St Pauls School
By Claudette Cunningham

On the 19 March 1927, as the quiet farming community of Bald Hills woke to a warm sultry day and went about their daily chores, little did they know that a huge event was about to unfold right on their doorstep.

It was the RACQ President’s run, an annual picnic when the Club’s members and their families gathered for a chance to meet their President. This year, the President was Mr George Rees and his wife’s outfit would claim a mention in the Brisbane Courier’s fashion section in ‘In the Social Sphere’.

William John Hawkins, an RACQ member and proud owner of a Studebaker Model 1916/1917 had offered his property (now St Paul’s School land) as the venue for the afternoon’s activities.

A marquee for official business was being erected near the two huge hoop pines at the front of the farmhouse; maids from the catering company David Webster & Sons, in their black dressers, white aprons and perky little white caps were busy chatting as they set up long rows of tables nearby; a band had arrived and was sorting out its jumble of instruments; and RACQ car parking officials in brand new livery surveyed the area, discussing plans for the orderly parking of the expected ‘hundred or so’ cars that would already be on the road heading towards Bald Hills. RACQ members were posted at strategic points along the way from Brisbane to Bald Hills – making sure the travellers had a trouble-free trip. They would shortly be surprised to find that the line of cars at some point was over a mile in length.

Cars, 338 of them, poured into the grounds and were systematically parked by RACQ attendants in such a way that each one could exit the grounds if necessary without inconveniencing another vehicle.

The rest of the property was either under cultivation or being used for dairy purposes. The sudden influx of 1600 people surprised, but didn’t faze the organisers. Running races for adults and children were underway, egg and spoon races for the ladies (very stately in their long dresses), and sack races for the gents (in three piece suits, but decorum thrown to the winds as bowler hats were discarded).

The children had a special treat another adventurous RACQ member was swooping and dropping coins in envelopes from an Arvo aeroplane. The pilot was teasing the children by swooping low as if to drop coins, then veering off to another location with the boys and girls in hot pursuit.

TO RENT TO BUY TO SELL
Peter Campbell - 0418 774 663