During her time there Auchterlonie became a member of an elite group that included the poet James McAuley , Joan Fraser ( aka Amy Witting ) , Harold Stewart , Oliver Somerville , Alan Crawford and Ronald Dunlop .
During her time there she met and was a member of an elite group that formed around the poet James McAuley who was described as brilliant and flamboyant . 
 Other members of the group were Joan Fraser ( aka Amy Witting ) , Harold Stewart , Oliver Somerville , Alan Crawford and Ronald Dunlop .