Children's War Work - Subiaco State School (1942).
In 1942 Australia was at war. Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia contain many stories in newspapers about the contributions and sacrifices made by men and women at the front and home.
But what about children ? Many children had fathers, brothers, grandfathers and other relatives fighting at the front and they wanted to do their bit. Trove contains stories about how children at school around Australia contributed to the cause. The children had joined organisations like the sea scouts, scouts, cubs, brownies, girl guides and ARP Wardens becoming engaged in a number of essential activities due to a labour shortage of men and women engaged in other activities.
In July, 1942 the West Australian provided an article about a visit by the Lieutenant-Governor Sir James Mitchell and Lady Mitchell and other members of the community to see what the children of Subiaco State School were doing for their part. Their visit was recorded in the West Australian.
The children of the Subiaco State School had collected much needed resources for recycling like metal tops, rubber and second hand clothing and 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 diffuse a bomb. The children and their families raised money for organisations providing relief to those affected by the war.
The war changed children's lives forever. Many lost their their fathers, brothers, grandfathers and other family members. Other children were separated from those they loved for a long period of time and their lives were to be changed forever because of what they had experienced. For many children their mother and older siblings had to leave home to work and they spent less time together as a family. There were disruptions and rationing including food and petrol that continued long after war.
The article and photographs are from Trove the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
West Australian, 9 July 1942.
"EXAMPLE TO ALL." CHILDREN'S WAR WORK.
Subiaco Demonstration.
Subiaco State school was a hive of industry yesterday morning when pupils staged a practical demonstration of the wide range of their activities in helping the war effort. The occasion was a visit paid to the school by the Lieutenant-Governor (Sir James Mitchell) and Lady Mitchell, attended by Col C. H. E. Maning, to see what the boys and girls were doing. They were received by the headmaster (Mr A. Morrison) the member for the district (Mrs Cardell-Oliver, MLA), the Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Mr and Mrs W. Richardson), and a guard of honour comprising sea scouts, boy scouts, cubs, brownies, girl guides and ARP wardens. The Chief Inspector of Schools (Mr W. Rockliffe) and Inspector Box, of the Education Department, were also present.
The school's welcome began with the playing of the National and Australian anthems, accompanied by the school "kazoo'' band, in which the instruments used were homemade. Brief speeches were made but chief interest centred on the work being done by the pupils and on an ample spread of "morning tea" cooked, prepared and served by the girls of the domestic science centre. His Excellency expressed his pleasure at seeing the girl's ability to do such an excellent job entirely unaided.
Among other things a collection of about 50,000 metal bottle tops was seen. Another of scrap rubber ranging from heavy motor tyres to babies' dummies was computed to weigh 2 tons. Altogether 22 groups busily carrying on their jobs were visited. Mass production of slippers made from felt hats and numerous articles of clothing for the relief of sufferers from aerial bombing in England was seen in full swing. Mr Morrison said the school had just received word of the safe arrival in England in March of their last consignment consisting of 100 each of rugs and blankets, frocks, trousers, jumpers, skirts, pullovers, vests, petticoats, scarves, bloomers, caps, sets of babies' "woollies" and pairs of sox and slippers. These, he said, had been on view at a London comforts exhibition.
Other activities included the making and roping of camouflage nets and sand mats, ropemaking and splicing rope loops for carrying stretchers, and knitting of every description, including hot water bottle covers. Cards for 100 children to be blood-grouped this week were cut by a guillotine made at the school and names, ages and groups were typed in by the typing section. There were displays of first aid and stretcher drill and putting out an incendiary bomb by a fire squad equipped with a stirrup pump. Proceedings concluded with dispersal to air raid shelter of over 1,000 children in "pixie" capes of double lined hessian.
Sir James Mitchell expressed himself as being highly gratified with all that he had seen. On advising the children to save, he was surprised and pleased, he said, to learn that the school held 864 war savings certificates. Mr Morrison said that during the past month alone the children had bought 1,862 stamps worth £42/7/. In leaving, Sir James said that the pupils' efforts were an example to be emulated by all in the community.
Western Mail, 30 October, 1941.
Children of the Subiaco State School seen with a display of some of their war work. They have already sent many parcels to children of bombed London. 
