Help For Mothers... A Subiaco Scheme (1943).
Throughout the early years of Subiaco the community identified there was need to provide short and long term support to mothers going into hospital who were sick to help take care of their existing children that would be left venerable without adequate support and for those women having children who needed support in caring for new infants.
In 1897, Lady Hackett, supported by a number of women's organisations wrote to local municipalities to establish a school for mothers. "They appealed for help from the Government and Municipalities for the work of teaching mothers and others how to rear healthy children. The scheme had for its aims and objects the promotion of education and welfare of any mother willing to accept advice, assistance and instruction in all matters concerning the physical, mental and moral development of herself and children, and the improvement of infant life and the reduction of infant morality by instructing mothers on the right rearing of infants...They asked of each municipality a small subsidy and the use of a hall for a few hours each week, so that a nurse could attend in each centre to instruct mothers, weigh the babies ect..." (West Australian, 25 May, 1917).
By 1929 the Infant Health Centre was established by members of the local community and supported by the Subiaco Municipality Council for new mothers "with the very important business of establishing a healthy constitution for our infant population is accepted and appreciated by those most interested - the parents." During the year another centre was established and assisted by the Council in West Subiaco' (West Australian, 17 July, 1929).
In 1939, the Matron at King Edward Memorial hospital wanted to obtain transport for patients leaving the hospital for home and that travelling in trains and trams was not in their best interests. The Subiaco branch of the League of Women Helpers were interested in promoting a scheme whereby people with cars would be willing one day a month to help transport patients who are discharged in the morning. They were to send their name to a Miss L. Scott, 77 Redfern Street, Subiaco (Mirror, 14 January, 1939).
By 1943 when Australia was at the Second World war and women with families were left to care for their children alone while their husbands were overseas, the support to help mothers who went into hospital to have babies or were sick was increased. There was a need for a professionally run system for the care for children and providing domestic help to families during these times.
A number of suggestions were put forward by the local elected member of parliament Mrs Cardell-Oliver and various women's groups. Mrs Cardell-Oliver made suggestions for a scheme in Subiaco where by women could volunteer to help look after children while their mother was in hospital. She requested funding from the Subiaco council to help families supporting the child or children.
In 1943 Mrs Cardell-Oliver also requested help for mothers with prams and children travelling on trams to medical appointments in Subiaco. The photograph is of a tram in Perth in 1950 in Perth...with the pram hanging off the pram hooks on the front. The mother then had to carry her children on and off the tram and unload the pram.
The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 26 February 1943.
DEMAND HELP
Women asked as a right for domestic help to look after their children when they had another baby, declared Mary Ferber citing many pathetic cases which had come to her notice of children left with inadequate care.
She was addressing members of the Women's Service Guild at a special conference to discuss possible methods of providing housekeeping help for mothers in distress.
A properly organised scheme for city women was necessary, on the lines of the Emergency Housekeeper scheme for the country, which had been proved successful over many years, she said.
The Work of Emergency Housekeeper Scheme affiliated with the C.W.A., was outlined by C.W. A. president Mrs. Archie Burt. Four housekeepers in constant employment were receiving far more calls for assistance than they could handle. Service was entirely free, but donations to expenses from those who could afford it, were welcome.
They took over entire care of the household until tired mother had recovered by resting. It was, she said, our duty to keep women on the land contented and happy, if the land was not to be deserted for the city, which would be far less healthy for children. 'It is not a matter of expense, but of getting women suitable for the job,' Mrs. Burt said.
ORGANISED EFFORT
Mrs. F. Cardell-Oliver, M.L.A., said that already there was a movement at Subiaco to form a roster, of women willing to look after children while mother was in hospital. A committee would keep an eye on the suitability of volunteers.
Parliamentarians were in favour of some sort of help being given to distressed women in each district. Mrs. F. Pratt, for the. National Council of Women, said a body of organised, capable women, such as the W.A.N.S., should handle, this work. 'Goodness of heart is not enough,' for without an organisation to back it, and all voluntary, such effort frequently fails,' she said.
Women's Service Guild president Mrs. D. Johnston said that the W.A.N.S. was a purely wartime organisation which 'would disband' at the end of the war. A permanent scheme was wanted. A properly equipped play centre in each district, as was advocated by the War Workers' Infants Aid Committee, would do away with much of the difficulty of having children looked after during the day, said Mrs. Eileen Perry.
GREAT STRAIN
Mrs. Alec King (Kindergarten Union) said that any scheme should be through established organisations, such as district Infant Health centres and the Kindergarten Union. Mrs R. McCavanagh, a mother of 10 children, said that after birth of one child she had had six months in hospital with brain fever because of the pre-natal strain without domestic help.
Nursery schools were the solution.
'Leederville Free kindergarten has helped me greatly,' she said. The Salvation Army, delegate said that proper creches would be a great help in relieving the situation.
BIG PROBLEMS
Mary Ferber, summing up the discussion, said that even a dozen women in permanent employment under the Housekeeper scheme would be better than local groups; which would be affected by epidemics and petty quarrels. For a mother of several children to care for even one more child would be a distinct hardship. Three women would be needed for emergency cases. The domestic problem would probably be more acute after the war. The Government should form some permanent scheme. Women, after the war, would not be so willing to work for 'sweet charity.' A committee of seven delegates, to investigate the possibility of the establishment of a paid housekeeper scheme, was formed.
West Australian, 22 April 1943.
HELP FOR MOTHERS.
A Subiaco Scheme.
In view of the recent appeal by the Deputy-Director-General of Manpower (Mr H. T. Stitfold) to women to offer their services to the WANS as housekeepers to families where the mother had had to enter hospital, a scheme which has been organised in Subiaco is of interest.
The chairman and organiser of the scheme is Mrs F. Cardell-Oliver, MLA, and through the courtesy of the Mayor and council of Subiaco a meeting of representative organisations was called about two months ago to discuss the position. Writing to these organisations previously, Mrs Cardell-Oliver said: 'We would be grateful if you could send a roster of those in your organisation or other friends who would be willing to take into their homes, for a few weeks only, a child or children of women who are forced through sickness or childbirth to go into hospital and who have no adult help to leave at home. Often the father is in camp or overseas, and the children in these circumstances are left without any carer perhaps some kindly neighbour passes in a little food when and if she is in a position to do so. You can Imagine the mental strain upon the mother knowing that these circumstances exist and the feelings of the father who is in his country's service. We know that most women are doing war work and are seldom at home. However there are some who have young families and older people who cannot do outside work. It is to these we send this appeal. We already have promises of 9 homes, but to lighten the work and so that no one will be called upon twice we need a roster of at least too homes. We have suggested that parents pay according to their ability from 12/6 per week per child.
"Mrs Cardell-Oliver said "that the response was somewhat disappointing. The secretary there upon canvassed a few streets and was able to add 21 further homes to the list, making 30 in all. When the district was properly organised there was no doubt that sufficient offers would be forthcoming. This scheme may be popularised in large centres under the guidance of local responsible bodies working in conjunction with the Housekeeper Scheme." Mrs Cardell-Oliver continued, "and will provide homes for children when housekeepers are not available. All women in the Subiaco area who wish to help and those who want help are asked to communicate with the Secretary, Mrs Clinton, 104 Subiaco road, Subiaco. Any scheme such as this may prove a blessing to the children and a comfort to those who are anxious to do a war job but are unable to do so outside their homes."
Sunday Times, 7 November 1943.
MOTHERS WITH SICK KIDDIES SUFFER HARDSHIP
"Something must be done to help mothers with young babies who have to go long distances by tram to the Children's Hospital early in the morning." said MLA Mrs Cardell-Oliver.
Except for one day in the week, Mrs. Oliver pointed out, all the appointments with the hospital doctors are before 9.am, which means that mothers from the outlying suburbs have to leave home as early as 8 o'clock to get with their sick kiddie to Thomas-street.
Owing to the tramway by-law, however, pram can't be carried on trams before 9.30. This means that mothers have to carry heavy children often long distance«, and in the case of a sick child the pram is sometimes vitally necessary, Mrs. Oliver suggests that a special tag should be issued to be placed on prams to make the tram drivers aware that it ia a case of a mother taking her sick child to the hospital. In these cases a departure from the by-law could well be made.
"The Sunday Times" commends the member for Subiaco for this practical suggestion, and we are sure tramway mem themselves would be glad to co-operate. After all, this concerns the children of fellow workers. Perhaps Mr. Tramways Taylor will give it his kind attention.
From Wikipedia... A photograph of tram in Perth in 1950...The pram hanging off the pram hooks...
"A rear three-quarter view of Perth tram 38 on the Horseshoe Bridge over the Perth railway station, Perth, Western Australia. No 38 is at the southern edge of the bridge; it will shortly cross over Wellington Street and then head further south, down William Street. Note the pram hanging off the pram hooks at no 38's rear."
