The Shirley Club at Gnomesville
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325818)
Rockingham, Australia
June 21, 2022 7:59am CST
At Gnomesville in Western Australia that I wrote about recently, there are perhaps twenty gnomes in a group that are all alike. They are girl gnomes and have numbers printed on their hats. The Shirley Club placed them there on one of their outings.
The Shirley Club began in Perth, Western Australia, and now has clubs and members in most Australian states as well as in New Zealand and the USA. The first meeting was held in a restaurant in the city and 62 perfect strangers turned up. What they had in common was the name 'Shirley'. You must have Shirley as one your names to join the club. However, there is a Mr and Mrs Shirley.
S1, the original organiser, said the noise was atrocious with everyone having a marvellous time. They agreed to meet regularly and there was a lot of interest from media outlets. Since then, more Shirley clubs have been formed. To get the attention of a particular number, they use the surname or the number of the member.
The club colours are purple and aqua which explains the colouring of most of the Shirley gnomes. The first convention was held in Alice Springs, the middle of Australia, in 2001. Partners/spouses/friends are called non-Shirleys.
There does seem to be a ring-in amongst all the Shirley gnomes though.
14 people like this
14 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Jun 22
I've seen the pics of the gnomes before but I don't remember you talking about the Shirley's. Interesting idea. When someone joins so they each get a number? (I didn't get what you meant by that unless I'm correct).
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95226)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Jun 22
I had heard of that club. Love the gnomes
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95226)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Jun 22
@JudyEv I think you did write about the gnomes. Not sure about this group.
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
21 Jun 22
I really do love gnomes. I am planning to put something like that in my little garden if I find one 
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (170003)
• United States
21 Jun 22
That is funny. Shirley isn't a super common name here. I would think most who have it woud be over 70. I think one of my dad's cousins has the name though. She is 70+.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jun 22
Shirley Temple was incredibly popular about the time the older Shirley's were being born so perhaps that accounts for some of them. My sister is Shirley but she isn't in the club.
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
22 Jun 22
Shirley gnomes very interesting. Yes I see they are girls
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86769)
• United States
21 Jun 22
Isnt this lovely Judy..so charming!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jun 22
@Fleura Not that I know of. Maybe there was a surfeit of Shirley's following the popularity of Shirley Temple. As far as I'm aware, mothers went mad over ringlets, dancing lessons and the name Shirley after the films featuring her.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156276)
• United States
22 Jun 22
Sounds like an interesting and fun group!
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
•
22 Jun 22
Surely you jest Very interesting. That's a lot of Shirleys.
Very interesting. That's a lot of Shirleys.2 people like this
