Subiaco Home Of Peace For The Dying And Incurable...Young Men And Women (1937).
In November 1898 Lady Madeleine Onslow and Dr Athelstan Saw held a meeting at the Perth Town to address issues of care services in the community. After the community raised considerable funds, the Subiaco Home of Peace for the Dying and Incurable was opened on the corner of Townshend and Hamersley roads and Thomas Street in Subiaco in 1902.
An article from the Sunday Times newspaper in 1937 challenged perceptions that the Subiaco Home of Peace for the Dying and Incurable was full of elderly people and also included young men and women. The article encourages members of the community to donate goods and time during Christmas time.
The article is from Trove, the database from the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Sunday Times, 19 December 1937.
THEY'RE NOT ALL OLD FOLK !
In Subiaco's Home of Peace Young Men and Girls in Their Teens Some Christmas Thoughts and Kindly Ideas
"IT'S a blanky blank having to work Christmas Day," snorted a young fellow disgustedly to a fellow railway passenger in the opposite corner of the compartment.
The older man to whom the remark was addressed puffed at his pipe with deliberation for a couple of draws. Then slowly, very slowly, he replied, "Young fellow, right now I know dozens of people who would bless the privilege of working this coming Christmas and every other Christmas from now on until they die."
"Oh, yeah!" came youth's incredulous answer. "And where might they be?"
Again, very slowly, the elderly one answered, "In the Subiaco Home of Peace."
That steadied the young man's flow of comment-momentarily. Then he came back with a counter-shot, "But they're all past the age of work there; they're all old folles."
"No," was the answer. There are bright young girls in their teens there, and a number of young men, too."
Then be proceeded to enlighten his impetuous fellow-traveller, and this is the gist of the story he had to tell.
While thousands of care-free, happy Western Australians, full of the zest of active, healthy life, are spending an animated Christmas, there will be one of the young inmates of the Home of Peace photographed enjoying an ice cream on the occasion of the recent fete lying in the Home of Peace other less lucky folk.
What sort of a Yuletide will they spend? As happy a one as human hands and kindly hearts can give them.
Many of the inmates have friends and relatives who will be visiting them some will have comparatively few to see them and thus would enjoy a chat with a cheery caller.
It must not be thought that they are all elderly people at the Home of Peace. There are a number of
YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG MEN
and then interests cover a wide range of subjects. It might surprise some to find a vivacious mannered, bright girl chatting fluently on films, football and the like, or a young man cheerily talking
ON THE LATEST FORM
of the gee-gees, cricketers and tennis players.
There are, too, of course, many of both sexes well advanced in years some blessed with more strength and better health than others.
Christmas will be the happier for a number of the patients at the Home of Peace if some books, periodicals, newspapers or other little gifts are forthcoming from generous members of the public.
From time to time during the year there are held entertainments which help to brighten life In the Home, and, as some of the patients are able to proceed in wheeled chairs to picture shows, football matches (when football ls In season) and the like, they contrive to get
A MEASURE OF FUN
out of life.
Nevertheless, reading matter, to supplement that already at the Home, is always welcome. There are one or two inmates who would enjoy the company of a friend on short walks. Other spheres there are, too, in which a kindly-natured caller can be of welcome assistance-particularly at Christmas time.
Sixty-four patients are eared for with studious attention by a matron and nursing staff of 12. They are doing a great job, but their efforts can be supplemented by others who wish to bring an additional share of the spirit of Christmas into the lives of some less fortunate than themselves, visiting hours are from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m each day. And those who make a call there will feel more than repaid for their kindness by the gratitude of those they meet.
An hour! So Ettie to give and yet what pleasure it can bring to others!
