Marjorie Burton Part 5

1.    A new caravan to be named ‘The Marjorie Burton Caravan’.
2.    Some permanent memorial to be placed in the cathedral.
3.    A sum of money as an endowment – the interest to be spent on books or teaching equipment for a needy
      country Sunday School.

‘The Adoration of Christ by the Wise Men; by Arthur Murch of Sydney, is in memory of Miss Burton, who travelling in the Girls’ Friendly Society Caravan gave devoted service to the Church in this Diocese from 1934 until her death Easter Day 25th April, 1943.

This was dedicated by the Archbishop on Sunday 25 March 1949. The altar rail at the Church of the Epiphany at Mundaring is also in memory of Miss Burton.

FINANCING THE RUNNING OF THE VAN

The members made baby clothes and knitted bootees and other items as gifts to be taken to the settlers, as well as collecting books, magazines and clothing. The children gave many of their own toys and the van workers often wrote, in a very personal way, how there was always the right gift available when needed. “A toy shop found its way into the hands of a wee girl suffering from spinal trouble  –  a lovely dolly to a dear little motherless girl – and yet another doll to a child just home from hospital from an operation.” When visiting one family they found the baby had cold feet… “so Miss Benthall gave it the blue bootees”.

In recognition of the outstanding work being done throughout the State by the caravan workers, the Archbishop-in-Council gave an annual grant from 1932.  There was continuing financial and other support from GFS members, their friends, and admirers of the work of the caravaners.  The Mothers’ Union also gave donations from time to time in appreciation of the support being given to their members in isolated places. The cost of petrol and repairs to the van as it travelled through such rough conditions was extremely high. On the very first trip the caravan made, one of the clergy suggested that a box be placed in the van for donations towards the petrol, and although people were never asked for contributions, the coins dropped in the box proved a great help in keeping the petrol tank full.  It was also on the first trip that Armadale GFS branch and the Ladies’ Guild in the parish gave a box of small gifts that could be sold and others did the same. This was always called the ‘Petrol Box’.

         

On 16 March 1943 a service was held in St George’s Cathedral before Marjorie Burton left on what was to be her last tour with the GFS caravan. She was accompanied on the first two weeks of the trip by Miss C. Hawtrey, who gave valuable assistance with the teaching during that period.  When it was time for her to return to Perth Miss Burton continued with the tour on her own, travelling in the large parish of Bencubbin, which was without a Rector. She endeavoured to provide as many services as she could in the outlying centres and took five services on Good Friday at different towns, the last being at Nukami, where she collapsed with a heart attack at a private home and was taken to Merredin hospital where she died early on Easter Day (25 April) 1943. The Reverend G. Johnson, the Rector of Merredin, who knew Miss Burton well, ministered to her the night before she died.

Her sudden death was a terrible shock to her many friends throughout the State , as it was not known  until  later  that she had  been  warned  by  a doctor the week  before  that she should  not continue  the tour because  of the condition of her heart.

The Reverend W E. Henn, the Reverend A.W Curtis and the Reverend G. Johnson assisted in very many ways with all the arrangements for the funeral. The Reverend G. Stanley and the Reverend L. Bothamley brought the van to Perth. On 27 April a Requiem was held in St Andrew’s, East Claremont, which was her parish church and where she had many friends, including the Rector (the Reverend W E. Henn) and his wife. Archbishop Le Fanu spoke at the service of the loss Miss Burton’s death meant to the church and the people in the country districts. He expressed the feelings of all when he said:

“We mourn the loss of one who gave nine years’ voluntary service with the van and who endeared herself to so many.  She gave of her best to the Master whom she served so faithfully, and we believe she died as she would have wished – on active service for Him.”

There was a large attendance of clergy and friends at this service and also at the graveside in the afternoon at Karrakatta Cemetery.  About fifteen of the country clergy were present.

Her grave was later to be marked by a special type of cross, which her sisters in England arranged to be made here to their design, and a crucifix sent out from England was affixed to the cross which bears the words:

   

The vision and courage of those involved with the administration of GFS is shown by the way they took on the repayment of five thousand pounds on the GFS Headquarters because they believed the building was an essential part of the caring mission and outreach of GFS. It was to be just on 30 years before the building was finally free of debt in 1956 and this was only possible through the rent from the two shops on the ground floor, continuous fund raising by GFS members and regular financial support from the GFS Lodge Committee.

The fundraising took many forms. There were musical productions at His Majesty’s Theatre and the Perth Town Hall, with hundreds of people in the cast, GFS balls, river trips, fetes and many other functions held for the same purpose. In addition the GFS Associates’ Committee held monthly bridge parties at Headquarters towards the debt reduction.

The Depression years were very difficult ones, as shop rents had to be reduced, and for many years it was only possible to pay the interest on the loan. As time went on, there were heavy expenses for maintenance to the building, including repairs to the roof, replacement of wiring and pipes and painting. This was in addition to ‘day to day’ running costs.

In spite of the careful managing of funds that was needed, these years were also ones of great outreach for the Society, with large numbers of branches and over 1600 members in Perth Diocese alone. A great deal of social work was done in the community at that time and the proceeds from some of the musical productions were given to charity rather than being kept by the Society for debt reduction.

Although the clubs that operated from GFS Headquarters played an important part in the lives of countless people, there were many other ways in which the building was used. There were socials, wedding receptions, exhibitions, leader training, rallies for country members , Synod teas, orphans’ parties, craft classes, mission film nights and countless other activities. It was the centre for co-ordinating the work of the caravan for 17 years and also for welfare work by GFS during the Depression years. There was a committee formed at Headquarters to help those in need of clothes and many hundreds of garments were prepared and given to Deaconess Genders to distribute in her district or to the Diocesan Secretary to help those who came to the building for help. These included many unemployed girls who had heard of the GFS centre and appealed for assistance. Several hundred of these were found jobs during this time.

Others helped were invalid members of the Society, who did beautiful church needlework or made knitted, crocheted or hand-stitched garments which were displayed in a glass case at Headquarters and orders taken without any charge made for the service.

There were many others who used the Headquarters building apart from GFS. For many years during the 1940s the Mothers’ Union had a room there until they moved to Church Office in 1949. In 1968, when plans for rebuilding left them homeless, GFS welcomed them back to their Headquarters for several years and there was a very happy relationship always between the two organisations. CEBS and CEGS also had offices in the building for a number of years. GFS was keen to help in this way by providing economical accommodation for fellow church organisations. The building sometimes saw ‘welcomes’ to new Archbishops and other church dignitaries. (There were 85 GFS leaders present at a welcome to Archbishop Geoffrey Sambell.) There was usually a farewell function at Headquarters when the wife of the Governor, who was always the Patron of GFS, left the State.

The building was a nurturing place for some new organisations needing a large, central meeting room. Amongst these were the Rhythmic Girls League, Alcoholics Anonymous, an orchestra and sports clubs.

One of the rooms overlooking Hay Street was made into a beautiful little chapel and was used for that purpose for many years.

As planned, Miss Burton returned to WA in March 1937, accompanied this time by Miss Whalley who was to be driver/companion until November 1938, when she returned to England. Miss Burton obtained her driver’ s licence on 30 November and she felt it was particularly significant that it should be on St Andrew’s Day – “the first missionar y!” she noted beside the item in her diary.

Miss Burton found a special joy in driving the van and although she often had friends accompany her on her tours, she also liked to drive on her own. This concerned the Caravan Committee members, who stressed the importance of having someone with her in case of accidents or illness. However, she still did many trips on her own, although arrangements were made as often as possible for a companion to be with her.

Miss Burton kept a ‘ Daily Diary’, as did all the workers on the van. These are a treasure house of memories as they cover the 17 years of ministry to the people of the outback. They·are full of drama in many cases and the following is just one example taken from a report by Miss Burt on in July 1942:

Welcome back to Monday Memories for 2020!  We look forward to sharing these with you during the year and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Caravan Part 7

There is a file in the GFS Office full of letters which bring alive the work of the GFS caravan – letters from clergy in vast parishes in the outback of Western Australia, who paid a tribute over and over again to the women who travelled in the van and helped them from time to time in their enormous task.

The following comments speak for themselves:

Coorow: 4.1.1932 (The Revd A.W. Curtis)

“We appreciated the visit of the caravan to the district in December and marvelled at the energies of Miss Pine and Mrs Broadhurst.”

Wongan Hills: 30.7.1932

“Miss Dawson and Miss Pine made a really great impression upon this parish and I would be most grate/ul if the y would care to come again any time that is convenient.”

Bruce Rock: Easter 1935 (The Revd F.W. Guest)

“No Rector can help but say that the caravan is a God-send up in these scattered districts. The Rector has to work to a tim table and is able to devote only a small proportion of his time to each district. When the caravan arrives it is possible to get every district thoroughly visited, the children connected up with the Sunday School by Post and classes in the day schools, as well as the people having the opportunity of many extra Services.

I speak for my people when I say no one could have performed the work more efficiently nor won the hearts of the people so easily than Miss Burton.

Also, we must remember the driver, Miss Murray.  She certainly is a friend indeed of the Bush Parson.”

Meckering: 15.6.1935 (The Revd E.S. Bartlett)

“Before I came to WA I had heard of the wonderful work done by the caravan Missioners in Canada, so when I heard that there was a similar Mission touring the Diocese, I was eager to  come in contact with them.”

Wyalkatchem- Koorda parish:  27.5.1938  (The Revd L. Bothamley)

“The Caravan Workers came into the parish on 2 May and left again on 27 May, after a time of strenuous work largely devoted to giving instruction to confirmation candidates. I would like to say what a tremendous help their work has been to me.  At least 30 candidates live, some 30, others 50, and six of them 70 miles away from Wyalkatchem, our main centre. This fact makes ii very difficult to travel and give them regular and frequent instructions. Because Miss Burton, with her companion Miss Whalley, has been able to spend time at night on the farms far away and instruct the candidates, a great deal of important work has been done, which I could not possibly have managed myself since I have my regular daily round to do. I am most grateful for the splendid work that has been done and I pray that God will richly bless all their labours done in His name.”

Dongara: 22.7.1939 (The Revd R.G. Pym – Assistant Priest)

“. . . Quiet spiritual influence of the Missioner, who has made herself beloved by all.”

Moore River Native Settlement: 28.7.1939

“… I want to add the e thank s of the staff for the assistance Miss Burton gave at the hospital during a very taxing outbreak of pneumonia cases and flu among the staff; and for Miss Scott ‘s relief in the school. The natives all, young and old, have a very deep affection for Miss Burton and the caravan visit will long impress itself on all our memories as a happy, profitable occasion.”

Tour through Bencubbin-Nungarin: 7-27 March 1940 (The Revd Peter Hodge)

” The amount of good Miss Burton does is incalculable – she conducted services in places which have never had Good Friday or Holy Week Services before. Her work is almost perfect.

It is impossible to separate the caravaner from the caravan and vice-versa, and when I say that the caravan is a great asset to the parishes, I indicate that the Moving Church itself and Miss Burton as the Minister of that Moving Church are practically indispensable. “

If you would like to view the letters in their original format, please contact the office and we would love to show them to you.