Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Thursday 28 January 1954, page 4


Out Among The People

By VOX

We Visit Y.M.C.A. At Loftia Park Boys' Camp

We motored up to Heathfield in the dills yesterday to see the YMCA schoolboys'

camp, 72 there includ-ing leaders, on their 83 acres of woodland property adjoining the Government's Loftia Park reserve. Mr. A. J. Gibbs, YMCA secretary, was my guide; and it was very refreshing to go through the cleansed hills in the steady, welcome rain. What impresses one about this healthful phase of YMCA work is the air of comfort -and efficiency at camp headquarters. Until yesterday the youngsters, mainly city boys from grades four, five and six, had spent most of the time - in the swimming pool, apart from playing games. Mark Mitctfll Hut When we arrived they were all congregated in the Mark Mitchell hut, 120 ft. by 28 ft. engaged in a singsong, listening to constructive alks on knots and

other subjects conducted by Mr. Peter Macmichael, newly-appointed boys' work director, Mr. Robert Porter (Rhodes Scholar for 1954), and other voluntary helpers. Mr. Gordon McArgill, chairman of the camp committee, is a teacher at Flinders Street Practising School; he has been a most consistent leader. He has not missed a camp since 1942, an attendance almost equalling the record of Mr. True Barber (1919-29), who originated the camp at Clarendon. Pormmont Somodiy 'First time we camped here in 1945,' he told me, 'before we had this fine old army hut, given us by Professor Mitchell, we had a couple of marquees. We were flooded out on the next to last day. 'Eventually we hope to build huts here to make it a permanent camp. The boys sleep in tents and eat in the hut. 'The tents are named after prominent YMCA personalities: Massey, Barler, Moyse, Stratton, Slade, OTtonnell, Mott, Andrews. Way.' This season's series of

greeiuy camps started on December 26. Last week a group attended from Port Pirie, Peterborough md Broken Hill. The idea af age groups is helpful. Honorary cook, and most popular, is ' Miss Minnie Lawrence, Mr. A, J. Gibbss secretary in Adelaide. ; Her' energetic offsider yesterday was Mr. William Pearce, teacher at Whyalla Technical High School, who brought some of his boys to the opening camp. He is camp supervisor. Other worthy camp leaders are Messrs. Brian George, who has been transferred from Blinman to Lochaber, S-E, school; Lionel Bradley, Roger Keane. Bryan Hennig, John Rowell, Brian Morton. Was With Fulton * Co My mention of G. E. Fulton & Co., of Kilkenny, came under the notice of Mr. B. W., Joyner, of 34 Elder terrace, Glengowrie, Glenelg. He says that when they went into voluntary liquidation in 1901 Mr. A. R. Lungley was chairman of directors, Mr. Jenkinson manager, Mr. Anderson works manager. I was one of the apprentices serving a five-year term, but on the closing of the works many tradesmen and apprentices were thrown on the labor market,' he tells me. 'Forwood, Down and Co., of Hindley street, ab-sorbed some apprentices, which permitted them to

complete their term. A number went overseas to top up. First year appren-tices received 5/ a week, less a penny for insurance. Mining Machinory ? 'During the 1895 gold boom in WA Fulton and Co. were busy supplying mining machinery. It was common to see up to a dozen completed Lancasshire and Cornish boilers awaiting shipment. 'I well remember some of the last jobs to be completed before they closed down — large air compressor cylinders for Broken Hill, faggotting and machining of tail shaft and casting and machining of propeller (combined weight 16 tons) for. I believe, the SS Mortlake, which broke a tail shaft and lost her propeller on the Australian coast. , 'The lofty foundry re-ferred to was a vertical pipe works; moulds and machinery were imported from Scotland, hence the presence of those Scotties. 'On the opposite side of the railway station was Hooker's foundry, burnt down in the 1890's, I be-lieve.

Ltd. rebuilt and made the first water pipes for the Perth-Coolgardie water scheme before transferring the plant to WA. 'The site is now occupied by John Shearer & sons. Ltd-' Eighth Wonder! Looking at a Southland (NZ) Guide, brochure sent me yesterday by Dr. Ernest L. Cooking from Melbourne, I find a picture of s.s. , Marama anchored in the placid waters of Milford -Sound under the lee of Mitre Peak (5,560 ft.). The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will find it a haven of peace in the Gothic. Rudyard Kipling described it as 'the eighth wonder of the world,' this mighty sea canyon 10 miles long, flanked by towering mountains rising sheer from the water to 6,000 ft.