'Activities in the Kitchen' And The Women of Subiaco (1935-1936).

 'Activities in the Kitchen' And The Women of Subiaco (1935-1936).

This post is a continuation on the theme of what women (and men) from Subiaco cooked for themselves and their families and the recipes they shared with the local newspapers throughout the early years of the West Australian colony.

In 1935 and 1936, the Sunday Times newspaper ran a column titled 'Activities in the Kitchen' edited by Evette. Readers requested recipes, shared favourite recipes and entered competitions. The winner won a cooking book titled 'Recipes of All Nations' and the consolation winners a tea towel. The readers had their recipes published. The editor also shared recipes, offered suggestions on cooking and handy hints. 

In 1936, Mrs. S. Hodby of 210 Churchill avenue, Subiaco won a first prize of English China 7 piece fruit set for three novel confections. Throughout 1935 and 1936 women from Subiaco shared recipes and won quality tea towels. They also responded to requests for recipes. 

The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.   

Sunday Times, 20 January 1935

Activities in the Kitchen

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE MENU - Edited by Evette

FIRST FRIZE

English China 7 Piece FRUIT SET, a dainty and useful gift, has been awarded to MRS. S. HODBY, 210 Churchill-avenue, Subiaco, for

THREE NOVEL CONFECTIONS

SCOTTISH MONKEYS.

Put through a mincer or chop finely 2oz. each of sultanas, currants, mixed peel, raisins, 1 oz. each of nuts and dates, 2 tablespoons of diced apple, 1 teaspoon of orange juice, a dash of brandy, mix well. Pastry: Take 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup of milk in a saucepan: bring to boil, then add a small teaspoon of carbonate of soda. Stir well and leave till cold. Sift together 1 teaspoon cocoa, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 3 cups flour, rub in 1/2 cup butter. When sugar and milk are quite cold stir in flour, ect, and mix to a stiff paste. If too dry add milk, roll out thinly, line patty pans, put in dessertspoons, of mince, cover with rounds or paste, press well in the edges, prick with a fork and bake in a moderate oven.

PRUNELLA CAKE.

Take 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 eggs, two-thirds cup of sour milk, 1 1/2 cups flour, two thirds cup stewed prunes (stoned and chopped), 1 teaspoon each of soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and baking powder. Cream butter and sugar and add in this order, prunes, milk and dry ingredients sifted together. Pour into 2 greased sandwich trays and bake in moderate oven 25 to 30 minutes. 

CREAMY FILLING AND ICING.

Cream 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 cups of icing sugar, add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 of prune juice. Beat till thick and creamy.

WELSH CREAM TEA CAKES.

Take l lb. flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 lb. currants, 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg, 1/4 lb. butter, 2 heaped tablespoons sugar, cream to mix. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a basin, rub in the butter, add currants, sugar and nutmeg, mix to a medium dough with cream. Roll out on a floured board to 1 in. thickness, cut into circles with a cup, mark into quarters with the back of knife blade, place on a greased tin and bake in a quick oven about 15 minutes.

The Sunday Times, 8 November, 1935

Each of the following has been awarded a good quality TEA TOWEL for their recipes printed.

CHEESE PATTIES

Puff pastry, 2 ounces grated cheese, an egg, l oz. butter, 1/2 gill of white sauce, pepper and salt. Line small patties with puff pastry. Put cheese, butter, yolk of eggs,  sauce and seasoning into a saucepan. Stir till thick, take from fire, and stir in the stiffly beaten whites of the eggs. Pat into patties and bake for 8 minutes. Serve warm.

Mrs. W. MacKenzie, 34 Churchill-avenue, Subiaco.

Sunday Times, 8 December 1935

Each of the following has been awarded a good quality TEA TOWEL for their recipes printed.

CHRISTMAS CAKE.

Take 5 cup flour, 1 cup butter, 1 cup cream, 1 cup treacle, 1 cup moist sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 oz. powdered ginger, 1/2 lb. raisins, 1 teaspoon carbonate soda. (Use teacups for measurement.) Stone the raisins and cut them into small pieces, sift the flour and be sure it is quite dry; warm the butter if necessary, so as to melt it but not into oil; put the flour in a basin, add to it the sugary ginger and raisins; when these are well mixed stir in the butter, cream, treacle and eggs (previously well whisked), and beat the mixture for 10 minutes, carefully break all lumps in soda, and mix thoroughly, with the dough. Well butter a mould or cake tin and pour lb the mixture. Place it at once, in a moderate oven and bake 1 to 2 hours.

Mrs. E. Gow, 82 Onslow-road, Subiaco.

Sunday Times, 5 January 1936

Each of the following wil receive a TEA TOWEL

APPLE AND CELERY STUFFING 

Take 1 tablespoon minced onions, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 breakfast cup minced celery, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1 cup minced apples, salt and pepper. Lightly fry the onion in the butter, then add celery and apple. Cook for five minutes, then add crumbs and seasoning. Fruit Stuffing: Chop 3 or 4 cooking apples into small pieces, add a cup of seeded raisins, which have been soaked for 10 minutes in boiling water. Mix with 2 tablespoon of butter and a cup of breadcrumbs. This stuffing is nice for duck or goose.

Mrs. B. A. Stow, 139 Barker-road, Subiaco.

The Sunday Times, 29 March, 1936

RECIPES FROM OUR READERS

Each of the following entrants has been awarded a good quality TEA TOWEL for the recipes which appear here:

PEAR MARMALADE 

Slice thinly 1 lb. pears with skins and seeds, soak overnight in 4 quarts water, next day add a finely cut-up pineapple. Boil together till soft then add 5 lb. sugar, and when nearly cooked add a little lemon juice. Boil till of a nice consistency and color. 

PEAR MARMALADE (2) 

Cut 4 lb. pears into small pieces (peeled and cored), put in pre-serving pan and grate over them rind of 2 lemons, pour over the strained lemon juice and add 1 pint water. Simmer till pears are soft add 31b. sugar, then 2oz. whole ginger (bruised and tied in muslin) and boll to a thick pulp. Take ginger out and pot the jam. For a change add the pulp of 1 dozen passionfruit 

Mrs. B. A. Stow, 139 Barker-road, Subiaco.

Sunday Times, 26 April 1936

Recipes From Our Readers

Each of the following readers have been awarded a good duality TEA TOWEL for their recipes:

CARAMEL ICING

Take 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon: butter, ! cup cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Boil 4 minutes. then beat well and pour over the cake. This is a very good. Simple recipe. 

To A.M. Subiaco.

Sunday Times, 2 August 1936

LEMON TOFFEE

Take 1/2 lb. sugar, 1 lemon, 1/2. brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, 2oz. butter. Grate lemon rind and set aside. Strain juice of lemon into a saucepan, add water and both sugars and let these melt slowly. Bring to the boil stirring occasionally. Put lid on saucepan and allow to boil for two or three minutes for steam to remove any sugar crusted on sides of pan. Remove lid and boil to a little tested in cold water sets. Draw pan aside and stir in rind and butter. Boil gently for a minute or two and then pour into a greased tin.

Mrs. T. Burt, 16 King's-road, Subiaco. 

Sunday Times, 13 September 1936.

THE WORLD of WOMEN

Edited by Evette

RECIPES FROM OUR READERS

Each of the following entrants has been awarded a good quality TEA TOWEL for the recipes which appear here:

HONEY SPONGE (Pudding or Cake) 

Cream 2 tablespoons of butter with 2 tablespoons of sugar, add 1 beaten egg.  Mix 4 tablespoons of honey and 8 tablespoons of milk, add to mixture. Sift together 2 cups s.r. flour, 1 teaspoon bicarb. soda and a pinch of salt and fold in lightly. Steam 1 1/2 hours and serve with a sweet white sauce. This quantity doubled and baked 1 hour results in a delicious slab cake.

Mrs. T. Burt, 16 King's-road, Subiaco.

The Sunday Times, 8 November, 1936

RECIPES FROM OUR READERS

Each of the following entrants has been awarded a good quality TEA TOWEL for the recipes which appear here:

CROQUETTE OF APPLES.

Pare and slice 8 apples, and put in a stewpan with a glass of sherry, 8oz. of sugar, a tablespoon of lemon juice and a dessertspoon of orange juice. When reduced to a pulp, beat the yolks of 6 eggs wel and stir in leave it on the fire five minutes longer then pour out to cool. When cold and firm roll into balls; dip in white of egg and fine crumbs and sugar, and fry in butter: drain, and serve hot.

Miss H. Gee, 10 Coghlan-road, Subiaco.

The Sunday Times, 19 April, 1936

Requested Recipes

SIMPLE PLUM PUDDING.

You will require 8oz. breadcrumbs,  4oz. flour, salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 lb. shredded suet, 4oz. brown sugar, 4oz. currants, sultanas and seeded raisins, spice, 2 eggs, 1 breakfast cup of milk. Mix all the dry ingredients well together. Beat eggs, add milk, and stir into mixture. Put in well floured cloth, and boil three hours. 

To Netty. Subiaco.

'Activities in the Kitchen' And Mrs B. A. Stow From Subiaco (1936).

'Activities in the Kitchen' And Mrs B. A. Stow From Subiaco (1936).

This post is a continuation on the theme of what women (and men) from Subiaco cooked for themselves and their families and the recipes they shared with the local newspapers throughout the early years of the West Australian colony.

In 1936, the Sunday Times newspaper ran a column titled 'Activities in the Kitchen' edited by Evette. Readers requested recipes, shared favourite recipes and entered competitions. The winner won a cook book titled 'Recipes of All Nations' and the consolation winners a tea towel. The readers had their recipes published. The editor also shared recipes, offered suggestions on cooking and handy hints. There are some wonderful photographs of the type of food being cooked beginning to emerge. In 1936, Mrs. B. A. Stow won a cook book for contribution of Easter recipes. Those recipes are copied below.

This column provides an interesting insight into how the holiday of Easter was celebrated during the 1930's in Western Australia. A number of recipes on Easter food were shared including vegetarian, fish, Easter biscuits, poached eggs and the traditional hot cross bun. 

Of particular interest was the inclusion of some Easter traditions "...A NOVELTY FOR EASTER MORNING. The lighter side of Easter with all the egg-buying and egg-giving excitements is largely an institution for the children. The giving of gifts on Easter morning is an annual custom with many people, and serves to mark this day as one of joy and thanksgiving.

To give extra pleasure to the children this year, why not decorate the breakfast table with little Easter tree? To do this you procure a tiny tree something like a Christmas tree, and make it festive by hanging it with small coloured eggs and with small Chocolate eggs which are gay with pretty tinfoil. Fluffy chicks, ducks and Easter hares all contribute an Easter touch. If the breakfast eggs are to be included in the fancy dress, they may be covered with coloured shiny or silver papers which are so often used as wrappings." (Sunday Times, 5 April, 1936).

The article and photograph are from Trove, the national database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. 

  

Sunday Times, 5 April 1936.

SPECIAL PRIZE

COOKERY BOOK TO SUBIACO READER

This week the cookery book, "Recipes of All Nations," has been awarded to MRS. B. A. STOW, 139 Barker-road, Subiaco, who forwarded a number of EASTER RECIPES.

DELICIOUS HOT CROSS BUNS. - Take 1 1/2 lb. flour. 6oz. currants, I teaspoon spice, 6 oz. butter, 6oz. sugar, pinch of salt, 1 pint milk, 1 oz. compressed yeast. Mix all dry ingredients well, make a hollow in centre and pour in the yeast mixed with lukewarm water. Mix the surrounding flour with the liquid to a thin paste and. sprinkle with flour. Set basin in a warm place for dough to rise. When it has well risen pour in melted butter and enough milk to make a pliable dough. Let this rise for half an hour; then shape into buns; put them on a buttered tin and make a cross on each with the back of a knife. Brush over with a little hot milk with sugar dissolved in'it. Bake in a brisk oven for 15 to 30 minutes.

PASSOVER CAKES. - Sift well 1 lb. and 1 teaspoon salt : slightly warm the flour and mix with cream to a very stiff, scone-like dough. Flour a board just enough to prevent sticking ; roll out thin, stamp out into large circles with a basin and cook on a greased girdle or pan over the fire. When they begin to blister turn the cakes and cook until the other side blisters. The cakes should be thin, crisp and a very pale brown.

EASTER EGGS (Cakes).- Sift 4oz. flour, 4oz. ground rice, 1 teaspoon baking powder and a pinch of salt ; rub in 4oz. butter, add 2oz. sugar, flavor to taste. Beat an egg well, and mix to a stint paste, using a little milk if too dry. Grease a dessertspoon, scoop up some of the mixture and shape with a knife to resemble half an egg. Place on a greased baking dish lined with greased paper and cook in a moderate oven about 20 minutes. Place on a sieve to cool, then join together with a little jam. Whip 1 egg white to a stiff froth, add 1/2 lb. icing sugar, beat until smooth, and dip each egg in. Place on greaseproof paper to dry.

EASTER EGG SWEETS. - Boil quickly 2 cups sugar and 3 cup water for 3 minutes. Soak 1 tablespoon gelatine in 1/2 cup water and add to syrup. Pour into a bowl and whip till slightly cooled; then add stiffly beaten white and flavouring until thick, their pour into egg cups. When set, stick two together and roll in cocoanut. 

The West Australian And Dinner Menu Suggestions...Mrs A. Gould, A Hospital Gift (1928).

The West Australian And Dinner Menu Suggestions...Mrs A. Gould. A Hospital Gift (1928).

This article is a continuation of the blogposts titled the 'Sunday Times Recipe Contest (1900-1910)' posted outlining some of the recipes the women (and men) from Subiaco shared in a competition held by the Sunday Times newspaper in the early years of the colony and 'The West Australian And Dinner Menu Suggestions...(1929)'.

In the late 1920's and early 1930's the West Australian newspaper ran a competition where by people (both men and women) contributed recipes for dinner menu suggestions that won prizes and were published. Women from Subiaco contributed, had their recipes published and won prizes and honourable mentions. 

Mrs A. Gould won an Honourable mention for her contribution Macaroni Cutlets and donated her prize to the Children's Hospital. "...Mrs. A. Gould, of 11 Stanmore-street, Subiaco, winner of the prize awarded last week for the best recipe submitted for daily dinner menus, has asked 'Ixia' to forward the amount won, 10/ to the Children's Hospital, Perth. Mrs. Gould adds that she feels indebted to the hospital for the kindness received there by her little boy. recently an inmate. In compliance with this request, this sum is being handed to the hospital secretary on behalf of Mrs. Gould..." (West Australian, 23 November 1928).

The article also provides some interesting dietary advice. Over 80 years health experts recognised the importance of eating more vegetables and cereals and less meat. "...The main background of the diet should be made up of bland mild flavoured foods, like milk, bread, cereals, and many vegetables. The accent should come by the use of the more highly flavoured foods such as meat, fruit, sugar, condiments and herbs of various kinds." (West Australian, 23 November 1928). 

The article is from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. 

The West Australian, 23 November, 1928

DINNER.

Menu Suggestions.

Although it is desirable in that all food should be well selected, the chief aim in planning the principal meal of the day is nutritive value. The art of combining health giving foods in appetising and satisfying meals is the art of meal planning. Special points to be  observed in menu making are many. Meals should be planned first, meet the needs of the youngest and weakest member, of the family, outside the baby stage. Foods that are good for children are equally good for adults, but dishes which agree with adults may be very bad for children. It is easier to suit a child's dietary to the adult than to suit an, adult dietary  to a child. In order to encourage good digestion and to ensure all round satisfaction to the senses as well as the system, the following points are emphasised by dietary experts: -

The staying quality of the food in the stomach must be considered. For healthy, active adults working out of doors, a great deal of food, that has considerable staying quality may be highly desirable, which for indoor workers and children would be the wrong choice. Fats and rich foods all have staying quality. Cream sauces, homecooked cereals and similar foods are moderate in this respect. Foods containing meat juices or fruit acids encourage quick passage of food along the digestive tract, which is one reason for beginning a meal with meat soup of fruit in some form. Too much sweet food should not be included in the daily dietary. It sets up excessive fermentation. Too much meat and eggs give rise to excessive pure factation in the digestive tract. The most satisfactory condition digestion and elimination are encouraged by use of generous amount of bulky, moist foods, such as fruits, succulent, vegetables, whole cereals and water. 

The texture of food plays an important part in its attractiveness. Crisp foods should be associated with soft ones. Variations in texture, even in a single dish, always appeal for instance oatmeal with cereal and a sprinkle of coarse sugar, rice pudding with raisings, cream with wafers, biscuits with cheese, crisp salad with a soft dressing. The appearance of food is important; pleasing colour and attractive arrangement having much to do with successful meals. The flavour of food is too , often considered on the basis of what tastes good.  The main background of the diet should be made up of bland mild flavoured foods, like milk, bread, cereals, and many vegetables. The accent should come by the use of the more highly flavoured foods such as meat, fruit, sugar, condiments and herbs of various kinds. 

Saturday. 

Mutton broth. 

Macaroni cheese cutlets. 

New potatoes. Swede turnip.

Ginger pudding. 

Macaroni Cheese Cutlets.

Required: Two  pounds macaroni, 1 oz. butter, 2 eggs, 3oz. grated cheese, 1 oz. flour, pepper and salt to taste, a little made mustard and 1 glass of milk. Wash macaroni well in cold water, put into boiling salted water and boil until ; soft, then drain and chop fine. Make a sauce with the flour, butter and milk, stir and let boil until it leaves the side of the pan ; add to it the cheese, chopped macaroni, yolk of eggs, made mustard, pepper and salt. Place over the gas or fire to get hot, spread on to a plate to get cold. When cold form the mixture into cutlet brush over with the white of two eggs. Coat in fine breadcrumbs and fry a golden, brown in hot fat. Garnish with green parsley. Will make from 10 to 12 cutlets sufficient for four to five persons. A nourishing dish when meat is dear and eggs cheap. Potatoes are unnecessary, and any cutlets left over may be eaten cold. 

(Prize winning recipe. Mrs. A. Gould, 11 Stanmore-street, Subiaco)

Sunday. 

Onion soup. 

Loin of lamb and mint sauce. 

New potatoes. Green peas. 

Jelly plum pudding. 

Jelly Plum Pudding. - Required: One packet lemon jelly,  half teacup stewed prunes; half teacup stewd raisins, half teacup browned breadcrumbs, a few blanched almond and a little spice. DissoIve the jelly in one pint of water. Let it cool a little, cut the prunes and add all the ingredients. Pour into a mould and put in a cool place to set. Serve with custard or cream.

(Mrs Smith, Kwolrup, East Katanning). 

Monday. 

Tomato soup. 

Baited stuffed steak. 

Boiled potatoes. Baked pumpkin. 

Golden syrup custard. 

Baked Stuffed Steak.- Required: 2 1b. topside steak cut thick, 2 onions, parsley, sage and thyme, 2 cupfuls breadcrumbs, pepper and salt, and little milk. Cut a pocket in a steak (the butcher will do this rest) mince onions and herbs, add to breadcrumbs, season well and mix with a little milk. Fill pocket in the steak with the mixture and sew up; put in dish with plenty of dripping and bake, basting from time to time. Time to cook, about an hour 

(Mrs.E. Atkins, Thorogood-street, Victoria Park). 

Tuesday.

Brown soup.

Boiled sheep's head and brain sauce.

Mashed potatoes. Boiled onions.

Banana pudding.

Boiled Sheep's Head and Brain Sauce.  

Required: One sheep's head with the tongue and brains in (price 6d.), butter, pepper and salt, parsley and lemon peel. Take out the tongue and brains and soak the head in salted water for one hour, also soak the brains and tongue. Boil the head and tongue for about two hours until tender. Add salt and seasoning and skim carefully. Prepare the brains, boil with seasoning, and add them to four tablespoonsful of melted butter, 1 tablespoonful of chopped parsley and the same of lemon juice. Dish the head and pour the sauce over and serve with mashed potatoes and boiled onions. The tongue should be skinned and served either, with the head or separately. (Note. - The stock from this dish can be used for soup the following day by adding cut up vegetables). 

(Mrs. J. Boogan, 56 McMaster-street, Victoria Park).

The West Australian And Dinner Menu Suggestions...(1929).

The West Australian And Dinner Menu Suggestions... (1929).

This article is a continuation of the blog posts titled the 'Sunday Times Recipe Contest (1900-1910)' posted outlining some of the recipes the women (and men) from Subiaco shared in a competition held by the Sunday Times newspaper in the early years of the colony. 

In the late 1920's and early 1930's the West Australian newspaper ran a competition where by people (both men and women) contributed recipes for dinner menu suggestions that won prizes and were published. Women from Subiaco contributed, had their recipes published and won prizes and received honourable mentions. In 1929 Mrs. M. Dorfsha of 151 Hamersley-road, Subiaco received honourable mentions for contributions to a menu suggestion of a Salmon Loaf and Curried Bananas. 

The first article titled 'The Daily Dinner' published on 1 January, 1929 provides menu suggestions and cooking tips for those preparing meals during the hot Australian summer and a wonderful insight into what family dinners may consist of for example entrée, main meal and dessert and what was being cooked. 

Over 90 years later many of those menu suggestions such as serving cold meat and salad in hot weather and cooking tips remain part of the daily life of the average West Australian. For example, those residents today without air conditioning keep the house cool during the middle of the day by keeping the windows closed and have fly screens on windows where flies are a problem. Fruit although not stewed is regularly eaten for breakfast. 

The second article titled 'The Daily Dinner' published on 29 January, 1929 provides advice to the reader about what is considered healthy eating for children and adults of the time. 

The articles and photographs are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright intended.  

West Australian, 1 January 1929

THE DAILY DINNER.

Menu Suggestions.

The average housewife finds the preparation of meals a trial just now. Extra work in the kitchen necessitated by cooking, rising temperatures, and catering difficulties due to the holidays when so much marketing has had to be done ahead have all tended to fatigue. 

Yet in warm weather family meals must be provided that are appetising. Large quantities of heavy food are not needed, but everything should be served daintily. Effort should be made to keep the dining-room cool. Much can be done by the quick removal of each meal and the immediate airing of the room, which should afterwards be kept dark. 

It may be advisable during the hottest part of the day to keep the windows closed, or open a little only at the top. All dining-room windows (and door if necessary) should be screened with wire gauze. Where flies are specially troublesome ventilators and fireplace openings may have to be covered also. 

Cold meats and salads are advocated by many for hot weather dinners. When convenient they should be provided. But a dinner with hot meat as its main dish is necessary sometimes. Smaller joints than usual, extra vegetables and cold sweets will be appreciated. 

The scarcity and high price of fruit for stewing through the holidays has been deplored by most housekeepers, especially where families are large. Stewed fruit for breakfast, luncheon and dinner is a hot weather dish that is always welcomed by young and old, and one that is easily prepared. It is, extremely beneficial to health. 

Wednesday. 

Rice soup. 

Stewed duck. 

Mashed potatoes. French beans. 

Rhubarb amber. 

Stewed Duck. — Peel and cut up into dice two or three medium sized onions, and fry them in a little butter, or pure beef dripping until nicely browned; then drain well and put them into a stewpan with a carrot cut in Julienne shreds, a bunch of savoury herbs, about a pint of good stock, and the remains of cold ducks, which have been neatly cut up into joints and slices, and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. Cover the stewpan closely, and simmer the contents gently for about half an hour. 

Have ready on a hot dish a firm neat bed of stewed cabbage or smoothly mashed turnips, and upon this arrange the stewed duck. Strain the liquor remaining in the stewpan, slightly thicken it and when quite boiling pour it over the ducks; then garnish around with a few dainty fried crisp potato croquettes and serve. 

Thursday. 

Celery soup. 

Lamb cutlets. 

New potatoes. Green peas. 

Banana snow. 

Banana Snow.  

Required: A packet of gelatine, two cupsful of sugar, three eggs, one pint milk, one teaspoonful cornflour, essence of lemon and bananas. Pour half pint boiling water over gelatine and add the flavouring of sugar. When nearly cold add the whites of eggs, beaten to a froth. Beat the whole together and put into a mould which has been lined with bananas. Let cool and set. Make a boiled custard of milk, yolks of eggs, cornflour, and sweetening of sugar. Serve with the custard. 

Friday. 

Steamed schnapper and parsley sauce. 

Salmon loaf. 

Mashed potatoes. Swede turnips. 

Stewed peaches and custard. 

Salmon Loaf. - Flake into bits with a fork enough salmon to make a pint. Sea son with salt, pepper and a dash of lemon juice. Cook together in a saucepan one tablespoonful butter and one tablespoonful flour, and when blended pour upon them a cup of milk (or cream if possible). Stir to a thick white sauce, then add flaked salmon. When scalding hot remove from fire, put aside till almost cold, then stir in half-cup of bread crumbs and one beaten egg. Steam for one hour. Turn into a mould and put away to cool. Serve, cold, garnished with parsley. 

(Honourable mention. Mrs. M. Dorfsha, 151 Hamersley-road, Subiaco.) 

Readers of 'Woman's Interests' are invited to contribute tried recipes suitable for inclusion in these menus. A prize of 10/ will be awarded each week for the. best recipe submitted. Recipes should be addressed to 'Ixia,' 'The West Australian' Office, Perth, whose decision will be final. Prize-winning recipes will be published on Fridays. The names and addresses of senders of published recipes will be announced.

West Australian, 22 January 1929

THE DAILY DINNER.

Menu Suggestions.

The provision of a really good dinner daily depends not so much on the housekeeping allowance in the average home, but upon its wise apportionment. The following rules apply to the 'average healthy family. They may be modified to meet individual need. 

Milk - Spend as much for milk as is necessary to secure for each child from three-quarter quart to one quart of milk a day, and a pint a day for every one else in the family. Cheese may replace a part of the milk for adults, if preferred. Two ounces of cheese may be substituted for about  one-third of a quart of milk. 

Fruits and vegetables - It is desirable to serve fruit twice a day and fresh fruits in the height of their season. When they are cheapest, store  can, and dry them for winter use. Dried fruits, such as prunes, peaches, apricots and raisins are probably the most in expensive of all fruits. Oranges are a particularly wholesome fruit and should be used as often as possible unless replaced by tomatoes. A child can eat two medium size potatoes in a day, and a quarter of a pound or more of other vegetables. A grown person can eat twice that amount. 

Cereals - Buy cereals in variety. A generous proportion of cereals made from the whole grain, should be kept, in stock. These contain elements of nutrient that are lost when the outer coat is removed, and also, furnish part of the necessary roughage in the diet. Such cereals are specially desirable when it is difficult to use as much vegetables and fruit as these rules call for. 

Fat - For each grown person, every day, provide at least one and a half ounces, of fat (butter or : butter substitute, cream, fat from meat, etc.). For children provide at least one half of that amount, unless the child is getting a quart of whole milk daily, in that case, a large allowance of fat is contained in the milk. 

Wednesday. 

Cream of celery soup. 

Corned-beef. 

Potatoes. Carrots. 

Jellied peaches

Cream of celery soup. 

Take one head of celery, 1 quart of milk, 1 tablespoonful flour, 1 tablespoonful butter, 1 slice onion. Wash and cut celery into one inch lengths. Boil in water to which a teaspoonful of salt has been added, and boil until tender. Next make a smooth paste with flour ,and a little water, add this to the, milk and onion and add pepper to taste ; Boil for 10 minutes ; When the celery is tender, mash it in the water it was boiled in and add to the mixture of milk, etc. Strain and serve hot. 

(Honourable mention Mrs. D. Webb, 45 Malcolm-street, Fremantle) 

Thursday.

Tomato soup. 

Cold corned beef and salad. 

Potatoes. French beans. 

Orange sponge. 

Orange Sponge - Take 2oz. cornflour, 1 1/2 pints milk, 4oz. sugar, juice of 2 oranges and grated rind, 1/2 oz. butter and 2 eggs. Mix the milk gradually with the cornflour, put into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the butter, sugar and the yolks of eggs and boil  for 8 minutes, stirring constantly ; stir in the juice and grated rind of oranges and allow to cool. Beat up the whites of eggs to a stiff froth and stir lightly into the sponge. Bring to the boil again for a moment, set in a mould and turn out when firm. This dish may be made of water instead of milk, and served with a garnish of whipped cream. 

(Honourable mention Miss Holly Loud, Pemberton)  

Friday. 

Pea soup. 

Baked eggs in rice. 

Curried bananas. 

Apple snow. 

Baked eggs in rice.- Take 1 cupful rice, 1 cupful tomato sauce, 4 eggs, 2 teaspoonfuls salt. Wash and boil the rice, dust with one teaspoonful of salt, spread on a hot platter, and with the back of a spoon make four hollows, each to hold one egg. Dust with salt and pepper, place in the oven for five minutes, remove, and cover, with the tomato sauce. 

(Honourable mention Mrs. A. McCallum, Yilgarn-street, Beaconsfield)

Curried bananas.— Required: Six bananas (fairly green), 1 cup desiccated cocoanut, 1 teaspoonful anchovy sauce, 1 pint. milk, 1 teaspoonful Worcestershire sauce, a little cayenne and salt, 2 tablespoonsful curry powder and 1 egg. Put the cocoanut into a basin and pour over it the milk and allow to stand 1 hour ; then put it into a saucepan with the other ingredients. Peel and slice the bananas and add to the curry. Allow it to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Just before serving beat up the egg and stir, it in. Serve with boiled, rice garnished with tomato and beetroot. 

(Honourable mention Mrs. M. Dorfsha, 151 Hamersley-road, Subiaco).

Western Mail, 16 September 1937.

KITCHEN COMPANY

Saturday morning in a suburban home. As usual the son is acting as official taster, while the daughter lends a hand in a more practical way.






Daily News, 26 September 1933

IN A MODERN KITCHEN

The whole of I lie up-to-date kitchen is based on cleanliness and simplicity.

The Australian Child Of The Future...(1951).

The Australian Child Of The Future...(1951).

The State Library of Western Australia's Facebook page published an article on 'How did the experts in 1951 imagine the Australian child of today to be like...'

The article was supported with some wonderful photographs of children from the State Library of Western Australia's photograph collection. 

No copyright infringement intended.  

THE CHILD OF THE FUTURE

How did the experts in 1951, imagine the Australian child of today to be like? 

In an article in the Sun, feature writer Lou d'Alput wrote that the outlook for the child of tomorrow, was a happy one.

The child of the future will enjoy the boundless gifts of advancing technology she wrote. Travelling to the outposts of the world with ease and proofed against disease and discomfort. 

'His' meals (according to scientists) will be prepared electronically. His clothes, warm and lightweight, stamped out by a machine. His society well-ordered without industrial upheaval. Strikes, shortages and despair unheard of.  

Others also had their say.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Officer, F Priest, told the Sun, that there was "no doubt" the child of the future would accept toys driven by atomic energy, with no more wonderment than the child of 1951 accepted a clockwork train.

“Who knows? Children of the future may ride to the moon in rockets, or something like them.” He suggested.

Priest but did stress though the importance of guarding against the "world of machines" becoming a "cold one" - neglectful of the "art of living” – religion, justice and the rights of the individual.

The Director General of Education in 1951, JG McKenzie, was certain that the average child of tomorrow would be vastly more literate than his grandfather, more self-reliant and have a much broader outlook on life. 

This would be due to tremendous ongoing advances in education and teaching standards. Open education, more freedoms, and spontaneity of expression.

NSW University of Technology Director A. Denning told the Sun that he believed that tomorrow’s child would benefit from the atomic age. Which would bring with it a whole host of labor-saving methods, meaning greater leisure time for workers and families.

The Director General of Public Health Dr E.S. Morris said that the life expectation of the future child would be much greater. In 1951 the live expectancy for males was only 66 years and 70.6 years for females.

Modern sanitation, control of epidemics and the general advances in preventative medicine would only improve his health.

He would also be "taller, leaner and longer muscled", according to NSW Physical Education Director, Gordon Young. Because of the accent in physical education on agility rather than just static exercises. 

"Australians of the future will no doubt be superbly – built people, remarkably healthy.” Young said.

Finally, Australian Institute of Industrial Psychology principal, Edith Bothwell told the Sun, she was confident that the child of the future would have a clearer mind. Less sense of frustration and more self-reliance. All thanks to advances in social science, parenting, changing community attitudes towards children and socialization from a young age.  

Gallery - Images of Children at the Perth Royal Show, 1949 - Some things never change!

This week is National Children's Week. The theme for 2021 is based on UNCRC Article 15 - Children have the right to choose their own friends and safely connect with others.

Before COVID-19...Polio Epidemic in Perth 1954 "Worse things happen at sea."

Before COVID-19...Polio Epidemic in Perth 1954 "Worse things happen at sea.

During 1954 there was a polio epidemic in Perth. While it is tragic that any child or young person caught an infectious disease and tragically died during these times, many survived with inspiring stories that were shared through the local newspapers of the day. 

This article is about two young athletes John Turich and Geoff Bell who were photographed at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in West Subiaco, post polio section and shared their story in this article in 1954. I will let the boys speak for themselves.

The article is from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.   

Sunday Times, 23 May 1954

Polio victims both, these well known young athletes, John Turich (still wearing his Aquinas football sweater) and Geoff Bell, formerly of Perth Modern School, were photographed yesterday at the Infectious Diseases Hospital West Subiaco post polio section. 

Their story of the fight back from polio is on this page.

HOW THE PATIENTS SEE LIFE IN LOCAL POST-POLIO WARD

(By JOHN TURICH and GEOFF BELL) 

A lot has been written about different aspects of polio, mostly concentrating on symptoms, safety precautions and the technicalities of treatment. But few people know anything of the patient's attitude.

This story sets out to show that, often the initial gloomy period, even polio con be an accepted philosophically and that the fight back can have its bright and even its funny moments.

Hospitals are generally thought of as rather dull places where people tip-toe around in white uniforms, and patients look pale and uninteresting.

But 24 hours in a post polio ward would quickly dispel any such ideas.

After the first 4 or 5 weeks most patients begin to feel well and as they are confined to bed - usually being permitted to do no more than lie down - they seek an outlet for high spirits and pent up energy.

And the results are sometimes startling.

Occasional periods of depression are suffered by all of us at times, but these only last a day or so, and the general atmosphere is surprisingly cheerful.

THERE are only 6 beds in our ward, and each occupant realises that his bed will be his home for at least 5 or 6 months, and possibly longer. So it would not be surprising if a more pessimistic attitude were adopted.

Ages in the ward vary from 16 to 44 years, and occupations include sawmill and scale mechanic, foremen, students, grease monkey and bus driver, so a fair cross section of polio victims is presented.

We think the atmosphere in our ward would be duplicated in post-polio wards throughout the State.

As we are all affected similarly - partial paralysis of the leg and abdominal muscles - our treatment is practically the same. We are able to compare notes on progress made, and reactions to different exercises.

Foundation of a good recovery lies in exercise, exercise and still more exercise, and to facilitate this work, frightening looking contraptions are erected over our beds.

These consist of a frame from which hang an array of springs, ropes, pulleys and slings, which offered an almost inexhaustible supply of jokes when they first arrived, and quickly earned us the name of "the Circus."

ONE of the most uncomfortable parts of the whole business is the stretching of painfully tight muscles, and sadistic animals, more commonly known as physiotherapists, are employed for this purpose.

Their duties are varied but we have all decided that their highest aim in life is to see patients squirming round a bed to the tune of a creaking muscle and contorted face.

If an unfortunate patient does happen to let a groan escape he is greeted with cries of "Chicken," "Squealer," "Softie," and similar degrading remarks from his comrades.

However, it is only a few weeks before the muscles loosen up and deprive the physios of their pleasure. (Incidentally we're only kidding about the physios. They're really grand people and we don't know what we'd do without them - or they without us).

A heartening aspect of the treatment is that a slow but definite improvement can be noticed from week to week, providing a fair amount of work is done.

This spurs the patient on to even greater efforts, as in most cases the rate of recovery is proportional to the amount of work a weak muscle is given.

Unlike many other diseases, there are no wonder drugs to restore wasted or useless muscles.

It means a long time and much work before successful results are achieved.

HOWEVER, there is a much lighter side to the picture.

Our ward is fortunate in having 2 natural humorists, but the others soon become adept at getting a laugh out of almost any situation, usually at the expense of a patient or a member of the staff.

Even the initial discovery that we had contracted the disease was not without its amusing incidents, and here is one of them.

While being examined at Royal Perth Hospital, one of us was sitting on a bench with a rather small doctor, who held out a delicate, white hand and said, "Squeeze hard."

Taking him at his word, the patient who at this stage was far from weak took a firm grip and squeezed.

To the consternation of both there was a loud crunching of bones, quickly followed by the agonised yell of the unfortunate medico as he shot off the bench and hastily extricated his damaged hand.

The patient certainly didn't have polio in that hand anyway.

For the first few days, new nurses have some doubtful moments, as they are confronted with all sorts of outlandish requests, accompanied by deadly serious faces.

But they soon become wise, and merely return some answering crack.

Almost needless to say, they are quickly given nicknames, sometimes far from flattering, but they take it all in good part.

THE nurses are always busy, and it is often difficult to attract their attention to our room, so we have devised various ruses to bring them. If a mournful wail of "Help nurse, I'm dying," or merely "Help" repeated every 10 seconds fails to rouse anybody, we drop a heavy weight on the floor and yell: "Mr. So-and-So just fell out of bed."

This seldom fails.

On one occasion, however, one of us did fall out of bed, and all of his "loyal" comrades immediately shut up like clams, or drowned out the unfortunate's shouts for a nurse.

Eventually he gave up, dragged a few blankets off his bed and curled up on the floor, where he stayed for half an hour before being found.

In spite of the many jokes enjoyed at the nurses' expense, they have quite a few opportunities to even up the score, the best one being the morning wash.

Temperatures are taken at 5 a.m., so we are usually in a bad mood when bowls of water are put on the lockers at 6 a.m., and not too gentle hands drag the bedclothes off.

This act is, of course, greeted with loud grumbl-ing, sarcastic comments, and not infrequently, mumbled, half-asleep profanity.

But the nurses are hardened veterans and retaliate with a few drops of cold water squeezed slowly over our faces and down our necks.

Breakfast arrives at 8 a.m., and is greeted with vigorous comments on the ancestry of someone in the kitchen and lurid descriptions of all the unpleasant deaths we can imagine.

Meat is always a popular topic for jokes, due no doubt to the fact that the dogs' home is only a stone's throw away.

THERE is a fairly big paddock here with a large round paddy melon

(Continued Page 22.)

FIGHT BACK -FROM POLIO

(Continued from Page 19)

in the centre. It is just outside our windows.

Members of the staff often practise golf there and an audience is always hanging out the windows offering advice.

One doctor was swinging merrily away, oblivious of the spectators who were silently waiting their chance.

It came when he missed the ball and a look of horror transformed his face as a voice from nowhere piped up: "Try the paddy melon, it's more your size."

The physiotherapists also get taken in while they are still green, but practical jokes with them could be rather dangerous, as they could easily obtain their revenge by stretching our muscles, a highly undesirable punishment.

Not that they'd do it of course, but it's something to think about.

A large circular tank holding 3,000 gallons is used for hydrotherapy.

Getting into it is a rather risky business, so a favorite trick is to submerge for a moment.

This makes the unsuspecting physios really worried, and one has even been known to soak herself to the skin in a frantic effort to rescue the 'drown-ing' patient, who has a good laugh at her expense as he rises easily to the surface.

This sort of joke is strictly "not done in the best of circles," but it certainly is amusing to all but the one on the receiving end.

Any new physio may not be familiar with the weaknesses of all the patients and we quickly take advantage of this.

The whole ward confirms that So-and-So has, say a weak arm and the physio blithely spends 10 minutes treating that limb only to find when she has nearly finished that there's nothing wrong with it. That one is guaranteed to make the sparks fly.

Each patient's individual paralysis also comes in for a good deal of clacking, and many amusing comments are passed.

One character, whose leg is almost completely paralysed, recently complained bitterly to a physio because the last joint on his big toe was not working.

He did not seem to be worrying about the rest of the leg, but showed great concern over this trivial detail.

If anyone shows an outstanding improvement he is immediately called a "malingerer" and is declaimed to the physios as having nothing wrong with him.

We do not intend to go into the technical details of the treatment we get here.

This article is not intended for that purpose. But the important fact is we get modern treatment and attention plenty of both and this seems to be producing most encouraging results.

Actually a book could be written about life in our particular ward, but we hope this article has conveyed some of the generally cheerful atmosphere and hopeful outlook adopted by most of the polio patients.

We think at this stage we should warn anyone who is thinking of contracting the disease on the strength of this article to stop thinking, as it is not all beer and skittles.

On the other hand, I can assure anyone who has the misfortune to become a victim that he or she can take heart from one of our favorite sayings, "Worse things happen at sea."

This is guaranteed to pull you through any crisis.

Before COVID-19...The Polio Epidemic Of 1954 In Perth.

Before COVID-19...The Polio Epidemic Of 1954 In Perth.

Polio is trending on social media as World Polio Day is on 24 October so I visited posts I had been researching and writing about the disease in the early years of the colony in Subiaco and Western Australia. 

This post is a continuation of previous posts about infectious diseases before COVID-19 such as smallpox and diphtheria and their spread, the vaccination issues in Perth and Subiaco during the early years of the colony.

At the end of 1953 a polio epidemic begun in Perth. By February 1954, 124 cases were reported. In February 1954, 18 cases were reported the highest recorded for the State. Two cases were reported from Subiaco.

The first article from the West Australian provides details about the number of cases of polio reported. The second article from the West Australian provides further information about the problems with the manufacture of the polio vaccine, access to the vaccine for West Australians and how to stop the spread. The third article from the Kalgoorlie Miner provides information about the type of restrictions put in place during the epidemic and the visit by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh who were vaccinated with gramma-globulin during their time in Canberra. 

The final article is from the Sunday Times in 1948 about a student Valma Davies, age 15 from Subiaco who won the Hamilton History Prize for school students while she had polio. 

The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. 

West Australian, 27 February 1954

W.A. Polio Cases Reach A Record 

There have been 81 cases of poliomyelitis in W.A. this month, 14 cases more than the previous highest incidence on record. These figures were announced by the Commissioner of Public Health (Dr. L. Henzell) late yesterday afternoon.

The previous highest number recorded in this State was 67 cases in July during the 1948 epidemic. Since January 1, this year, the health department has received notification of 96 confirmed cases of polio in the State mostly from the metropolitan area. 

Last Tuesday when the department issued the latest total for the month, 58 cases had been notified. The latest figures released represent an increase of 25 cases in three days. 

124 Reported 

Since the epidemic was first noticed on October 1, 124 cases have been reported to the Health Department. The department was moving yesterday to implement its plans to combat the outbreak by spraying schools and sending out bulletins to local health authorities to check on cases in their districts. 

The incidence of the disease since January 1 in the various localities throughout the State is shown in the table below: 

Armadale...3 Bassendean... 2 Bayswater...2 Belmont...2 Beverley...1 Claremont...2 Capel...1 Darling Range...6. Fremantle...13 E.Fremantle...4 N.Fremantle...1 Fremantle Road Bg...3 Guildford...1 Guildford...1 Harvey...1 Kale...Rd. Bg...1 Manjimup...1 Melville...8 Midland Junction...5 Mundaring...1 Nedlands...2 Northam...1 Perth C.C...12 South Perth...Rd. Bg...2 Subiaco...2 Swan...3 Tammin...2 Upper Chapman...1 Wongan.Ballidu...1 Yirgarn...2 

One suspected case was reported at Geraldton yesterday. 

Bunbury Not Affected 

BUNBURY, Fri. No poliomyelitis has occurred in Bunbury during February but it has just been confirmed that a ten year-old Bunbury boy sent to Perth early in January, was a polio victim. He is now receiving treatment at the polio centre at Subiaco. This has been the only Bunbury case of polio during the present epidemic. 

West Australian, 3 March 1954.

Polio Total Now

Stands At 114 

The Health Department has been notified of 18 more cases of poliomyelitis since last Friday, bringing the total in this State since the beginning of the year to 114 cases. 

These figures were re-leased yesterday by the Commissioner of Health (Dr. L. Henzell). Dr. Henzell said that: it was too early yet to assess the virulence of the polio epidemic, but more paralytic cases than non-paralytic cases had so far been notified. 

Most of the new cases notified yesterday were in the metropolitan area but two were reported from Albany. Cases were reported from Subiaco, South Perth, Fremantle, Bayswater, Victoria Park, Como, Parkerville, Nedlands; West. Perth, Mundaring, Safety Bay, Mt. Hawthorn and Albany. 

Record Month 

Because the 18 cases which have occurred since last Friday were notified to the department yesterday, they are being added to the March total although two days of this period were in February. The total of 18 cases notified in February is the highest recorded in any outbreak in this State. 

The previous highest was 67 in July, 1948, when a severe epidemic was in progress. 

The February figure would have been higher but for the holiday yesterday when the department was not open to receive notifications. 

Referring to the inoculation of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in Canberra last week with gramma-globulin, Dr. Henzell said that it would be impossible to carry out mass inoculations with this serum in W.A. 

The production of gramma-globulin was in its infancy in Australia it was produced on a small scale at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Melbourne. 

No Machinery 

Dr. Henzell said that supplies of the serum available in Australia were quite inadequate to attempt any large-scale inoculations in W.A. Its production required elaborate laboratory equipment and there was no machinery available for it in this State. Tests with gamma-globulin for prevention of polio were now being carried out in the United States he continued.

There appeared to be some confusion in the minds of the public concerning the meaning of the expression "faecal contamination," Dr. Henzell said. 

"Faeces" was the term which was used for excrement, or the motion from the bowels. 

The virus which caused polio was present in the bowel of the person infected. It was estimated that there might be up to 100 people infected for every case showing signs of the disease itself. 

Contamination 

Dr. Henzell said that the contamination of hands and, hence, of food, might not be obvious or visible. 

The hands might be apparently clean after a visit to the toilet and yet still be contaminated. 

Similarly, it had been found that swimming pools were invariably contaminated with faeces by the bathers themselves. 

This was the reason for the warning to the public that they should be scrupulously careful in washing their hands after visiting the toilet, before handling food, and that they avoid bathing in swimming pools and non-tidal waters. 

The Northern Districts Boy Scouts Association has cancelled plans to bring scouts to Perth for the Queen's visit. Plans had been made for scouts from Carnamah, Perenjori, Caron and Morawa to have the hospitality of the No. 1 West Perth troop and to take part in lining the Royal progress in Fraser-avenue.

Kalgoorlie Miner, 27 April 1954

POLIO EPIDEMIC CONSIDERED OVER

All Temporary Restrictions Lifted

Perth, April 26.-

The Minister for Health, Mr. Nulsen, said today that he had been advised by the Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Henzell, that poliomyelitis notifications had now returned to a level which suggested that the epidemic had subsided. 

As a result temporary restrictions caused by the epidemic have been withdrawn. 

Mr. Nulsen said that approval had been given for the resumption of normal practice in immunisations, dental procedures and the removal of tonsils. 

Only one case of polio was reported during the weekend. This was paralytic. 

The Minister added that when the commencement of the epidemic was announced on February 12 there had been 11 cases - including nine paralytic - recorded during the preceding week. 

The weekly rate then rose steeply and reached a beak during the week ended March 19, when 62 cases - 26 paralytic - were notified. A progressive decline followed so that during the week ended April 23 only notifications - four paralytic - were received. 

Precautions Pay Dividends 

Mr. Nulsen said that despite some apprehension that the Royal visit might result in an increase in the number of notifications no such increase had materialised. One could only assume that the precautions advised by the Public Health Department, and adopted, had been largely responsible for this satisfactory state of affairs. 

He considered that this vindicated the policy of the Government for the Royal tour. 

The Minister paid a tribute to Dr. Henzell and the Government Epidemiologist, Dr. D. J. R. Snow, for the work done in bringing the epidemic under control. 

Mr. Nulsen also expressed, on behalf of his colleagues, the officers of the department and himself, appreciation of the valuable service rendered by members of the State poliomyelitis advisory committee, the assistance of the medical profession, the co-operation of the public, the press and the radio, and of the education authorities and the State officials of the Royal tour. 

Although some criticism had been levelled at the newspapers and the department, because of the publicity given, he felt sure that the wide publication of precautionary advice had contributed substantially to the curtailment of the epidemic and a reduction in the occurrence severity of paralysis.

Sunday Times, 12 December 1948

WON PRIZE DESPITE POLIO

Although a polio victim for 6 months, Valma Davies, 15, of Rokeby-rd., Subiaco, had such a substantial points lead that she was awarded the Hamilton History Prize for 1948 at St. Mary's C. of E. School, West Perth. She also gained Form 5A prize for her example of courage and cheerfulness. On Friday she was motored to the school from Infectious Diseases' convalescent section to receive her awards, and yesterday, just after the photo was taken, she returned to IDB.

The Sunday Times Recipe Contest Other Prizes...Baking (1900 - 1909).

The Sunday Times Recipe Contest Other Prizes...Baking (1900 - 1909).

This post is a continuation of the previous posts on "The Sunday Times Recipe Contest (1900 - 1909)." Many women from Subiaco entered and not only won first prize but also other prizes and received honourable mentions and had their recipes published. 

The recipes copied below are about what the women of Subiaco made including a passionfruit cake, puff pastry, sweet biscuits like shortbread, tartlets and desserts such as an apricot trifle.  

From the previous post... "During the early years of the colony The Sunday Times newspaper ran a recipe contest. The letters competed for prizes and the winning entries and honourable mentions were published in the newspaper. 

The rules of the contest state the recipe could be taken from any cookery book or newspaper or better still be the invention of the sender. Any woman could enter as many recipes as they please. The prizes women competed for varied over the years. 

Like many women from around the State the women of Subiaco shared their favourite recipes. These recipes provide a wonderful insight into the variety of food available and consumed by individuals and families from a variety of sources, their resourcefulness when food like meat was not at its best, some advice on how to provide nourishment to an invalid and make a good old fashion English Christmas pudding that could last over a year.

The recipes provide an interesting insight into cooking, the methods used and some of the equipment available for example like stewing-jars and sausage mincers. Some homes had a wood fire and others were equipped with an oven. Measurements were not exact and women were required to make judgements based on their previous cooking experience. 

Both married and single women entered recipes into the Sunday Times competitions over many years and many won several prizes."

The recipes below are some of the prize winners from the women of Subiaco.  The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright intended. 

1905

Sunday Times, 9 April 1905

Many more have been received and the following are considered worthy of publication. Another selection will appear next week...

HONOURABLE MENTION

FRENCH HONEY.

Take the yokes of 6 eggs and the whites of 4, then the juice of four lemons, then grated rind of two lemons and 3 oz butter. Stir this mixture over a, slow-fire until it becomes thick like honey. It will keep good a year in a cool place and is very nice for tarts. Take half an hour to cook. 

Sunday Times, 4 October 1906

HONOURABLE MENTION

YANKEE DUFF (Original)

Two cups of flour, one cup of sugar, half a pound of currents, half a pound of sultanas, quarter of a pound of lemon peel, one heaped tablespoonful of butter, one teaspoonful of carbonate of soda. Mix flour, sugar, currants, sultanas, and lemon peel together: melt the butter in half a cupful of boiling water, also the carbonate of soda in ditto, then pour both into dry ingredients. Stix well and boil in floured cloth for four hours. Serve with sweet sauce. 

Mrs. G, E. Beamish, 41, York-street, Subiaco.

Sunday Times, 28 October 1906.

THIRD.

The third prize goes to Mrs. E. S Chandler, "Marleigh," Olive-street, Subiaco, for recipe for

PUFF PASTE

Equal quantities of butter and flour, the yolk of one egg and a pinch of salt to every pound of flour; a little water: place the butter in a cloth, and squeeze all the moisture from it. A marble slab should be used, as it is absolutely essential to success ia puff paste that it should be kept very cold. Put the flour on the slab, and make a hole in the centre, into which you pat about two ounces of butter, the yolk of an egg a pinch of salt and a little water; stir these gradually and thoroughly with the flour, adding water as necessary until the paste is soft and elastic; roll this out and press the balance of your butter flat on the top; turn the edges of the past over to completely hide the butter; flour the pasteboard and roll the paste square. Next fold it into three, turb it half round and fold it round, being careful to keep the corners still square. Repeat this three times, and always roll away from you-never towards you. It should now be about a quarter of an inch thick and will, if properly made, rise to neatly three inches.

Sunday Times, 25 November 1906.

HONOURABLE MENTION

GENOA CAKE

Half a pound of butter, half a pound of powdered white sugar, six eggs, one pound of flour, one pound of sultanas, one pound of currants, six ounces of chopped candied lemon peel, a few drops essence of lemon, a little grated nutmeg, and six ounces of blanched almonds. 

Mode: Slightly warm the butter in a basin, then add to the sugar, and with a wooden spoon beat them to a cream; add the eggs one at a time, then the essence of lemon and grated nutmeg, gently stir in the flour; when quite smooth add the currants and peel chopped fine; stir all gently together, then turn the mixture in a buttered baking tin about an inch and a half thick; smooth the top over with a knife dipped in milk, then roughly strew the chopped almonds on the top. Bake two hours in a moderate oven. 

Mrs. E. A. Chandler, "Marleigh," Olive-street, Subiaco.

1907

Sunday Times, 11 August 1907

SECOND

Second prize goes to Miss Morrison, 94 Subiaco Road. Subiaco, for recipe for 

SOFT POUND CAKE

Take 1 1/4 lbs. four, 1 lb. sugar, 1/2 lb. butter, 1 cup milk. 2 teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar and 1 teaspoonful carbonate of soda, a little more than 1 cup of currants, 4 eggs, a little candied peel and flavouring.  Beat : butter and sugar to a cream, add the eggs, beating all the time ; then the milk, currants, and flavoring ; lastly add the flour, soda and cream of tartar, which should be well blended. Bake in a meat baking dish for one hour.

Sunday Times, 27 January 1907

THIRD

Third prize goes to Miss. E. M. O'Mahoney, 109 Meuer-road, Subiaco, for recipe for

SHORT BREAD.

Mix 2 lb of flour with 4 oz of moist sugar, 2 oz candied citron chopped 1 small and  2 oz of sweet, almonds (blanched and sliced), rub 1 lb of butter into the flour, melt another 1 lb of butter, and with this work up the flour to a smooth, paste. If a plainer cake is wanted less butter may be used. Roll out the pastry to the thickness of an inch, and in a large oval shape, pinch the edged evenly, prick the surface with a fork or skewer and sprinkle large comfits the top; cut the oval across, thus making two cakes, and place upon floured paper, and then on the tin. Bake in a moderate oven. When bread is lightly browned it is done enough.

1908

Sunday Times, 19 July 1908

SECOND

Second prize goes to Miss G. Mooney, '"Waikato," 178 Park-street Subiaco, for recipe for

DELICIOUS APPLE AND CREAM PUFFS

Take seven ozs good flour, sieve it; put half pint of water on the fire ; add two ozs of butter. When it boils, stir in the flour and cook ten minutes ; turn into a basin to cook then beat in three eggs, one at a time, and mix into a smooth paste. Mix in the baking powder, and drop the mixture in pear-shaped lumps on to a greased baking pan, and bake in a moderate oven for thirty minutes ; do not open the oven door while the puffs are cooking. When cooked they should be a bright golden brown, and should be hollow in the centre. When the puffs are quite cold, open them at the top and fill in with the following mixture : Bake three large cooking apples, rub them through a sieve (after removing the skins), beat the whites of two eggs to a froth, add three ozs of sugar, then add the apple pulp and beat till it is light and soft like snow ; fill the puffs nearly full of the apple, then fill to the top with rich firm cream ; brush the puffs with white of egg and dust them in powdered sugar.

Sunday Times, 18 October 1908

THIRD.

Third prize goes to Miss Cook, 285 Hay-street, Subiaco, for recipe for 

PASSION FRUIT CAKE

One dozen passionfruit, quarter lb. butter, half lb. flour, quarter lb. sugar two eggs, one teaspoonful baking powder. 

Mode : Open the fruit, put the pulp on a hair sieve with a little sugar, and rub it through. Beat the butter and sugar to a cream, drop in the eggs, and when well mixed pour in the juice of the fruit ; beat the flour and baking powder with a spoon. Line two Victoria sandwich tins with buttered paper ; divide mixture and pour it in. Bake in a moderate oven for half an hour ; when cold spread the following mixture in between the layers :- Make a jelly by beating the white of one egg to a froth, adding three quarters lb. of powdered sugar, and the pulp of the fruit. Spread the jelly on the cakes, lay on above the other, spread the top with either, whipped cream or white icing.

Sunday Times, 22 November 1908

HONOURABLE MENTION

CHRISTMAS TARTLETS

One pound of currants, wash and pick free from stones and stalks; put them on the boiling a clean enamelled, saucepan with a very little water; boil gently at side of fire for three hours. Then lift and strain if there is any water. Lay out on a sheet to cool before putting in tarts. Then have six nice apples peeled, cored, and chopped very fine, half a pound of sugar, a little grated nutmeg, and a little ground cinnamon;  Mix all with currants, give a slight dust of flour to take up any liquid, use no batter. Then prepare a nice short crust, roll out moderately thin, cut round with a cutter or tea plate. Put a tablespoonful of the mixture in the centre of this, wet edges; and catch up four corners towards centre. Bake in moderate. oven 40 minutes. They may be baked in patty tins, which keep them better in shape. Previously dust the tins with flour. 

Ruby Skinner, 172 Subiaco Road, Subiaco.

Sunday Times, 22 November 1908

SECOND

Second prize is awarded to Miss Edith M. Cooke, 318 Perth-street, Subiaco, for recipe for

COTTAGE TEA LOAVES

Ingredients : Half a pound of flour, two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one egg, two teaspoonful of sugar, quarter of a cup of milk, a little salt. 

Mode : Sift flour, salt, and baking powder, rub butter in flour, then add sugar, pour in egg and milk. Mix into a nice dough; turn on to a floured board, knead lightly, divide into six pieces anti cut a third off each: sprinkle flour on a clean oven sheet, and put large pieces on; brush over with egg, then add the smaller pieces to the large ones; put finger through so as to form loaves. Bake in hot oven from eight to ten minutes.

Thomas Street State School Soup Centre...A Story In Photographs (1941).

Thomas Street State School Soup Centre...A Story In Photographs (1941). 

This post is a continuation of the post 'Agnes Robertson And The Free Milk Council (Part 2).' published 9 October 2020 about the work of Agnes Roberston, a teacher at the Thomas Street State School in Subiaco and the soup centre the school established to feed children during the 1930's and 1940's. The post is copied below. 

Recently while researching photographs for a story I found a wonderful collection of 20 photographs of the Thomas Street State School soup centre taken 1941. The photographs are from the West Australian.  

The photographs are from the State Library of Western Australia. No copyright infringement intended. 

Agnes Robertson And The Free Milk Council (Part 2). October 9, 2020.

This post is a continuation of the previous post ‘Agnes Robertson A School Teacher, Community Worker And Politician (Part 1)’ and the story of her involvement in the Free Milk Council getting free milk for children whose parents earned less than the basic wage at Thomas Street State School where she worked but also for all children throughout the state.

As child growing up and going to school in Perth in the late sixties and early seventies I remember getting free milk at school for morning tea that was available to all school children regardless of how much their parent’s earned. Reading the story of the soup kitchen at Thomas Street State School in the Daily News newspaper in 1941 broke my heart but full of admiration for the children spending their lunch time helping. Today the relationship between children not being hungry and successful learning are well documented.

While Agnes Robertson was a teacher at the Thomas Street School she started a Free Milk Campaign to give children free milk at the school. By 1941 the children were also receiving soup for lunch.

In 1938 the head teacher Mr. A.R. Morrison at Subiaco State School said that the physical benefits of milk to education were well known. He conducted an experiment on the benefit of the mental development of giving children free milk at morning tea. From the West Australian in July, 1938 “...Mr. A. R. Morrison, head teacher of the Subiaco State school, said that for 10 years the physical value of milk to education had been known, but last year he had carried out a test for the year at his school with two groups of children chosen for exact similarity in age, size and measurement, to observe the physical benefits, if any, and also to try to estimate any gain in mental development. Although it was difficult to measure the psychological results, the attitude of the child towards his work was so marked that a material benefit was indicated in his standard of attainment, particularly in cold weather. In every case it was found that the child whose diet was supplemented with milk gained more throughout the year than the child who was not getting milk. In winter the benefit of the milk was most marked on the children's attitude and mental brightness for even poorly clad children, after absorbing the warmth which the morning bottle of milk supplied, improved in their application to work, and their progress was outstanding...”

Trove the database for the National Library of Australia contains many articles on the campaign and letters by Agnes Robertson in Western Australian newspapers.

West Australian, 15 July 1938.

FREE MILK. Plea for under-nourished children.

The Claremont Municipal Council will consider in the next few days assisting the Free Milk Council in providing milk for indigent children in the municipality, in accordance with a request made on Monday night by a deputation from the latter body.

Introducing the deputation, Mrs. Cardell Oliver, M.L.A., said that a number of children in the district were undernourished because their parents could not afford to get milk for them and 45 were being supplied by the Free Milk Council, which paid £1 a year to dairymen for each child supplied. On learning that 58 children at South Perth had to be supplied by the milk council, the local road board had taken over the responsibility. Apart from those activities with which the milk council was affiliated, it gave milk to indigent children in 27 schools and throughout the State 1,200 people were being helped. If the council could help her organisation, the contribution would not result in any interruption of the present benefactions, but would enable it to help children not now receiving milk. The milk council investigated each case, and when it found that the domestic conditions justified it, free milk was supplied as far as funds permitted. Mr. A. R. Morrison, head teacher of the Subiaco State school, said that for 10 years the physical value of milk to education had been known, but last year he had carried out a test for the year at his school with two groups of children chosen for exact similarity in age, size and measurement, to observe the physical benefits, if any, and also to try to estimate any gain in mental development. Although it was difficult to measure the psychological results, the attitude of the child towards his work was so marked that a material benefit was indicated in his standard of attainment, particularly in cold weather. In every case it was found that the child whose diet was supplemented with milk gained more throughout the year than the child who was not getting milk. In winter the benefit of the milk was most marked on the children's attitude and mental brightness for even poorly clad children, after absorbing the warmth which the morning bottle of milk supplied, improved in their application to work, and their progress was outstanding. Throughout the State, 28 per cent of the children seen by the Health Department's medical officer were under-nourished. The expenses of the milk council were nil. This was a national problem, but until the Government took it in hand it was necessary to appeal to local authorities and private citizens to find the money.

Mrs. Robertson, of the staff of the Thomas-street State school, said that under-nourishment was found after, rather than during a depression. Children were now revealing that they lacked stamina. As a result of the lead of the Auckland Municipal Council supplying milk to under-nourished children, now all children in every school at Auckland received milk, supplied by the Government. This was to help not only the child, but also the dairy farmer.

Answering questions by the Mayor and councillors, members of the deputation said that the Free Milk Council obtained the milk at a concession price. For these special cases, the normal charge of 6d. a week for an Soz. bottle on school days was reduced to 5d. No opportunity was missed to impress on the Government its responsibilities in the matter. About 5,000 children in the metropolitan area should be receiving the free milk because of under-nourishment. It had been found that families on sustenance had no milk in the home. This was considered shocking in a country where, milk was plentifuL It was the hungry child who gave trouble leading to'the Children's Court. Cr. A .W. Crooks: There is any amount of milk available.

Daily News, 30 May 1941.

CHILDREN HAVE A SOUP KITCHEN

(By Gadabout Girl)

The midday bell rang at the Thomas-street State School just as I arrived there. Immediately a stream of children, clutching mugs, poured from the rooms out into the school ground. The only child left was one small girl, worriedly searching through her desk ‘Whats the matter Judith? asked teacher Mrs. A. R. Robertson . “Please, I've lost my penny for my soup.' Teacher supplied a penny on loan; and Judith grabbed her mug and set off hot-foot after her. class-mates.

I followed more leisurely, and was greeted by a glad cry from a group of small girls: “It’s got chicken in it today!”

320 Cups A Day

It's just over a week since the Free Milk Council, of which Mrs. Robertson is the secretary, started a soup kitchen in a pavilion in the grounds of the Thomas-street school. Already they serve about 320 cups of soup a day, and the number increases daily. It's good soup. I had a bowl while waiting for the busy organiser, Mrs. E. F. Martin, to get over the first rush.

“We serve different soup every day of the week,” Mrs. Martin said, unwrapping a pile of ham bones for today's pea-soup. “Five Perth butchers give us enough bones, the shops give us hambones, we get vegetables from, the markets. Perth trades-people are wonderful.” There's no crowding ground, the windows of the soup-kitchen. The children line up. Any who stray are pushed back by prefects who take duties seriously.

One helper takes the money - a penny for a big bowl of soup, and a substantial slice of wholemeal bread.

“Don’t give me five pennies change please,.” Said one youngster, proffering sixpence. Another hands out the bread. Two pour out the soup. Two give it out. Two wash up the returned bowls, which the children rinse first under the tap before handing back.

Necessitous cases, get free soup. They hand in a little wooden slip instead of a penny.

Mrs. Martin is assisted by Mrs. W. Ferstat and Mrs. W. J. McGuire, of the Free Milk Council, and parents of the children. But more helpers among the parents are needed, because it's a big job.

Mrs. Martin comes down on the 8 o'clock train from Darlington each day, catches the 5.30 p.m. train home.

After the soup has been dished out at lunchtime, the stock for the next day's soup is put on to boil. In the morning the stock is made up into the soup for that day.

The kitchen urgently needs two more coppers. If these could be provided, the organisers could make enough soup to deliver to five other schools in the district. Could any kind persons supply the coppers?

Dawn, 18 June 1941.

“...FOR CHILDREN

The W.A. Free Milk Council has extended its activities by the organisation of a soup kitchen at the Thomas-street State School. Voluntary helpers with the assistance of parents, pupils and teachers, are cooperating to serve hot, nourishing soup daily, at Id. per cup with slice of bread, to about 300 children. Some £692 was spent last year by the council on milk for undernourished children in the metropolitan area. When child endowment comes into operation the council will adjust its lists in accordance with its principle that only those children whose parents receive less than the basic wage, inclusive of child endowment will receive free milk, but whereas in the past finances would permit provision for those in infant classes only, it is now hoped to extend the scheme to all school children...”