During the early years of Perth, children were encouraged to write to newspapers and share some of their stories about what has happening in their lives or things they found interesting in their environment and many of them were published. Three of those children were Edie (aged 11), Effie (aged 7) and Jack (aged 9)Robson and their friend Sarah M'Mahon.
Edie, Effi and Jack Robson wrote on a regular basis to Uncle Tom throughout 1909 and 1910 and some of their letters were published and they received prizes. Later in 1909 a neighbour and friend of Edie Robson's, Sarah M'Mahon who lived at 219 Barker Road, wrote to Uncle Tom explaining how she and her friend Edie Robson were raffling a pin cushion given to by Mrs Lilywhite of Leederville as they decided to raise money for the Orphan's Christmas Cheer fund and have a bazaar a couple of weeks before Christmas. Uncle Tom responded and invited them to the picnic at the zoo on December 26 and put a notice in the 'Events to Come' section of the page.
In 1909, The Daily News newspaper offered young readers prizes for the best nature essays in their children's section of the newspaper. 'Uncle Tom' the facilitator of the page encouraged their young readers to write about all aspects of nature including birds, animals, insects, or any subject such as rain, clouds or rocks. They were encouraged to reference from books but stressed the essays must be original.
I have copied paragraphs from some of these articles here from the Robson children whose address was Barker Street, Subiaco. These articles were found on the National Library database Trove. The first essay was by Edie about bird's nests, the second essay was by her brother Jack about shells and the third by her sister Effie about their trip to Northam (I think these articles were written with a little help from a parent).
'PRIZE ESSAY. 'CURIOUS NESTS' 197 Barker Road Subiaco The Daily News, Saturday, 26 June 1909.
"Dear Uncle Tom, - I am writing to you an essay on "Curious Nests."
In the spring the birds are very busy gathering bits of moss and hay and straw, with which to build their nests. No doubt you have often seen them picking up such things, and flying with them to the trees. The outside of the nest is made of rougher and stronger materials than the inside, so that it will be shelter from wind and rain. The inside is mostly made of horsehair, or wool, or feathers as to be soft for the young birds. Every bird builds its nest its own way, and those who about nests can tell, on seeing one, what kind of a bird built it. The oriole is called a banging bird, because it builds a queer shaped nest. It is like a deep pocket or bag. The bird fastens it with bits of string and hair high up in a tree, and there on some slender twig it hangs and swings. The the wise little builders gather scrapes of cloth and soft feathers with which to line the nest. They make a wam and snug little home for the baby birds that are soon to be hatched. Robber birds find it hard to plunder the nest...
Some birds are called "dome builders" because they build a dome-shaped roof over the nest. The magpie is a doom builder. Perhaps you have seen one of these queer looking nests he and his mate mate build for their little ones. Over the nest is a network of twigs from some prickly thorn bush. Only a small opening is left for the birds to go in and out. They do no mean to let the hands of egg-stealers come into their home very easily..."
EDIE ROBSON, aged 11
"THREE MORE PRIZES OFFERED. THIS WEEK'S PRIZE WINNER 'SHELLS' 197 Barker-Road Subiaco, Daily News Saturday, 12 June, 1909.
"Dear Uncle Tom - I am sending you an essay on shells. There are three things all children seem to like birds, flowers and shells. You see birds flying about i all parts of the country, flowers grow in your gardens, and by the wayside, and in the woods, but where do shells come from ? Some of you have played on the seashore, and have had your faces browned, and your shoes filled with sand while you were looking for shells. There they were among the sand and pebbles washed up on the beach...
The shell grows out of the animal, as your nails grow at the end of the your fingers and toes. The shell is just really part of the animal just as your bones are part of your body, only the shell is outside and your body is inside. - I remain your loving nephew
JACK ROBSON, aged 9"
"Dear Uncle Tom, - I am writing to you an essay on "Curious Nests."
In the spring the birds are very busy gathering bits of moss and hay and straw, with which to build their nests. No doubt you have often seen them picking up such things, and flying with them to the trees. The outside of the nest is made of rougher and stronger materials than the inside, so that it will be shelter from wind and rain. The inside is mostly made of horsehair, or wool, or feathers as to be soft for the young birds. Every bird builds its nest its own way, and those who about nests can tell, on seeing one, what kind of a bird built it. The oriole is called a banging bird, because it builds a queer shaped nest. It is like a deep pocket or bag. The bird fastens it with bits of string and hair high up in a tree, and there on some slender twig it hangs and swings. The the wise little builders gather scrapes of cloth and soft feathers with which to line the nest. They make a wam and snug little home for the baby birds that are soon to be hatched. Robber birds find it hard to plunder the nest...
Some birds are called "dome builders" because they build a dome-shaped roof over the nest. The magpie is a doom builder. Perhaps you have seen one of these queer looking nests he and his mate mate build for their little ones. Over the nest is a network of twigs from some prickly thorn bush. Only a small opening is left for the birds to go in and out. They do no mean to let the hands of egg-stealers come into their home very easily..."
EDIE ROBSON, aged 11
"THREE MORE PRIZES OFFERED. THIS WEEK'S PRIZE WINNER 'SHELLS' 197 Barker-Road Subiaco, Daily News Saturday, 12 June, 1909.
"Dear Uncle Tom - I am sending you an essay on shells. There are three things all children seem to like birds, flowers and shells. You see birds flying about i all parts of the country, flowers grow in your gardens, and by the wayside, and in the woods, but where do shells come from ? Some of you have played on the seashore, and have had your faces browned, and your shoes filled with sand while you were looking for shells. There they were among the sand and pebbles washed up on the beach...
The shell grows out of the animal, as your nails grow at the end of the your fingers and toes. The shell is just really part of the animal just as your bones are part of your body, only the shell is outside and your body is inside. - I remain your loving nephew
JACK ROBSON, aged 9"
"PRIZE ESSAY 197 Barker Road, Subiaco The Daily News 5 November, 1910.
Dear Auntie Nell - I am going to try and win a prize and am sending an essay on Schools' Demonstration. We all went down on Wednesday. I ought to have gone in the Scarf Drill but mamma was afraid I would get lost, so I stayed with her. I think the Maypole was the prettiest. I would have liked to be one of the little girls in the long white dresses. They did look nice, so did the ones in yellow. The flag drill was lovely, and when the boys kicked up their legs I laughed. Aunty, did you see the boys racing, getting through barrels and under the canvas; it was funny. I enjoyed myself very much and was tired when I got home, there was such a crush for the train. I am going to see Amy again on Sunday and will send you something for the bazaar. Your loving niece
EFFIE ROBSON, aged 7
Dear Effie, - You have written me a capital letter essay for a little maid of seven. I was pleased to meet you, your sister and brother at Amy's last Sunday week, and I hope to see you all at the bazaar two weeks from today...Auntie Nell"
Dear Auntie Nell - I am going to try and win a prize and am sending an essay on Schools' Demonstration. We all went down on Wednesday. I ought to have gone in the Scarf Drill but mamma was afraid I would get lost, so I stayed with her. I think the Maypole was the prettiest. I would have liked to be one of the little girls in the long white dresses. They did look nice, so did the ones in yellow. The flag drill was lovely, and when the boys kicked up their legs I laughed. Aunty, did you see the boys racing, getting through barrels and under the canvas; it was funny. I enjoyed myself very much and was tired when I got home, there was such a crush for the train. I am going to see Amy again on Sunday and will send you something for the bazaar. Your loving niece
EFFIE ROBSON, aged 7
Dear Effie, - You have written me a capital letter essay for a little maid of seven. I was pleased to meet you, your sister and brother at Amy's last Sunday week, and I hope to see you all at the bazaar two weeks from today...Auntie Nell"
