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.