Sunshine League Sewing Scheme (1908).
"There is nothing greater or more beautiful in all the world than kind deeds and the humblest child can do them." Sunshine League Motto.
In 1908, Uncle Tom and Auntie Nell edited the children's pages of the Daily News newspaper in Western Australia. Children wrote to Uncle Tom, competed for prizes to competitions, shared the events in their daily lives and shared their creative work whether it be writing jokes, poetry, short stories or essays.
The Sunshine League was established to help various charity organisations including the Children's Hospital and Orphan's Christmas Fund and the children became members, donating money and organising and participating in events to raise funds.
The Sunshine League motto was to ... "band children together to help to bring sunshine into the lives of the suffering and sad. It aims at training children in acts of kindness and love believing that such acts bring blessing to themselves and others. The work of the league generally takes the form of rendering assistance to such institutions as the Children's Hospital, Lady Lawley's Cottage by the Sea, and of providing cheer and entertainment for aged men and women and orphan children.
During the existence of the league it has raised many hundreds of pounds for public charities and its members have done much in the way of visiting such institutions as the Old Men's Home, the Old Women's Home, the Home of Peace and others. There are no entrance fees and each child may become a member by writing to Auntie Nell. All that is expected of the children is they will earnestly try to promote the objects of the league. Our motto is "There is nothing greater or more beautiful in all the world than kind deeds and the humblest child can do them."
In return Uncle Tom and Auntie Nell replied to and published the children's letters, their contributions and donations in the newspaper and community groups and individuals received much needed resources. They also helped coordinate and publicise the events organised by the children and supportive adults.
One of the schemes Uncle Tom established was the Sunshine League Sewing Scheme. The children were asked to make pillow cases and sheets for the Children's Hospital either by hand or using a sewing machine. The material was supplied by drapery houses.
Uncle Tom explained how the scheme would work via an article in the children's pages...
"THE SEWING SCHEME. HOW IT IS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
In regard to the sewing scheme, I have made arrangements with the drapery houses to supply the material for the sheets and pillow-slips required for our two wards at the Children's Hospital at a cheaper rate than usual. On presentation, of an order, my nieces will be able to procure the materials.
It would not be fair to ask these houses to be continually showing and explaining the samples, and I have decided therefore to have the samples at 'The Daily News' offices, Perth and Fremantle, where they may be examined between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
When examining the samples you will obtain the orders for the material. The finished articles need not be made in a hurry, far there is plenty of time. In addition to tne sheets and pillowslips, we shall require some special towels, and some dusters, and I will give this work to some of those who have volunteered.
One of my nieces suggested having a red rosette worked into the material. The idea is a good one, but the consensus of opinion among those capable of judging is that the names of nieces worked in small plain round lettering below the hems, with good red ingrained cotton (the drapers will tell you the proper kind), would be most suitable. I want you all, therefore, to work your names into the pillowslips and sheets just below the hems in the following style. The above letters will be far easier than ordinary signatures were worked into your work, and more serviceable than if sewing machine for the cots " (Daily News, 18 April, 1908).
The article copied below is a poem by Susie Corti from Glyde Street, East Fremantle. Susie was an active member of the Sunshine League for many years who donated money and spent her time organising and participating in events to raise money for the Children's Hospital and other charity organisations. In July 1908, Susie with another member Alice Hawkins held a concert and raised some money for the Children's Hospital. Susie participate regularly in concerts and plays as part of the Sunshine League. In March 1909, Susie became very ill and was admitted to Fremantle Hospital. Uncle Tom shared news that she had recovered via the children's pages and there were many relieved children.
The photograph is from the following year on Arbor Day in 1909 where Lieut Governor and Miss Etta Hollis planted the first tree at Children's Hospital. The Sunshine League children are in the foreground (The Mirror 4 June 1909) The photo is by F. E. Murphy.
The article is from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 29 August 1908.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SEWING SCHEME.
(By Susie Corti, 45 Glyde-street, Fremantle).
There are many little sufferers,
In this sunny land of ours,
Little cripples, some of them,
Who have never pleasant hours,
But they are not quite forgotten,
There are some to stretch a hand;
Uncle Tom, he is the leader
Of this Sunshine-making band.
There's a Sewing Scheme now started,
For the girls with might and main,
Busy little nieces they are,
Helping those who are in pain.
A happy man, is Uncle Tom,
To have all these busy nieces,
And I hope as the time goes on,
That their number still increases.
For the object is a good one,
Worthy of our help and aid,
Would that others were, more eager,
Is the prayer we've often prayed.
Dear Susie. - Your verses are very creditable. There's a good poetic swing about the lines, and the sentiment is all right. — Uncle Tom.
