1919 Holiday at Bribie

 1919 First two weeks of January

Holiday at Bribie

On Wednesday 1 January 1919, Elsie Jones (19) and her aunt Ivy Campbell (21) were staying at Toorbul and went across to Bribie Island to see the Beaver arrive and wave goodbye to one particular passenger returning to Brisbane. These details are recounted by Elsie in her diary which has been kindly shared with BIHS by her family.

For Elsie and Ivy, 1st January was a public holiday known as Commonwealth Day. They had travelled from Brisbane to Toorbul on the previous day and may have attended the concert that was held on Bribie on New Year's Eve.

The concert on Bribie had been arranged by a committee comprising Messrs. R. Davies, H. McLeure, T. Marshall, T. Carberry, F. Brockley and P. Daunt (chairman) and Miss Ackworth (pianist), for the benefit of the Ambulance Brigade and the St John's Ambulance. A newspaper article reported that 400 people attended the concert, the majority of whom were campers staying on Bribie Island for the holidays.

QUEENIE  JONES  DIARY  1919 JANUARY

1 WEDNESDAY        Commonwealth Day – Public Holiday

Ivy & I landed at Toorbul yesterday.  All of us went over to Bribie in motorboat in morning to see the “Beaver” in, & to see Pte. Davis off.  In afternoon Ivy & I took books up into a tree on the beach – scrumptious.  Then had a yarn (revelations) to Miss Shepherd, & came to bed straight after tea.  Scrummy day!

2 THURSDAY

Went over to Bribie again today.  Met Mrs. Dickson & had lunch there.  In afternoon, Ivy & I went up into tree on beach & wrote poetry!  People next door put telescope on us & also camera.  Miss Shep., Ivy & I walked on jetty at night.

3 FRIDAY

In morning, Miss Shep., Jack S., Ivy & I fished out in rowing boat, then in afternoon, we three girls drove over to a fruit farm, had tea & bought fruit.  Slept & read for a few hours at midday & had a walk on jetty at night.

4 SATURDAY

All the party of us went up the Channel about twelve miles, had lunch on Bribie, stayed a few hours & came home about 4.30 p.m..  Read till night.  Got a letter from Mum.

5 SUNDAY

Went over to Bribie again, & then read all afternoon.

6 MONDAY

A party of us all went up to Caloundra by motor boat (30 miles).  Had a lovely walk along beach, collected shells, climbed rocks, etc..  At night slept in a tent, cows walked on us, etc..  Heavenly day.

7 TUESDAY

Went up to Mrs. King’s Boarding House & met Mrs. Dickson & Oliver & spent morning on cliffs with them.  Came back from Caloundra in afternoon in boat.  I wrote a letter.  Pte. Davis came back.

8 WEDNESDAY

We three sat in tree on beach in morning & talked.  In afternoon we read & talked to Alick (Pte. D. I mean!).  At night he played accordion & then gramophone to us.  I got a home letter.

9 THURSDAY

Looked through Cottage in morning.  Then all went over to Bribie in launch, & met Mrs. Jubb there.  Doctors went home!  We read all the afternoon & had an argument at night – Miss. Shep. v. Alick Davis.

10 FRIDAY

Read all the morning, and Ivy slept.  In afternoon the three of us took a walk into the bush and read.  Then had a bonser bathe.  Had a walk & some music at night.

"Bonser" bathing belles - Elsie and Ivy
Photo from Jones Family collection.

11 SATURDAY

Read a whole book this morning – “Delphina”.  In afternoon, Miss Shep, Ivy & I drove about six miles & went to see Mrs. Hill & son.  Got home about dark.  Moonlight on jetty!

12 SUNDAY

Saw Miss Shep. off at Bribie.  At night, sat on jetty, then Alick told us his WAR experiences.

13 MONDAY

All went round Skirmish Point on Bribie per launch for picnic.  Then Mr. Bar., Mrs. Bick (?), Alick, Ivy & I had a four miles walk round beach.  Had a glorious time.  Ivy & I had walk on jetty at night, tide in & moonlight, then a talk on verandah.

14 TUESDAY

Packed in morning & Mr. Davis brought us over to “Koopa”, where we met Harold B. who took us up ‘aloft’.  Met Spurgins at Redcliffe & all came home together.  A storm & she rocked some!  Lost luggage, & I came home on 8 train & waited for Ivy till 10 p.m..

Elsie 'Queenie' Jones at Toorbul Point, 1919
Photo from Jones Family collection.

Ivy Campbell on holiday at Toorbul Point, 1919
Photo from Jones Family collection.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We thank Claire Wilson and the Jones family for allowing the use of diary entries and their photos.

REFERENCES

The Holiday at Bribie. Concert for Ambulance Funds.
The Telegraph (Brisbane) Sat 4 Jan 1919 p.2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176307074
A very enjoyable time has been spent by the campers at Bribie Island, and through the energy of a committee comprising Messrs. R. Davies, H. McLeure, T. Marshall, T. Carberry, F. Brockley and P. Daunt (chairman) and Miss Ackworth (pianist), a concert was held on Tuesday 31st December from the veranda of Mr Leeder's house, for the benefit of the Ambulance Brigade and the St. John's Ambulance. The audience numbered about 400 people. Mr Leeder was kind enough to place at the disposal of the committee his piano and house, and also donated a Christmas cake and 6 dozen oysters, to be disposed of.... 

Jones, Queenie (Elsie Llewella) & Cook, Margaret & Pullar, Helen (2005). Queenie's diary : a schoolgirl's life : 1914-1915. Agneau Press, Bellbird Park, Qld.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/14798005?keyword=%22queenie%27s%20diary%22

FURTHER READING

1919 Bribie Island -- The Rising Resort
http://bribieislandhistory.blogspot.com/2022/01/1919bribieislandtherisingresort.html

The Apiary.
Brisbane Courier 31.10.1914 p.13 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19993020
Mr H.L. Jones presided at a committee meeting of the Queensland Beekeepers' Association ... A communication was received from Mr A.N.J. Hill [Toorbul] ... "... the best friend of the orchardist - the bees" ...