Children And The War Effort In Western Australia...(1942).
This post continues on from the previous two posts about the contribution of children from the Subiaco State School and the Thomas Street State School on the home front during World War 2.
For example, the children of the Subiaco State School collected much needed resources for recycling like metal tops, rubber and second hand clothing, rugs and blankets for those in need in England. They had sent much needed parcels to England. The children with the assistance of their teachers had learned cooking, first aid and stretcher skills and were able to demonstrate how they were prepared to enter aid raid shelters they had constructed in an emergency and even how to defuse a bomb. The children and their families raised money for organisations providing relief to those affected by the war.
The children of Thomas Street State School activities included collecting and recycling old metal and tin foil, knitting garments and blankets, making sure sewing machines were ready for repairs, making donations, collecting and sorting knitted articles to be sent away and collecting old newspapers.
The following articles are about children from the State of Western Australia and how they were contributing including providing tea and sugar for troops on leave via the 'tea and sugar fund', giving their pocket money and collecting seafood to sell making substantial contributions. They were also being asked to follow directions if there was an air-raid and to look after other children if they needed assistance.
It is generally recognised that children of Western Australia whether in school or home, in the city or country made a significant contribution to the war efforts on the home front.
These articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 14 August 1942.
Children Help Troops
School children in the metropolitan area contribute materially in cash and kind to the war effort. Schools, in two groups, are viewing with each other to provide tea and sugar for troops on leave.
Individual contributions are small, a penny or a teaspoonful or two of tea or sugar, but the aggregate is substantial. Last month's contribution by one section, that extending from South Perth to Carlisle, Inglewood and Bassendean, was £35 in cash, 1081b. of sugar and 71b of tea. This month the other section, comprising Osborne Park, Mt. Hawthorn, Subiaco, Claremont and other adjacent suburbs to Mosman Park, will weigh in with its quota. In June this group made a very useful donation.
'We call it our tea and sugar fund,' said Mrs D. Seeligson, delegate to the Metropolitan Teachers' Patriotic Group, 'and the kiddies are extremely keen. Every day they bring their contribution to school and keenly watch the activity of other children and the other group so as not to be beaten. 'I visit the schools in each group in turn and I am always impressed by the patriotic determination of the kiddies to do all they can to, provide amenities for our fighting forces.'
West Australian, 16 September 1942.
WAR EFFORT. CHILDREN LEND A HAND.
Correspondence Pupils' Work.
Examples of what correspondence pupils are doing to help the State schools' war service effort have been given by Mr C. Eakins, who is in charge of the correspondence classes. It was not unusual, he said, for these pupils to sacrifice their pocket-money and send it to the fund. A little girl opened her money box and sent her entire savings of 4/9. Another girl sent the prize money she won at the local show.
Quite a number of children who earned small weekly sums for doing odd jobs about the farm, such as milking, or collecting eggs, or looking after the farm animals sent in regular contributions. Several children trapped rabbits, and some of the bigger boys shot kangaroos, and sent the money for the skins. Others raised money by growing and selling vegetables. A number of children who kept fowls of their own sent their egg money.
One little girl recently sent 2/6 which she got for the sale of her pet rooster. At shearing time the children often sent bags of wool, either the clip from their own pet lambs, or wool earned by them for helping in the shearing shed. One boy sold his wool for £1/17/ and sent every penny. A very little boy who had no money to send, but who badly wanted to help, decided to sell his pet lamb Snowy. At the next local sale Snowy was duly put up for auction, and realised 15/. The auctioneer, learning of the little boy's sacrifice, donated another 5/, and it was a very proud boy who sent £l to help win the war.
Two girls, who until recently were living at a small coastal town, alone raised more than £60 by collecting oysters and catching fish, and selling them to their friends and to the crews and passengers of passing vessels. Assisted by their teacher, the girls, and many of the boys, too, were engaged in making all kinds of comforts such as socks, scarves, cardigans and handkerchiefs. In 1 month alone, the department had issued more than 500 skeins of wool.
Help had also been given to the Old Metals Branch. The boys had scoured the countryside, driving around in spring carts and trucks, and gathering all the old, unwanted machinery, empty bottles, old motor tyres and other waste material. Up to date they had railed several trucks of material direct to the Old Metals Branch at Perth and had also delivered large quantities to various local depots.
In addition to all this the correspondence pupils were helping by the purchase of war savings certificates, an example being set by their teachers who had established a War Savings Group and who had, within the last 2 years; purchased certificates exceeding £500 in value.
Northern Times, 31 January 1942.
Girl Guides A GREAT WAR EFFORT
Many people have contributed to the war effort, but few locally have done more than Mrs. F. S. Edmeades who, in a quiet way in the last 12 months, has done much with the assistance of the Girl Guides, in the relief of the air raid victims of England, whilst teaching the guides the art of needlework Mrs. Edmeades assisted them in the production of clothing and in less than 12 months over 1,000 articles have been sent to headquarters in Perth. This is indeed. a commendable achievement. However, much of the success of the movement, states Mrs. Edmeades is attributable to the support of the public who provided adequate funds and material to keep the guides employed. In view of this success it is unfortunate that a successor to Mrs. Edmeades cannot be found to carry on this work. The following articles, which have been forwarded to Perth, represents the past two months work:
Seven pairs girl's pajamas. 4 pairs boy's pajamas, 32 pairs bloomers, 2 children's frocks, 10 baby's nightdresses, 10 shelter bonnets, 1 boy's knitted suit, 2 boy's knitted jumpers, 2 boys' trousers, 2 toys knitted sox, 7 baby's bonnets, 3 baby's knitted sets, 1 pair baby's pilchers, 4 baby's singlets, 1 pair baby's rompers, 2 baby's matinee jackets, 1 shawl, 6 pairs bed socks, 20 pairs bioteea, 3 scarves, 2 bodices, 9 squares.
Mrs. Edmeades wishes to thank the ladies who have helped her in this work and hope. They will still support the Girl Guides War Work Party. Finished articles may be sent to Madames Tonkin and Whitworth who have kindly undertaken to forward them to headquarters. It may interest everyone concerned to know that this movement is affiliated with the Red Cross Society and articles are suitable to send overseas are distributed to the various organisations such as the Comforts Fund, Seamans Mission, Lucklow Hospital and any others needing help in that direction.
Pingelly-Brookton Leader, 2 July 1942.
WHAT CHILDREN CAN DO TO ASSIST THE WAR EFFORT.
Some children, wonder what they can do to assist the War Effort; they feel too young to do much. There are, however, many ways in which they are able to render aid to the community. They can join the Boy Scouts, or Girl Guides and study First Aid for cases of emergency. Everybody knows something of the wonderful work being done by the Boy Scouts. They collect scrap iron and old pieces of aluminum ware in barrows and carts. Children can also help by buying one or two War Savings Stamps each, instead of lollies. If every child did this the men who are employed in making sweets could go with the fighting forces.
The best way of obtaining money for this object 4s to work for it and not ask parents or friends. Another way of assisting is to do as you are told in an air-raid. If at school run to the nearest trench. If you see a small child stumble and fall, pick it up and pack it to your own trench. If there are, children in your school who are willing to buy War Savings Stamps, start a War Saving Group. If you cannot organise a Group yourself, ask for the teacher's assistance. "Spend to Defend" is a good slogan. If you are asked what you would like best of all for your birthday, say you would like War Savings Stamps.
