Long-running book club delights in Warwick’s history at Jumpers and Jazz

For more than a decade, this book club has met once a month to talk all things reading. But this weekend they decided to get a little jazzy at Warwick’s iconic winter festival.

When Alison Helmrich moved to Brisbane 12 years ago, she thought starting a book club would be an easy way to meet people.

Now, more than a decade later, the club members have spent the weekend celebrating their friendship at Warwick’s Jumpers and Jazz festival.

“We do read a book a month, and we do discuss it, but I would argue that it’s about a lot more than books,” Ms Helmrich said.

Affectionately referring to themselves as ‘Wormies’, the group decided six years ago to take things on the road for a weekend celebration every second year.

Fellow Wormie Shelley Cramb said the group had previously travelled to Stanthorpe, and was looking for the perfect winter getaway for 2021 when she stumbled upon Warwick.

“I started Googling and I found out about this thing called Jumpers and Jazz,” she said.

Ms Cramb said she believed the quirky charm of the festival would be perfect for the group.

“We just want to have something to go to, like an event, or maybe a festival,” she said.

Book club member Paula Hennessy said Warwick’s history also appealed to them.

“I think we’re all probably quite curious people, people who read books are generally interested in the world,” she said.

“Even the old buildings; Thinking about the stories that were happening 100 years ago, thinking about who worked in that building and what did they wear, and imagining the stories that have come out of this town.”

With most of the group meeting once a month for the past 12 years, Ms Helmrich said organisation was the secret to the long-running book club.

“We’ve got a Facebook group … we don’t have a name, but our Facebook group is called bookworm party,” she said.

A little bit of creativity also helped.

“If there was someone with a description of dandruff … you might bring lamingtons because it reminded you of dandruff on the back of the shirt,” Ms Cramb said.