Harriet Whichell...Speaking Up About The Treatment Of Children At The Subiaco Industrial Institution (1905) Part Two.
In 1905 a child Alfy Pinn was placed in the Subiaco Industrial Institution because his family could no longer care for him. The child tragically died and was buried at Rottnest. This story is told in the previous blog post "The Story Of Alfy Pinn...The Subiaco Industrial Institution (1905) Part One."
Harriet Whichell was an assistant at the Subiaco Industrial Institution who bravely spoke up and supported Mrs and Miss Pinn in their evidence of the treatment of their child and other children. She was one of several assistants trying to get an inquiry into the conditions for staff who worked there. Harriet's evidence was supported by others.
The letters were sent to the Sunday Times who published them.
The photographs of the the Subiaco Industrial School are from the Find and Connect webpage. No copyright infringement intended.
The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Sunday Times, 14 May, 1905.
HOW THE LITTLE ONES ARE TREATED
AT SUBIACO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
OFFICIAL CORROBORATION OF OUR STATEMENTS
By Harriet Whichell, State Assistant at the Subiaco Industrial Institution
Miss Whichell writes from Boulder City under date May 11 "After reading the state of Mrs. Pinn in the "Sunday Times" of May 7, I would like to add my evidence. I say that those children were neglected by the the matron of the Industrial School. The child who died at Rottnest was ill months before, and it was really one person's work to look after him : that is, to give him the proper care and attention that his state of health required, but the children's attendant who had 29 other little ones to see to, never got any extra help allowed her, not did the matron ever come and care for him herself, as she said was going to take her proper position as matron, and do nothing, as it was the assistants' place to do the work.
"Very often you would not see the matron out of her own quarters for days together, the work of the building being left entirely to the assistants, who have very long hours of duty. I would like to add there is great cause for enquiry to be held into many other things as well as the care of the little ones."
"One of the girls walks on crutches, and she told me herself that the cause of it was from the way matron made her scrub while she had a sore knee."
"The assistants of the Institution asked for an enquiry to be held five months ago, but they have not had one yet."
"I trust the the conduct of the institution will be very full enquired into, and that this matter will be thoroughly investigated."
Sunday Times, 21 May 1905.
THE SUBIACO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
ANOTHER CORROBORATION
Of Mrs. Pinn's Story - A Girl Says the Statements of Miss Whichell Are True
AND SHE IS PREPARED TO GIVE EVIDENCE
Some Facts for the Colonial Secretary.
Inmate writes :- When reading the paper last Sunday I read the letter by the late assistant and wish to say that her statements as regards Rossi Pinn are quite true, as I have seen with my own eyes the matron go across to the children's play bed and hold towels tightly around Rossi and Alfie's mouth to stop their crying, and other times she would send one of the girls to do it.
I have also heard the matron say she was not going to do any work, but would take her proper position as matron, and when we were working in the laundry we would not see her for days together. The girl who walks on crutches told me that she used to scrub when she first entered the building, and that was what made her knee bad.
We use to work in the laundry from 7 a.m. till 6 o'clock in the evening, only going down for our meals, for which we were allowed half an hour, and very often we would be back, in the laundry of an evening, and one night were there till 9 o'clock ironing Mrs. Shipton' and her children's clothes, and often used to be kept home from our walk of a Saturday afternoon for the same work.
We had to call the matron's children Miss and Master, though their ages were only 18, 15, 12, and 10, and we had to do exactly what they told us and wait on them hand and foot under threat of punishment from their mother. We have even had to stay up at nighttime to wash and rub dry the Shipton's hair.
Every second evening, when the children's attendant was on duty, Miss Judith Shipton, age 14 years, nearly always came out and gave us drill. She would march us around the kitchen, and we had to do just as she told us till after 9 o'clock, and sometimes till 10, or else she would report us to the matron and we would get punished.
We often saw the superintendent come home so tired that he couldn't walk up the front steps without staggering from side to side. Next morning he would spend in bed, and Mrs. Shipton would tell us he was bad with rheumatism.
Al the cream is taken off the milk which has been set since the previous morning, and it is made into butter for the matron's table, while the children get the skim milk for breakfast.
In writing this, I hope that it will make things better for the school in future.
(Is it necessary to publish anything more on the very sad condition of the poor little waifs and strays who are sent to this State charity to be given at least ordinarily humane treatment. Has Mr Taylor not heard enough to warrant the ordering of an enquiry by say Mr. Roe, P.M., with the. object of bringing the conduct of the place into line with the methods of any up-to-date, reformatory).
Subiaco Industrial Institution 1900
