It is fascinating to read old newspaper articles about Campbelltown and how much life has changed. I was reading the Campbelltown News in 1945 and an article describing what happened over the Easter period. The weekend was completely devoid of sport and unlike today where various football codes play on Good Friday, back in 1945 sport anywhere was strictly forbidden. This extended locally through to the Easter Monday.
Every Good Friday since 1936, the Maryfields Franciscan Novitiate celebrated the "Via Crucis" or "Way of the Cross". The service depicts Christ's journey to Calvary, and consists of the 14 stations of the cross, culminating in the preaching of the Passion sermon at the final station. In 1945, heavy rain reduced the number of pilgrims that attended, although 8000 still made the journey. I was amused by the language the paper used to describe how such an influx of visitors affected the town: The influx of visitors on that day very quickly depleted the edibles and cordials at the local Cafes and refreshment shops, and with Saturday being a closed day food commodities and these establishments were practically nil for Easter Monday's influx of visitors. Imagine how our current population would cope with this inconvenience today.
Crowds gather for the first Via Crucis at Maryfields in 1936
Written by Andrew Allen
Source:
Campbelltown News, Friday 6 April 1945
