Children's War Effort - Thomas Street State School (1940).
In 1940 Australia was involved in World War 2 and all people including school children were playing their part contributing to the ultimate success.
A lot of the involvement of children and schools on the home front was recorded in articles and photographs in local newspapers like the Daily News, the West Australian, the Sunday Times and Western Mail.
In July 1940 the West Australian newspaper reported on the activities of the children at Thomas Street State School...
"...VARIOUS ACTIVITIES. Having established sufficient credit in the bank with parents' voluntary subscriptions to provide for the upkeep of the grounds, and other school expenses for the coming year, the Thomas-street State school is diverting its usual call on parents to patriotic objectives.
Though patriotic work has been going on for months and parents have been circularised with an appeal to continue their periodical donations which in future will be devoted to providing comforts for the troops, to a fund to provide an ambulance from all the schools in the State and to sending away special parcels for former pupils of the school now with the forces.
Many of the children are being taught to knit, and the quantity of socks. mitten, scarves and pullovers which they can produce will depend on the supply of wool obtained. The woollen goods will go to the three arms of the fighting forces and the 10th Garrison Battalion.
The school is also a clearing house for reading matter for the troops. It is also acting as an agent for collecting scrap metal. newspapers and bottles. Parents have been asked in the circular also to use the school-savings bank to buy war savings certificates..." (West Australian, 4 July 1940).
In an article in the Western Mail in May 1941 the newspaper recorded and shared photographs of what the children of Thomas Street State School were doing for the war effort. These 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.
Western Mail, 22 May 1941.
"...Since the beginning of the war, in all parts of the State people from every walk of life have answered the call to do their utmost to assist the war effort. These pictures of children from the Thomas-street State School are typical of what children in other schools throughout the State are doing to help. Their contributions and services will be of no small importance to our ultimate success..."
The articles and photographs are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
