Christmas Eve at Waldau
Fifty children played games, laughing and shouting, during the afternoon. As evening approached, their parents called them to the meal set out on tables under the trees alongside the church. Pastor Goethe led them in a hymn and prayer before they settled down to enjoy their Christmas tea.It was Christmas Eve, 1860. The year Max von Schramm had opened his school in the Waldau church. As an end to the school year, the Lutheran congregation had agreed to hold a tea meeting and Christmas celebration. Women of the church had visited families to obtain gifts and food for the festival. English friends had been invited. There was Mr. Grant, Mr. Newman, Mr. Serpell, and Mr. Clarke. Pastor Goethe had come from Melbourne for the occasion.
At dusk, the ringing of the heel invited the gathering to the church. As the children entered, they were delighted at the magnificent sight of a Christmas tree, reaching right up to the roof, covered with decorations and Christmas gifts, and brilliantly lit by many candles.
The congregation was addressed by Pastor Goethe, Mr. Thiele, Mr. Newman, Mr. Grant and Mr. Serpell. Then the gifts were removed from the tree and handed round till every child had a present. Afterwards there were prayers and singing .
As the happy group joined in the carols a feeling of goodwill and contentment spread among them. They had left their families and homes in Germany to come to a new and strange land, driven by faith and a love of freedom. They had experienced adversity, hard work, and the homesickness of isolation from their families. Now, on this Christmas Eve, these German pioneers were gathered together in a new community, established by their own hard work. This was their new home!
Irvine Green writing in 1983 12 DTHS Newsletter
Waldau Christmas
On Tuesday evening, the 24th December, a most interesting meeting was held at Waldau, known by many as Germantown. It, was the usual gathering at a German Christmas Eve. Dr. Embling, J.P. presided. The refreshments were partaken of in the open air, the chapel being appointed for the even-ing meeting; Two very handsome Christmas trees partly filled the chapel, loaded with presents; and a table at the rear of the President's chair was covered with articles for distribution among the children of the school. Waldau occupies a highly picturesque situation amid the hills, and is chiefly cultivated by Germans. The school musters nearly 50 scholars, and everything betokens the presence of an industrious population. After the opening remarks of the Chairman, Pastor Goethe addressed the meeting. B. N. Clarke, Esq;, J.P., and other gentlemen then pressed upon the friends and children present the advantages of education, especially in a young community, where every individual mind may make itself powerful for good or evil. The presents, were then distributed, and after several hours of pleasant intercourse, the friends, whose numbers densely packed the building, adjourned, until another Christmas Eve shall call them to gather to their pleasant rendezvous - "The Chapel on the Hill."1862 'NOTES AND NEWS.', South Bourke Standard (Vic. : 1861 - 1873), 3 January, p. 2. , viewed 22 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66903280
The Dawn Service at the old Lutheran Church site, Victoria street, Doncaster, on Easter Sunday 1973. The service was held in a clearing made for Schramm's Cottage which was to be rebuilt here after having been dismantled and removed from its original site in Doncaster Road. The congregation is here surrounded by the stones of the walls layed out in preparation for the rebuilding. Some of the people in the photograph are Eric Collyer at the organ, Muriel Green (directly behind Eric), Olaf and Glenys Soderlund on the right in the second row. DP0574
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