Historical information
A newsletter printed at Somer’s Camp in 1977. It reflects some of the activities the campers experienced. There was news of sporting events and winners of contests. Also a crossword and some cartoons. The authors are not identified but could be some of the junior Legatees.
Legacy has provided camps for junior Legatees for many years. It started in the early years when Legacy organised outings to the property of Legacy founder, Legatee Stan Savige, who had a place in Balnarring close to the beach. In later years children went to camps around Victoria. Occasionally it was to Lord Somers Camp in Somers.
Some of the name mentioned in the text: Chaplain Charles Sligo, Fire officer David McPherson, Games director Peter Johnstone, PR Officer Les Phillips, Bursar Robin Kelly. Also section leaders: Keith Williamson, Peter Chapman, Fraser Zielinski, Andrew Russell, John Jones, Campbell Mathieson, John Higgins, Mark Lane.
The editorial explains the aims of the camp. "Lord Somer's Camp sets out not so much to teach a method of life as to instil one by example. This may sound rather ominous, as though you are being brain washed - and perhaps in a way you are. The high-powered pressure which is put on you by Slush and by Group Leaders tries to do in less than a week what would take years by any other means. . . In fact what the pressure does achieve may be quite different for different people. . . Cooperation was discussed yesterday. Many of you have possibly already been forced to see that a group of people can achieve nothing unless they work together. Even after one day on the sports field you would realise tag in an event such as the tug-of-war you will never succeed unless every one works together in perfect harmony. . . The second ideal mentioned above was unselfishness. Nearly every problem in the civilised world today, whether it be war, social unrest, inflation, industrial strife it can be traced back to a selfish attitude on someone's part. An unselfish attitude is a very difficult thing to develop but once obtain can not only do good for the individual but for the whole community. Big Camp tries to establish this attitude on in the new participants at camp by the example of others.It is only when one realises that all the organisation of and running of this camp, and indeed of the whole PowerHouse Organisation, is on a voluntary, unpaid level that it impossible to gain some inkling of the extent of this unselfish example, to understand the amount of effort people will make to continue something they believe in."
Significance
A record of the camp activities at Somers in 1978.
Physical description
Newsletter published at Somers Camp to highlight activities and attendees.
Inscriptions & markings
Dated 18 January 1977 on second page.