Adelaide University Film Society

To all those who didn’t attend and those who can’t remember if they did.

This may be the last Goolwa beachhouse frenzy for a very long time as our mad benefactor is reputedly selling the beachhouse. So anyone with a lazy $150,000 plus in their pocket can buy a rundown, needs a lick of paint and some decent furniture, shack in a prime location.

All, well not all but some of the 'usual suspects' were there including Helen Chandler who had obviously forgotten the terrors of weekends away during her time over in 'Blighty'. Helen brought a sense of serenity and intelligence to the usually frenetically mindless atmosphere.

New to the inner coterie was Tamara ("stop trying to take a photo down my cleavage, Peter"), who supplied us with a 'mess' of beans, tacos and stuff to fill us up on the Friday night. Thank you for that Tamara. She also sent Helen and I on a hunt for a lemon, milk, taco seasoning and chocolate at 8.30pm in Goolwa!! We lost! Well we did get the milk eventually and a lemon from someone’s garden.

Thanks also to Peter Cassidy who squeezed his very large TV into his very small car along with ESther and Phillip. I think the TV went on the passenger seat, ESther in the boot and Phillip was tied to the roof! Peter also brought his massage pillows which provided Anna and Tamara with endless hours of fun while the rest of us watched videos. Well it sounded like fun from the sounds emanating from behind the closed door!

As to videos. We watched bugger all as usual! Monty Python and the Holy Grail was first up, followed by various sketches/clips from Jonathan’s extensive, pirated DVD collection. Other features shown consisted of Now For Something Completely Different (for something completely different!) and Flesh Gordon. More intellectual selections such as Harvey (the rabbit not the Matthew!) and The French Lieutenant’s Woman were unsullied by our gaze.

Several athletic bodies ritually wandered along the beach (7km each way) on Saturday morning totally ignoring everything their mothers had told them and getting burnt in the process.

Before Peter, Esther and Phillip left on Saturday, Guy challenged Phillip to a game of Scrabble. I’m not sure who won but if it was Guy he should be ashamed of himself — it was $1 a point wasn’t it? Peter also produced his laptop and made ESther do some work for Rocksoft to pay for her lift to Goolwa and back. He also made everyone complete a questionnaire on our moral proclivities. I’m afraid I won or lost depending on how you look at it. Anyway I am the President and should be the most experienced of our merry group! Actually, I believe Guy managed to dodge it — which probably proves his long service to AUFS has taught him something!

On Saturday evening Mark was chef and provided not one but two alternate spag bols to feed and cater to the likes and dislikes of the masses. Thank you Mark.

Sunday saw the dregs of the AUFS (Guy, Paul, Mark, Helen, Tamara, Jonathan, Anna and I) writing Christmas cards to various persons and groups who have assisted AUFS during the year and then CLEANING (what a pointless task if it is going to be sold). Unfortunately the digital camera was not available to show Paul and Jonathan cleaning the bathroom despite never having used it (according to Paul). To restore our sanity we then required a brisk walk along the beach again. Tamara and Jonathan chose to drive back to Adelaide instead although I believe Jonathan would rather have walked back if his mutterings were to be believed!

On our return from the sunny but windswept sands someone had the brilliant idea of lunch so we headed to the Point Cafe alongside Hindmarsh Island’s controversial bridge, an establishment that I would recommend as an alternative to the non-existent cafe society of Goolwa. Paul Huntley then persuaded us to repair to the Currency Creek Winery Swamp, where we digested our lunch over a 3km walk in the paddocks adjacent to the winery. Our repeated requests to Paul to run into the swamp and test its support capabilities and his swimming prowess were I regret to say unheeded.

And that is that.

Thank you to all who came to what may be the last event at that particular location. And thank you to all who contributed to its success by providing cooking skills, food, alcohol, videos, TV, computer equipment, cameras or simply their company.

See you next time.

Allan.