Children Helping Children : Aunt Dorothy's Letter And The Daily News
Prior to Uncle Tom (Albert Rust) and Auntie Nell (Jessie Downie, Margaret Main and Boronia Giles) from The Daily News newspaper trying to connect with children and raise money for their charitable causes through the children's pages there was Aunt Dorothy.
From August 1899 through to 1900 Aunt Dorothy wrote a letter in The Children's Column to the boys and girls of Western Australia. The object of the column was clearly stated and that was it was there to be 'helpful to children and teach them to be helpful to one another.' The motto was to ' help all those in need ; to lighten sorrow and lessen pain. He prayers best who loves best all things, both great and small'. The children of Western Australia were encouraged to write to Aunt Dorothy sharing information events about themselves and their lives. Aunt Dorothy responded by printing their letters, offering positive feedback, awarding prizes, printing their names, addresses and ages in the paper when they became members, bought badges or had birthdays or made a donation.
Aunt Dorothy attempted to form a society in which children became members with the aim of helping the 'less fortunate and poor children' of Western Australia. Similar societies made of up children had been formed by adults on newspapers throughout Australia. The children were involved in holding events and raised money like having bazaars, concerts, socials and family picnics. The money was then donated to charitable causes. Aunt Dorothy visited the various charitable causes that received the donations and reported back to the children and adults who read her column. Some of those charitable institutions were the Anglican Girls' Orphanage, the Roman Catholic Girls' Orphanage, the Swan Native Girls' Mission, Murray-street Children's Home and the Government Industrial School in Subiaco.
Eventually after some discussion through The Children's Column a society was formed called the 'Golden Rule Society' of Western Australia and was founded on July 22, 1898. The rules of the society published in The Daily News newspaper on the 19 September, 1898. The society was open to all children between the ages of five and fifteen. Children over the age of fifteen and under the age of twenty one could become associate members with the same privileges. While membership to the society was voluntary both members and associate members could donate a small amount whenever they wished. All funds raised were given to the 'Poor Children's Fund' with the aim of 'bringing a little happiness and pleasure and help to those in need.'
Aunt Dorothy encouraged children to from their own subgroups and work independently of the main group. When there were six children who lived in close to each other they could form themselves into a circle. The members could appoint a leader for example, an adult or an associate that could assume some responsibility and elect a secretary to record and report what they did. The members were able to meet when it was convenient to the majority. The first hour was spent on working for the society and the second playing games or doing recreation activities. It was clearly stated that the society was not connected to any religious organisation and was to remain undenominational.
Aunt Dorothy's letters published in The Children's Column 1898 and 1900 reported on a number events organised mostly by her and supported by members and their families such as concerts, picnics, socials and bazaars that raised money for a number of charitable institutions. Aunt Dorothy also reported on her visits to the various charitable organisations she decided to give money too. One of those regularly visited was the Government Industrial School in Subiaco. Aunty Dorothy in her column on 7 July, 1900 wrote about her visit to various charitable organisations for children including the Industrial School in Subiaco....
"...we all proceeded in the tram to the Industrial School, Subiaco where we spent a very enjoyable afternoon. Mrs. Knight kindly showed us all over the building, and, as I have already mentioned, this being my third visit there, everything we saw was so neat and clean, the large dormitory looking so cosy and comfortable, as was also the boys' dormitory. We also inspected the bootmakers' room and the carpenters' shop, and found there many things that interested, also the laundry, which has every convenience, and the kitchen. We then were invited to have afternoon tea, and had the pleasure of eating some scones which were made by a little girl of eight year of age. Before saying good-bye, we went into, the schoolroom, where the children were in their different classes. I then presented Mr. Nelson, the superintendent, witih the £2 10s, and he thanked us in a few nice words, in which he told the children that the donation would buy some books for a small library for them, and then asked them to give three hearty cheers for us. I spoke a few words in which I said that it gave, the members of the Golden Rule Society and myself and friends great pleasure to come and see them that afternoon, and that we hoped they would have as much pleasure in reading the books that the donation would purchase as they have had in the games we gave them. We all returned to Perth in the quarter to 5 o'clock train, well satisfied with, all we had seen..."
The 'Golden Rule Society' was short lived and was soon replaced with Uncle Tom and Aunt Nell and the Sunshine League which focused on raising money for the new Children's Hospital, the Orphans Christmas Cheer Found and some charitable causes. There was a greater emphasis on encouraging children's participation in the paper through doing kind deeds, prizes for writing skills for essays and letters and raising funds through a variety of activities that were inclusive of all children regardless of age without families having to spend money and make a donation. The children's page expanded from a few columns and letters to a full page and their activities raised hundreds of pounds for the new Children's Hospital over several decades and generations of families around Western Australia.
