A Subiaco Woman's Charity (1936).
An inspiring story to start the new year with about a Subiaco woman, Mrs R. Burns who gave money to the Subiaco Council to help children in families from 1930. Mrs R. Burns lived at 187 Barker Road, Subiaco.
Over 80 years on the importance of children being properly fed has been recognised as being essential to their learning and good behaviour in the classroom. The history of the Milk Free program in state schools and its impact on children's learning has been written about previously on this blog.
The article is from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 27 January 1936.
SUBIACO WOMAN'S CHARITY IS APPRECIATED
References to the charitable work of a woman resident of Subiaco are contained in a letter forwarded to Subiaco Municipal Council recently by Mr. A. C. Higgs, secretary of the Subiaco Unemployment Relief Committee. The letter tells its own story and reads:-
"As secretary of the Subiaco Unemployment Relief Committee, I desire to bring under the notice of the Mayor and councillors, the excellent service rendered in the municipality by Mrs. R Burns, of 187 Barker-road. From the time the Unemployment Relief Committee came into being in the year 1930, Mrs. Burns has contributed very generously, especially where children would benefit. It would appear that needy children incite her sympathies every winter season. On several occasions she has donated large sums of money to purchase blankets and warm clothes for children. "
"This year (1935) her generosity has been outstanding. Early in the month of June she inquired from me the position of the children of families whose income was meagre. She was anxious that the children would receive the benefits personally and directly. I was able to inform her that there were many children attending school whose parents could not afford to let them get the benefits of the daily bottle of fresh milk during school hours, and after consultation with head teachers at four schools Mrs. Burns instructed me on her behalf to expend £1 per week in providing warm milk and, where necessary, clothes and shoes for children whose parents could not afford it. The scheme was commenced on June 14, and terminated on December 20, a period of 27 weeks, involving an expenditure of £27."
"The results were excellent. Teachers and parents were agreeably surprised at the physical and mental progress made by the children as a result of the daily supply of milk. In fact one head teacher informed me that prior to the distribution, a number of the children showed definite signs of fatigue near the end of the morning or afternoon session, and their studies were hampered as a result, but soon after having the milk a marked difference was noticeable. Her generosity also permitted some children to sit in comfort in school because of having been provided with warm boots and stockings. Many individual cases of development were noted."
