THE Belconnen 2 Bookclub started as an idea between friends who were searching for something to do in July, 1983.

Forty years ago it was something to do away from their careers or as a social outing to break up the day for stay-at-home mums.

“This was a big outing for us, once a month, a chance to get out and do something a little bit more,” says original member and secretary, Jan Hyde.

“We held the meetings at each of our homes initially, and rotated who hosted each month, and supper was provided.

“I hosted the first one, and our first book was ‘Coonardoo’ by Katharine Susannah Prichard.”

Jan Hyde and fellow original Helen Digan say they signed up for books with the Council of Adult Education (CAE) in Melbourne, who they had heard were popular for supplying books for book clubs.

“We would get a look at their book catalogues for the year and would each choose books. They would get posted out to us, and we just read whatever came,” says Helen.

Jan says they ended up reading books they probably wouldn’t choose for themselves.

“But, somebody else had selected that surprise title. It was nice to read what other people chose, I just really enjoyed being challenged with books of every description and trying something new,” says Jan, a former school teacher.

“We are all happy just to read, but none of us are into Mills and Boon.”

Receiving books from CAE was their process right up until COVID-19.

“They had to stop sending us books, but we’ve been able to use the public libraries here since,” she says.

Now, 440 books and 40 years later, Jan and Helen are two of only five remaining original members.

“We celebrated this anniversary at The Marion, I made placemats for everyone that had all our books on them,” says Jan.

“I also made a big history book with records of all the books we’ve read and the dates we read them, all our members, some photos and some other interesting pieces of information.

“But we’ve been to Mogo Zoo for a previous anniversary, and Helen’s daughter made a lovely cake for our 200 books anniversary.”

“We are down to a total of 12 members now, but we do have a maximum of 15,” says Helen, a former historian.

“Across the 40 years though, we’ve had about 42 members,” Jan adds.

“Between myself and Helen, there’s not one book we haven’t finished,” but they admit they have been close at times.

“Mostly we all try to finish them, because otherwise you can’t have a discussion about the book,” says Jan.

“It gives you a focus, the person who chose that book leads the discussion and usually comes in with a set list of questions for everyone to answer.”

Helen says her favourite book has been “Girl With A Pearl Earring”, closely followed by “The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul”.

“I’ve really enjoyed reading anything by Geraldine Brooks,” says Jan.

As a club, they also have a favourite poem.

“Christine Adams was an original member, but she unfortunately passed away in her late 30s in a tragic car accident, and she had a favourite poem,” says Jan.

“It’s by Jenny Joseph, and says: ‘When I am an old woman I shall wear purple, and run my stick along the public railings, and learn to spit’, and so we all wore purple to her funeral, like a little community.”

Which plays into the secret of what has really held the group together for the 40 years.

“It is more than a book club, it has been a significant and very important part of our lives,” they say.

“It’s support, it’s friendship, it’s having things in common, loyalty and it’s habit,” says Helen.

“I had a hip replacement a couple of years ago, everyone came and visited me in hospital,” she says.

“Whenever there is a special or tragic event, we check in or send flowers.”

Jan says after their lively book discussions and supper, they would often discuss their lives, their careers and children.

“It’s just a whole lot more than getting together about books,” she says.

“Some of us might be getting a bit frail, one member brings along her oxygen tank, our members are truly dedicated to coming along to receive all the benefits of a social outing.”

While they think another 40 years is “pushing it a bit”, they’re hopeful of  planning the 50th anniversary.