established at Redbank in S.Qld. Raw recruits entered the camp, were trained, then shipped off to various theatres of war.
My sister Queenie & her husband, Ted Evans, lived close to the Goodna Railway Station, one station away from Redbank. Ted was the district’s chief Air Raid Warden, but both he and my sister felt they would like to do more for the boys about to be sent to fight for us.
Bruce Blyde, son of the Station Master who lived next door, was already in camp at Redbank so he was asked if he knew any young men far from home who would enjoy a “family” evening, with dancing, singing around the piano and games. No alcohol but promise of a super supper. Quite a few young men eagerly accepted the invitation and would catch the train for the few minutes’ journey to Goodna.
Finding dance partners was not a problem as I was a trainee nurse at Ipswich Hospital and was able to recruit a number of off-duty girls.
World War II Stories
My cousin Olive Campbell worked for a Brisbane firm and she, too, had no trouble finding workmates keen to join in.
There was always lots of fun, with dancing on the wide side verandah of the house. My sister Audrey was a gifted pianist and singing around her “baby grand” was very popular. Great hilarity ensued from various games played does anyone remember “Haircut, Shampoo or Shave”?
Goodna was still a small rural area at that time and we had our own Jersey cows and “chooks” so were largely unaffected by food rationing. The suppers on these evenings at the Evans home were something the boys existing on Army food found almost beyond belief! Delicious sandwiches, sausage rolls, fluffy sponge cakes filled with real cream, lamingtons, various tarts and slices, accompanied by coffee and tea.
Quite a few of these parties were held before the boys went overseas. They were a great success. A happy side issue was that it was through them that both Olive and I met our future husbands.
During the War years many Goodna residents opened their homes (and bedrooms) to couples when the husband was far from home and due to go overseas at any moment. Wives lived with the families in their homes so that they could spend precious moments with their husbands, maybe for the last time. Who could know what the future held?