SLIM SCHOOL REUNIONS
CAMERON HIGHLANDS
13/14 SEPT
2003
Max and I arrived at the Strawberry Park Hotel just after 7 pm on Friday We needed a drink after the long and winding road up to the Camerons!!! At the bar we saw Patricia and Tony Collins who told us we had to be down to dinner at 7.30 as it was Arnold’s birthday and there were a couple of surprises planned for him.
The dinner was very enjoyable a birthday cake appeared for Arnold and, of course, we all sang happy birthday. Most of the slimmers I had met at other reunions – Hazel, Gloria , Sheila, Anne and Robert. John Cox (who was at school during my time) was at the reunion. Interestingly he had only discovered David’s web site a matter of weeks beforehand and had booked up for the Camerons reunion.
The following morning Max and I visited Tanah Rata before going on the jungle walk and the rock pool - brought back lots of memories!
As we were expected at the school at 3 pm. we had time for a drink at the Smoke House where we bumped into John, Robert and Marilyn. We had a beer in the garden and then it started pouring down so we were stranded underneath the umbrella – of course we had to have a couple more beers!!!
I felt both excited and nervous going up the drive to the school (a bit like how I used to feel all those years ago) We received such a warm and friendly welcome from the officers at the camp who allowed us to wander around the school taking as many photographs as we wanted. So many of the buildings are as they were - I stood in St. Georges dormitory in the space where my bed was the first term I arrived at Slim. The washrooms and toilets were all just the same.
It was a wonderful surprise to learn we had been invited back to the school in the evening for a bbq and entertainment. It was an evening I will never forget as I am sure nobody from Slim (or their partners ever will). We had such wonderful food – it did not matter that, of course, there was no alcohol as we were all “very high” on the experiences of the evening itself!!!!
On Sunday some of us attended the All Souls Church for the Sunday service – the minister remembered Sue Hoyle (who was at Slim) and her father who were both killed in a car accident in the Camerons in 1958. Those of us who were then remember what a terrible time it was.
After church Max and I left to drive to K.L. as we were flying on to Sydney.
Thanks must go to Gloria who arranged the visit to the school. I did not envy her having to make a speech at the evening reception but she did extremely well.
Friday
After checking into the very pleasant Duxton Hotel Max and I had a wander around Kirribbilli and who should I bump into but my friend Tina and her husband Ray. We rested our feet in the pub of course.
On Friday evening we all met in the bar and Ishbel arrived to make sure we were all okay and had received the itinery for the weekend. I was so pleased to meet Dave (Heeley) and his wife Marjorie. Dave and myself have been Emailing since 1999. Dave traced Tina and Neil (Brewer) and lots of other slimmers. We all went to the RSL club for dinner which was a very successful evening.
On Saturday we met in the hotel for lunch. Ishbel had arranged a buffet lunch – it was really funny when slim fast drinks were put out on the bar due to the staff thinking we were a slimming group. We had a good few hours talking of old times and looking through photographs and memorabilia. Tina is a real hoarder and had kept so many things from Slim – she even had letters and cards I had sent her. At this point Max and Ray decided to go for a long walk – they only made it to the RSL club though!!! Tony and Sheila’s other halves also gave the lunch a miss and went sightseeing.
The reunion dinner was very successful – it was very relaxing – nothing was rushed and the food was fantastic. We all loved our “goodie bags” and my slim fridge magnet is in place on my fridge.
The weekend passed by all too quickly – but we do plan to have another one in a few years – the wine region was suggested as a possible venue.
Thanks must go to Ishbel for arranging such a wonderful reunion. The notes she sent out regarding places to visit in Sydney were also very helpful.