Prior to Jessie Downie, Margaret Main and Boronia Giles being employed at the Daily News newspaper to take on the role of 'Auntie Nell' and editing the children's pages, Albert Rust took on the roll of "Uncle Tom."
"Uncle Tom" established the Sunshine League in 1907 which helped raise money for a number of charitable causes along with the children of Western Australia. After he retired the journalists and children from the Sunshine League continued to raise money for the Children's Hospital and other charitable causes including a picnic for the orphans of Perth around Christmas time.
The Children's Hospital opened in 1909 on the corner of Thomas and Hay Street in Subiaco. The Find and Connect webpage that provides a history and information about Australian orphanages, children's homes and other institutions provides a brief overview of the Children's Hospital or Perth Children's Hospital and as it was known later the Princess Margaret Hospital. "It was common for children who were in out of home 'care' to be sent there for medical treatment, and children with intellectual disabilities or serious medical conditions sometimes lived at the hospital..."
Throughout "Uncle Tom's" time at the Daily News newspaper concerts were held on a regular basis in which the children from the Sunshine League participated. One of those concerts 'The Carnival of Flowers' was a performance organised at His Majesty's Theatre on 8 May, 1909 to raise money for the Children's Hospital. This and other events were reported on by the Daily News.
In a response to a speech by the LIEUT-Governor who was guest of honour Uncle Tom explained the history of the Sunshine League... "...it was founded in 1907, and it commenced with a membership of twelve. Last May, when the first anniversary was held in the Queen's Hall, the membership had increased to about 600 and now it stands at 1,654...I will not go over the details of the work of the league, as they are to be found in the printed programmes which are in your hands-sufficient to say, that since the inception approximately 1,100 pounds has been raised for charities.
When the proposition to build the Children's Hospital was first mooted I felt that the children could aid in no better scheme. As a result of their work, 550 pounds has already been realised, not including 100 pounds which is the estimated result from tonight's entertainment. These figures are especially striking, and stand as a record, when you recollect that we only started to help the Children's Hospital Fund some twelve months ago...
The entertainment therefore, by no means ends the work of the children. I felt something should be done worthy of the celebration of our second anniversary, with the result that the "Carnival of Flowers" is staged to-night, ready assistance having been obtained from a large number of children, and their parents and friends. May I also tell you that we have held on a average one concert a fortnight at the various charitable institutions, and there can be no better record of those concerts than the warm appreciation of the inmates. Last we gave about 60 pounds in presents to the orphan children of the metropolis, and also gave them entertainment at the Theatre Royal...(8 May, 1909, The Daily News).
From The Daily News newpaper 1928
The articles can be found on the Trove database of the National Library of Australia about Albert Rust and his retirement.
'UNCLE FOR 43 YEARS IS NOW 73' The Daily News, 16 July 1947.
For 43 years 73-year-old Albert Rust has played "Uncle Tom" to W.A. Children, helping many of them to happiness they would not have known without him.
Today, many of his earliest "nephews" and "nieces" are in their late forties and fifties. Others are still children.
He will be remembered by many as a man who did much towards the founding of the Children's Hospital, as a former editor of the Daily News, organiser of Sunshine League, and later superintendent of the Old Men's Home.
On Friday "Uncle Tom" had his 73 rd birthday.
The told his story to a member of the paper he once edited.
Mr. Rust came from Adelaide Advertiser to the Daily News in 1904 to become chief-of-staff and senior reporter.
While with the Daily News Mr. Rust became the honorary organiser of the Children's Hospital. The Sunshine League children helped raise money spent building the hospital. They also entirely furnished it.
In 1910 "Uncle Tom" retired from the Daily News. But Mr. Rust's charity work had not ended. He was a member of many other honorary organisations which worked for the common betterment.
In 1910 he was appointed superintendent of the Old Men's Home. Mr Rust retired in 1983, now lives at his home on Seventh Avenue, Maylands, surrounded by old photographs and writings bearing testimony to the work he had done for this state.
He is still patron of the Parkerville Children's Home.
Billiards and gardening are his hobbies. The flowers he grows he gives to the elderly neighbours or to people visiting hospitals and cemeteries."
References
Daily News, 1909, 'Carnival of Flowers at His Majesty's' 8 May, 1909.
Federal Government, 2020. Find & Connect. History & Information about Australian Orphanages, children's Home & other institutions at www.findandconnect.gov.au
Photo from The Daily News 28 December, 1907
