Junior Red Cross Circle...Contribution By Western Australian Children (1914 -1980)

Junior Red Cross Circle...Contribution By Western Australian Children. 

One of the subjects I am extremely interested in researching and writing about is how children and young people in Western Australia contributed to our great State's cultural and social life. 

While researching a  previous post "Subiaco State School And The Junior Red Cross Circle...(1936)" I found that throughout the early years of Western Australia many children in both the city and country became members of the Junior Red Cross Circle. The Junior Red Cross Circles were part of school and community life for many children and young people that enabled them to contribute to their community not just here but to communities around the world and gain life skills. The local newspapers, both in the city and country recorded many of these contributions over the years. 

The Youth and Education Services, Australian Red Cross (1914 - ) webpage states the Australian Junior Red Cross Circles "was founded in New South Wales in August 1918 by Mrs Eleanor MacKinnon, initially with the aim of involving children in the support of recuperating soldiers who were using existing Red Cross facilities, and then extending to concern about the needs of the children of soldiers. Over the years, the Junior Movement's aims have evolved to focus on the development of an humanitarian ethos amongst young people, through education programs, and activities that encourage active citizenship and community participation."

By 1943 there were 121 Junior Red Cross circles in Western Australia with approximately 4000 members. The age of members ranged from school aged boys and girls to the age of 19. They were involved in a range of activities. Some of those activities included having stalls, bazaars and concerts to raise funds, collected magazines to distribute among hospitals, stamps that were sent to the Red Cross headquarters, writing to penfriends around the world and attending special talks and event evenings.  "...But the fundamental idea which lies behind the formation of the Junior Red Cross is to foster in children an interest in and knowledge of the children of other lands ... to plant the seed of international goodwill... (Western Mail, 30 December 1943). 

In 1949 a newspaper reporting on the work of their Junior Red Cross Circle wrote the aim of the circles had three main objectives... "(1) rendering service to the community (2) care of personal health, and (3) international cooperation. Health plays and other information regarding personal hygiene are supplied to circles by the Red Cross Society in Perth. 

The Junior Red Cross members in every continent and through the exchange of international school correspondence, they have the opportunity to become acquainted with and to learn about their fellow juniors in the various countries in the world. The correspondence is in the form of a portfolio, whish is prepared collectively by the group and includes drawings, composition, stories, photographs, and anything which tells juniors in other parts of the world something of the life of the people of the country from which it is sent. Where necessary, the portfolios are translated by the Red Cross..." (Kalgoorlie Miner, 2 April, 1949). 

The Find and Connect webpage state "...It is unclear when the Junior Red Cross Society ceased to exist. Management of the records relating to Homes associated with the Junior Red Cross Society has passed to the parent body, the Australian Red Cross..."

The articles and photographs are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.

Western Mail, 16 December 1926.

JUNIOR RED CROSS BANNER.

The banner of the Junior Red Cross Society of Australia. The gift of the British Junior Red Cross members, it was presented to Miss P. Robertson, the secretary of the A.R.C.S., at a meeting of the British Junior Club Committee In London, in 1925. In making the presentation, the chairman of the British Red Cross (Sir Arthur Stanley) said that the banner was intended to be a message of friendship and good will to the boys and girls of Australia and a reminder of the fact that the Red Cross is part of the life of the whole Empire. Junior Red Cross Circles have been formed at Fremantle, Northam, Bridgetown Augusta, Dongarra and Walkaway. The banner is being exhibited in Perth.

References

Junior Red Cross Circles at Find and Connection https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/nsw/NE01627

Youth and Education Services, Australian Red Cross (1914 - ) athttps://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0717b.htm

Thomas Street State School And Tristan Da Cunha (1929).

Thomas Street State School And Tristan Da Cunha (1929) .

One of the subjects I enjoy researching and writing about is how children from Subiaco and the State of Western Australia engaged with other children and world around them through their education at schools and home life in the early years. Some of the ways this was done has been shared via blogposts from articles and photographs found on Trove, the database on the National Library of Australia.

It is hard to imagine that nearly one hundred years ago there were places in the world that only received mail via ships once a year. One of those places was Tristan Da Cunha, a small group of islands about 2000 miles of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa in the south Atlantic. For over nine years children at the Thomas Street State School regularly corresponded with students from the island under the supervision of teacher Mrs A. E. Robertson who later went on to become a Federal politician. 

This article describing that interaction and a brief history of the islands appeared in the West Australian newspaper in 1929.

The article is from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringements intended.

West Australian, 10 August 1929.

TRISTAN DA CUNHA.

LONELY OUTPOST OF EMPIRE. Perth Children in Touch

For the last nine years children attending the Thomas-street State School have been corresponding regularly (under the supervision of one of their teachers, Mrs. A. E. Robertson) with the inhabitants of the loneliest spot in the British Empire - Tristan da Cunha, the largest of three small volcanic islands in the South Atlantic, situated 2,000 miles west of the Cape of Good Hope, and about 4,000 miles northeast of Cape Horn. 

After the letters are posted, two or three years sometimes elapse before answers are received from Tristan da Cunha, where shipping rarely touches; Mrs Robertson's pupils write an average of 52 letters each year, and also forward a scrapbook full of cuttings dealing with life and progress in this State. 

A chaplain schoolmaster, sent out by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, attends to the education of the settlers: last year his scholars numbered 37, one of whom was aged 26. The letters received from Tristan da Cunha indicate that the schoolmaster's services are badly needed. The correspondents, however, though their spelling is not all it might be, have undoubtedly mastered the art of simplicity and directness of expression. There are some delightfully naïve passages in their letters: for example: - 

Us is very short of clothes and boots. Send me some men's clothes and boots if you can. The crop is very short. . . my mother name is Ruth, my grandfather is the oldest man on the island send me some sweets as I love them very much I am only a small man about five foot hight. 

I am so please with your kind letter. I do hope that I will be in time to catch this boat as I still have to wait at least 6 or 8 months or more before we get another boat for to send our letters. 

I have blue eyes and white hair good looking is the sailors said on board of the ship.

My wife is a good looking... I got one baby boy is ten months old... I got sisters and brothers, all are married sept three. 

My mother died when I was quite small but now I am grown quite big and will be 21 on the 27 of September... I have got one brother married... I like him very much. There are 155 people on the island. 

The oldest is a widow aged 92 and the youngest a boy of two months...  We live chiefly on fish and potatoes sea birds and their eggs. We also have cattle sheep cats dogs geese and fowls. 

These last few years we have been having a mail every year in February, but sometimes we go without one for a couple of years. 

A Precocious Infant. 

But if some of the Tristan da Cunha settlers are a trifle backward, this certainly cannot be said of all of them for was there ever a more amazing instance of childish precocity than the letter of three-months-old Edwin Glass? It would be quite, unfair to suggest that his pen was guided by an adult hand, for he does not say so and there is no direct proof that this was the case! Here is what young Edwin writes: - "Just a line to you hoping this a letter will reach you safe... I am writing to you because I don't have no one to write to me and we go fishing in little canvass boats and working a farm, a potatoes farm. Please can you right to me again. I am age three months a baby. 

Edwin is too modest: there is really nothing babyish about him, despite his tender growth, because besides being an expert calligraphist he is evidently a farm worker and a fisherman. It is to be assumed that if a friend or relation had the temerity to say 'goo-goo' to him he would look down his nose with dignity. 

Tristan da Cunha has had a very interesting history. The three islands of which Tristan is one were discovered by a Portuguese Admiral Tristan da Cunha, in 1506, while on a voyage to India. In 1656 Van Riebeek the founder of Cape Town, sent a ship from Table Bay to Tristan to see if it were suitable for a military station, but the absence of a harbour led to the project being abandoned. Later in the 17th century ships were sent from St. Helena by the English East India Company to Tristan to report on a proposed settlement there, but that project also came to naught. 

John Patten, the master of an English merchant ship, and part of his crew, lived, on Tristan from August, 1790, to April 1791, but the first permanent, inhabitant was Thomas Currie who landed on the island in 1810. An American named Lambert, with a friend, one Williams, joined Currie soon afterwards, and Lambert declared himself sovereign and sole possessor of the three islands, "grounding my right and claim on the rational and sure ground of absolute occupancy." His occupancy , was short-lived. He and Williams were drowned while out fishing in May, 1812, and Currie was joined by two other men, and they busied themselves in growing vegetables, and wheat and oats, and in breeding pigs. 

War broke out in this year between Britain and America, and the islands were used as a base by American cruisers sent to pray on British merchant ships. 

On August 14, 1816, with this fact still rankling, the British Government issued a proclamation annexing the islands as dependencies of the Cape, and a garrison was maintained on Tristan until November of the following year. At their own request William Glass, a corporal of the Royal Artillery, with his wife and two children and two masons, were left behind, and thus was begun the present settlement. From time to time additional settlers arrived or shipwrecked mariners decided to remain.  

In 1827 six coloured women from St. Helena were induced to migrate to Tristan to become the wives of the six bachelors then on the island. Let Robert Glass, a descendant of the founder of the settlement, relate the facts of this curious episode in his own way: - "One day when the men were digging their potatoes Mr Glass shouted mail Ho-Sail-Ho, and about 30 minutes later four boats were seen rowing towards the shore. It was Captain Ham of New Bedford, Mass., U.S.A, who came to Tristan da Cunha to buy potatoes so the new settlers who had no wives thought it was their time for to get a wife. So they made a bargain with Captain Ham if he would bring them six women from St. Helena island they would give him 120 bushels of potatoes and signed the agreement and went back to his ship and told his mate the news and his mate said Captain we have a fair wind for St. Helena island, and in 42 days he was back to Tristan da Cunha island again and had on board six girls from St. Helena for the men of Tristan. 

But there was great excitement when the boat landed with the sirls on board they had to draw lots who would be first so they had to send for Mr. William Glass to settle the matter, and had to go when they landed to see everything was done fair so every man got his wife and Captain Ham got his 120 bushels of potatoes the price of the six wives. For at Tristan there are some large caves and one or two of the parties live in the caves for a few days until, they had thouse for on the island. We have no wood for building houses we have to trust to shipwrecks for wood. 

Later, coloured women front Cape Colony married residents on the island. Other settlers are of Dutch. Italian and Asiatic origin; thus there is mixed blood, but the British strain greatly predominates. 

From 1817 until he died in 1853 William Glass ruled over the little community in patriarchal fashion. In 1856, out of a total population of 100, 25 emigrated to America, and next year 45 removed to Cape Colony. A number of substantial stone cottages, exactly similar to the dwellings of Scottish, crofters, were constructed on a plain in the north-west of the island. The little township is known as Edinburgh, the name being given to commemorate a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1867. 

After the death of Glass the colony was ruled for some time by an old man-of-war's-man named Cotton, who had been for three years guard over Napoleon at St. Helena. He was succeeded by Peter Green, a native of Amsterdam. In 18S5 a disaster befell the islanders; a lifeboat, on its way to take provisions to a ship in the offing, was lost with all hands - 15 men- and only four adult males were left on the island. In 1897 the population was only 64 in 1901 it was 74; in 1909 it was 95: and today, as the letters received at Thomas-street State School it stands at 155. 

On several occasions the settlers have received offers of allotments of land, in Cape Colony, but the majority have always refused to desert the island. The Tristanites are described as religious, hospitable to strangers, well-mannered and industrious, healthy and long-lived. If they were lazy, they would speedily starve, for there are no shops round the corner where the commodities of everyday life are sold, nor is there any money on the island to buy things. For a living the settlers depend on fish and potatoes, with an occasional meal of beef Map showing the position of the small island of Tristan da Cunha, in the SNth Atlantic.

The last potato crop was an utter failure, and the settlers would have suffered great hardship had it not been for the opportune arrival last February of the steamer Duchess of Atholl, which brought 25 tons of stores, clothing, etc., contributed by kindly folk in Britain and elsewhere. The steamer also brought a large harmonium (a gift from Queen Mary) and an ultra short wave wireless receiver with which the islanders now  listen with ease to the programmes of London and New York.

Map showing the position of the small island of Tristan da Cunha, in the SNth Atlantic.







Children of the Thomas State School correspond regularly each year with the inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha. Here are some of the children reading replies they have received from Tristan.

Western Australian Museum And Subiaco School Children (1937).

Western Australian Museum And Subiaco School Children (1937).

When I was growing up and going to school in Perth, Western Australia we made many visits both as part of a school group and on school holidays with my parents to the Western Australia Museum. This activity has continued as an adult. The Western Australia Museum provided a wonderful combination of using artefacts and interesting talks provided by staff and volunteers for children on all things related to Western Australia and around the world. 

However, the benefits of places like museums to engage children in their learning had begun over 30 years ago with State schools like Subiaco making regular visits. In 1937, The West Australian reported State schools including Subiaco were involved in a series of visits and lectures..."The fifth standards of one group of schools would attend for lessons on Western Australia on the aborigines, the discovery and settlement of the State, the development of the State, the State's natural history, and a final lecture on picture study. The sixth standards of another group of schools would also be given lectures on Western Australia on its aborigines, the goldmining industry, natural history, the Perth Public Library, and a final lesson on picture study..." 

The articles are from Trove, the database of National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.

The photographs are from the Western Australian State Library. No copyright infringement intended. 

West Australian, 11 September 1937.

MUSEUM LECTURES. TALKS TO SCHOOLCHILDREN. 

A Successful Innovation. 

There have been 9,949 attendances since April this year at lessons in natural history for schoolchildren at the Perth Museum. Since June, 1935, when the courses were inaugurated, there has been a total of 35,208 attendances of primary schoolchildren at the museum for regular instruction.

Questioned 

Questioned yesterday concerning the museum lectures, the Director of Education (Mr. J. A. Klein) said that lectures in nature study to metropolitan schoolchildren at the museum commenced in June, 1935. The department had inaugurated such lectures because it believed that the museum could be used far more as an effective teaching device in the education of the young. It was felt that much interest would be aroused because the children would not only be studying the contents of the glass cases while the teacher was lecturing them, but that they would be active handling objects and making drawings. 

Further, it was thought that such lectures to schoolchildren inside the museum would give them the opportunity of experiencing the treasures of the present and past that a museum holds, and so arouse greater interest in the institution generally among the children and their parents. The lectures were designed to supplement the nature study taught in the schools and to give it greater breadth by providing additional material for comparison. Mr. J. W. Oates, B.A., B.Sc., Dip. Ed., was selected as the lecturer, and, with the assistance of Messrs. A. Morrison (headmaster of the Subiaco State school) and L. Glauert (curator of the museum), a course of lectures extending over ten weeks was commenced. 

The lessons proved to be very popular and successful with the children, and the head teachers concerned were highly satisfied with the results. Consequently, at the close of the first course it was decided to invite other metropolitan schools to participate in the scheme, and a further course of ten lectures was commenced. For the whole period of 20 weeks covered by the two courses in 1935, 1,089 individual children made 9,956 attendances at the museum. Last year considerable extension took place. Whereas in 1935 pupils had attended from the third and fourth classes of nine primary schools, 18 schools sent children to the lectures in 1936, and sixth standard schoolchildren also entered the scheme. Lessons were given from Monday to Thursday, inclusive, each week, and Friday was devoted to follow-up advisory lessons in the schools. Nature Study Clubs Formed. 

As a result of the lectures, class museums and nature study clubs had been formed, talks on specimens and natural history topics had been given by pupils, museum and zoological books made, nature study libraries inaugurated and various forms of handwork had been stimulated in the children's experiences at the museum. The junior section of the West Australian Naturalists' Club grew so, rapidly that this year a new club had to be formed. 

At the request of teachers from some of the schools, a course of lectures for senior classes had been arranged. This course covered the history of the State and was designed to be in the nature of a refresher course for the sixth standards before they left the primary school The course comprised five weekly illustrated lectures on aborigines, the discovery of the State, the development of the State, and the growth of the goldmining industry, together with a final lecture on "Appreciation of Att." There was a total of 2,783 attendances of children for the course of five lectures, and it was followed by a further course of tour lectures attended by 1,840 pupils. The course of lectures for sixth standard pupils had proved of great interest to both teachers and scholars and attracted wide interest by the general public. 

It was felt that lectures on the history of our own State, which could be so well illustrated by actual relics, sketches and by lantern slides, filled a definite need in the educational system and warranted these lectures being made a regular feature of the museum courses of instruction. It was intended next month to commence two series of lectures for the fifth and sixth standards similar to those which were initiated last year. The fifth standards of one group of schools would attend for lessons on Western Australia on the aborigines, the discovery and settlement of the State, the development of the State, the State's natural history, and a final lecture on picture study. The sixth standards of another group of schools would also be given lectures on Western Australia on its aborigines, the goldmining industry, natural history, the Perth Public Library, and a final lesson on picture study. 

The lecture on the Perth Public Library was to be given with the object of familiarising the children with its resources and the uses to which the library could be put. The children would be shown how to use the card index system and reference books, and told of the movements of a book or pamphlet from the moment it arrived in the library to the moment it was placed on the shelves by the librarian after having been in the bindery, numbered and catalogued, etc. "When it is considered that attendance on the part of children and teachers at the lectures is quite voluntary, and that the majority of the children coming from schools not in the vicinity of the museum have to pay their own fares, this is surely an indication of the success with which this innovation has met and a guarantee of its value as a permanent part of the educational system of Western Australia," Mr. Klein concluded.

Western Australian Museum and Art Gallery corner of James and Beaufort Streets, Perth and Public Library of Western Australia c 1935 from State Library of Western Australia.












Images from the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of Western Australia Photograph 1920-1930?

Subiaco State School And The Junior Red Cross Circle...(1936).

Subiaco State School And The Junior Red Cross Circle...(1936).

Before the Internet, school children from around the State including Subiaco State School shared knowledge of our State by writing letters, exchanging photographs and collecting specimens such as wildflowers, animal skins and stamps with school children from other countries through the Junior Red Cross Circle. 

The Subiaco State School Junior Red Cross Circle exchanged portfolios with other countries around the world including China, Japan, England, Canada and England. The packages were sent to Paris, France where they were translated and sent on to the various schools in the countries for a reply. 

Junior Red Cross Circles were set up around Australia for young people to meet and enjoy themselves and with the aim of learning first aid, helping young people in less fortunate circumstances than themselves and promoting international understanding. 

The photographs are of Lady Mitchell making the presentation in May 1936 from the Leeds East school, Quebec, Canada, to Joan Riley, representing the Junior Red Crass Circle of the Bayswater school.

The article is from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. 

West Australian, 28 August 1936.

INTRODUCTION TO CHINA. 

Subiaco School Correspondence. 

Children in China will be given a comprehensive survey of Western Australia's scenic, industrial and natural wealth when they open a portfolio, prepared under the Junior Red Cross international correspondence scheme, by members of the Junior Red Cross Circle at the Subiaco school 

The scheme provides for the exchange of correspondence and illustrated portfolios between the children of more than 30 countries. Decorated with the school's colours, the Subiaco portfolio contains a photograph of the school and pupils, a letter from the children describing their work and games and asking for similar particulars from China, a set of coloured plates from "The Western Mail" illustrating West Australian wildflowers, specimens of wool, pictures of the State's beauty spots, industrial development, primary industries end flora and fauna. 

A special set of pictures deals with the aborigines. The portfolio will be sent to the Junior Red cross Bureau in Paris, where translations of the descriptive matter will be made before it is sent to a school in China. The reply, containing similar information and illustrations from China, will be forwarded with translations to the Subiaco school. 

Portfolios have already been received in Western Australia from the Oda Dalichi School, Kawabe Gun, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan; the Leeds East School, Lemesurier, Quebec, Canada: and the Te Kaka native school, Opotiki, New Zealand.





West Australian, 30 May 1936.

Auntie Kitty And Winning Letters From Subiaco...(1933-1938).

Auntie Kitty And Winning Letters From Subiaco...(1933-1938).

This post is a continuation from the previous posts "Aunt Kitty And The Children Of Subiaco 1930", "Auntie Kitty And The Snapshot Contest...(1930)" and "Auntie Kitty And The Cookery Corner (1933-1938) in The Sunday Times children's pages. 

From the previous post "...During the early years the children of Western Australia and Subiaco wrote letters to children's pages in the local newspapers, not only to the Daily News newspaper but other newspapers such as The Sunday Times and the WA Catholic Record. 

The children asked to become members of clubs the newspapers formed, entered competitions to win prizes, wrote letters, shared their creative work and aspects of themselves and their lives as children growing up in suburbs such as Subiaco and country Western Australia.  

The local Western Australian newspaper, The Sunday Times children's page was edited by Auntie Kitty. The page contained letters from children who shared aspects of their lives. While the letters were acknowledged, not all of them were published and there do not seem to be many responses from Auntie Kitty until the later years. The page also included competitions, children's creative work, and a range of activities and stories and poems the editor thought children may like to do in their free time. The children's birthdays were acknowledged and published on the page by Auntie Kitty..."

The letters copied below are from children who lived in Subiaco from 1933 to 1938 and were the featured letter in the children's page than won a prize. The letters are about the daily observations and life of children but also their interests such as writing about Koalas, pottery and where they attend school in New Norcia, a rural town in Western Australia with a close association with Subiaco. 

The articles are from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. 

1933

KOOKABURRAS AND WAGTAILS 

94 Herbert-road, Subiaco. Dear Auntie Kitty, I suppose you have forgotten me, for I have not written to you for such a long time. On Saturday morning, there was a kookaburra on a wireless pole in a neighbour's yard. Suddenly, it flew from there on to a tennis court fence, part of our fence, where another kookaburra joined it. The willy wagtails were teasing them. The kookaburras have long beaks and they look funny from the back view. They ruffled their feathers, and gave us a song and flew away. The Girls' Friendly Society's caravan came to our Church Hall, for the G.F.S. candidates to see it. As there was a children's party being held in the Hall at the same time the whole 120 children inspected lt. My sister and I have a garden, in which are larkspurs, phlox, cosmos, stocks, violets, mignonette and a Dutchman's Pipe. We have a few cabbages, broad beans, beetroot, carrots, parsnips and other vegetables. I am enclosing the competition for the month and hope to win a prize. Your loving niece, VIOLET WAKEHAM (The Sunday Times, 10 September, 1933).

1935

THIS WEEK'S WINNING LETTER

Compendium to Subiaco Member

254 Nicholson-road, Subiaco. Dear Auntie Kitty, I am very pleased with the membership card I received, and therefore I intend to frame it. As winter is nearly here, I have prepared lettuce and spring onion seedlings, which I have ready to transplant. A few days ago I planted a small orange tree, which I hope will grow, and also some strawberry plants.

Last week my sister and I bought a tennis racquet each, and a friend is going to teach us to play. Another sport I like and play rather well is cricket, and I also like canoeing upon Shenton Park lake. I am an enthusiastic follower of the Subiaco football team, and I hope they win the premiership this year.

Today I went for a walk with some friends in the bush on the ocean side of the railway line. We climbed a hill in the Reabold Hills, the highest being the Beacon, so called because of the tall wooden structure on the top like a beacon. From this hill may be seen the houses and buildings of Subiaco, and in the distance the University and the Swan River.

During these dark winter nights I find reading a pleasant pastime. I am collecting the novels by that noted author Jules Verne, and already I possess three of them. The most interesting one to my mind is "Three Weeks in a Balloon." 

During the Easter holidays I saw R.L Stevenson's "Treasure Island" at the Theatre Royal. At school we intend to dramatise this story, and the class is making costumes such as were worn at that period.

A hobby that interests me ls stamp collecting, and already I have over 300 stamps. Last week my mother had the flu, and my sister and I had a quiet time at home. One day I attempted to make some almond toffee from a recipe on this page, and it turned out quite a success. I will close now, hoping you are In the best of health. With best wishes from GEORGE STRACHAN (The Sunday Times, 2 June, 1935).

1936

WINNING LETTER

The Koala Bear Prize to Subiaco Member

96 Hensman-road, Subiaco, 4/1/1986. Dear Auntie Kitty. I have, for a long time, wanted to join your club, but I have not found time to write. How-ever. I am sending along the membership coupon today. I think koala bears are very interesting, don't you? And in case you. and your members are interested. I will tell you something of them, and how their name originated.

Many centuries ago, at the end of each day's hunting, the Australian blackfellow squatted down to his simple repast of game, and the water vessels were passed round from one to another. To indicate that he required nothing to drink, the aboriginal muttered in his native tongue "Koala." meaning nothing to drink" or "I don't drink." And so it occurred to the blackfellow that the name "Koala" (pronounced Ko-ah-la) applied to the quaint furred dwellers of the Australian treetops, who looked like bears and never drank water.

So the name Koala was be-stowed upon these lovely little creatures. Hardly two centuries ago the first white settlement adopted this name for the native bear, and thus "Koala" be-came a worthy contribution to the English language by the aboriginal of Australia.

Well, Auntie, only two more weeks holiday and then school. Hoping I am enrolled. I will close. With love and good wishes to you and your band. I remain your would-be niece, MAVIS HYNES. (The Sunday Times, 26 January, 1936).

1937

WINNING LETTER

Compendium to Subiaco Member

Something About New Norcia

30 Herbert-road. Subiaco. Dec, 1936. Dear Auntie Kitty, I have written to you several times before, when I was younger, but since I have grown older I have not had the chance, sorry to say, as I attend SCHOOL AT NEW NORCIA, where I board. Have you ever been to New Norcia? It ls much sought after by people who come up to see the beautiful buildings and paintings. Nearly every Sunday there are bus loads of people who come to see over our college, the most beautiful building of which is the chapel.

On the dome behind the altar a scene depicting St Gertrude's entrance into heaven—as the artist imagined it - is painted, and it attracts much attention, accompanied by gasps from the visitors.

We also boast many pictures costing much money, and statues which have been carved out of wood by Spanish nuns. One of these statues forms the central figure on the altar.

Regarding sports, we have three tennis courts (two of which are usable), two basketball fields which we do not use owing to our enthusiasm in other lines of sport, such as hockey, in which game we have never been beaten by a ladies' team. We have also a lovely swimming pool where we cool down after long hours of study.

Well, Auntie, I am home on nine weeks' holiday, I think I have said sufficient about the college.

My mother and sister are leaving for Noumea at the end of this month. When they are away I am to be "chief cook and bottle washer." I have never cooked a meal before, so I think half our time we shall be dining out. Well I am afraid I must close now.—I am, Yours sincerely, LAUREL BALDING. (The Sunday Times, 3 January 1937). 

1938

THIS WEEK'S WINNING LETTER

Compendium Goes to Suburban Member

17 Rosebery-street, Jolimont, near Subiaco, Dear Auntie Kitty, I am going to tell you something about pottery and china, or porcelain.

Pottery is made of baked clay and may be glazed, but is always opaque. The difference between it and porcelain is that the latter is finer in quality and translucent. Ordinary pottery has been made from time immemorial of common brick clay mixed with water, shaped in moulds by the hands or on a wheel and baked. Porcelain ls made from kaolin, a fine white clay.

The process is almost the same in both instances, differing only in the material, the care used in the manufacture and the nature and quality of the decorations employed. The great Staffordshire works in England cover a district of 48 square miles and employ more than 100,000 operatives.

The porcelain works at Sevres, near Paris, France, are noted for the manufacture of costly and beautiful vases and domestic ware. China and Japan have long held high rank in this art, and within recent years their Chinaware and common potter have been extensively imported in Europe and America. Holland was long noted for the production of delft, so called after the town of Delft, where it was first made. Well, I must now close my letter. I remain, your loving niece. AUDREY FAWCETT (No. 4766). (The Sunday Times, 20 February 1938).

Auntie Kitty And The Cookery Corner (1933-1938).

Auntie Kitty And The Cookery Corner...(1933-1938).

"...MARGARET AUSTIN (Greenmount) says: "I save all the cookery corner recipes, and there is a toffee recipe there which we nearly always make. Enid Wilks, of Pootenup, sent in the recipe..." (The Sunday Times, 6 October 1935).

"...The cookery corner is very nice and I have made quiet a few of the recipes," says - BARBARA CLAYTON (Kalgoorlie)... (The Sunday Times, 5 November 1935).

"...Our Members say: "I have made a recipe book, and this is how I made it. I cut out each recipe which is in the cookery corner, and stick it into the book, so that I will not lose it. AUDREY BREDE. P.O. Wheelarra..." (The Sunday Times, 19 May 1935).

This post is a continuation from the previous post "Aunt Kitty And The Children Of Subiaco 1930" and "Auntie Kitty And The Snapshot Contest...(1930)" about the Cookery Corner in The Sunday Times children's pages. 

From the previous post "...During the early years the children of Western Australia and Subiaco wrote letters to children's pages in the local newspapers, not only to the Daily News newspaper but other newspapers such as The Sunday Times and the WA Catholic Record. 

The children asked to become members of clubs the newspapers formed, entered competitions to win prizes, wrote letters, shared their creative work and aspects of themselves and their lives as children growing up in suburbs such as Subiaco and country Western Australia.  

The local Western Australian newspaper, The Sunday Times children's page was edited by Auntie Kitty. The page contained letters from children who shared aspects of their lives. While the letters were acknowledged, not all of them were published and there do not seem to be many responses from Auntie Kitty until the later years. The page also included competitions, children's creative work, and a range of activities and stories and poems the editor thought children may like to do in their free time. The children's birthdays were acknowledged and published on the page by Auntie Kitty..."

The Cookery Corner in The Sunday Times children's page contains recipes which the editor thought the children may like to cook with some supervision from mother and the children shared. 

The majority of recipes seem to be traditional sweets for example, fudge, toffee, caramel, coconut ice, marzipan, peanut brittle, lemon curd, nougat, Turkish delight and toffee apples that involved boiling lots of sugar and adding some every day ingredients like salt, butter, bi carbonate of soda and vinegar and extra ingredients like nuts, coconut, cocoa, dried fruit and fresh fruit. There were not any recipes that would be considered 'healthy' by today's standard. From the comments children enjoyed them. 

Later on traditional sweet recipes from other countries were added such as traditional American fudge, Welsh taffy, Swiss Cream Caramel, New York Rock and American brownies and some biscuits. 

The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. 

My favourite...

The Sunday Times, 15 August 1935,

The Sunday Times, 20 May 1934.

The Sunday Times, 2 December 1934.






The Sunday Times, 12 November 1933

Sunday Times, 26 August 1934.

Sunday Times, 14 October, 1934.






Sunday Times, 25 February, 1935.

Sunday Times, 10 May 1936.

The Sunday times. 30 June 1938.

Auntie Kitty And The Snapshots Contest... (1930).

Auntie Kitty And The Snapshots Contest...(1930).

One of the subjects I love to research and write about is children, in particular, what they thought, said and did in the early years of Western Australia. This post is a continuation from the previous post "Auntie Kitty And The Children Of Subiaco 1930" and about how children recorded their daily rhythms of life in the city and country Western Australia through photographs for a contest.

From the previous post...  "...During the early years the children of Western Australia and Subiaco wrote letters to children's pages in the local newspapers, not only to the Daily News newspaper but other newspapers such as The Sunday Times and the WA Catholic Record. 

The children asked to become members of clubs the newspapers formed, entered competitions to win prizes, wrote letters, shared their creative work and aspects of themselves and their lives as children growing up in suburbs such as Subiaco and country Western Australia.  

The local Western Australian newspaper, The Sunday Times children's page was edited by Auntie Kitty. The page contained letters from children who shared aspects of their lives. While the letters were acknowledged, not all of them were published and there do not seem to be any responses from Auntie Kitty. The page also included competitions, children's creative work, and a range of activities and stories and poems the editor thought children may like to do in their free time and a cookery corner. The children's birthdays were acknowledged and published on the page by Auntie Kitty. 

Throughout 1930 and 1931 The Sunday Times newspaper ran a competition which encouraged children to take photographs and send them into the paper for publication. The photographs published provide a wonderful insight into the lives of children by children. The information provided insisted the photographs be taken by children. The results were published monthly. This competition is the subject of the next post.  

"...Would you like to win a camera? Can you take good snapshots? If you can. enter for our Snapshot Contest, which will be held monthly. We are offering a fine CAMERA for the best snap sent in and a very useful WRITER'S COMPANION tor the next best snap. See what you can do. Snap your friends or your pets, and see if you can win one of these lovely cameras. Remember, you must take the snap yourself and you must write your full name and address on the back. Also write on the back of the snap the name or names of the people or pets snapped. Snaps must be addressed to Auntie Kitty "The Sunday Times." Perth, and the words "Snapshot Contest" written on the envelope. Snaps must reach the office by Monday.. and will he judged on the following day. We reserve the right to publish any snap entered..."

The photographs are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. Some of the reproductions are not good quality because of how they transferred into the digital format. 

Sunday Times, 30 March 1930.

"...KEVIN MILNE, KENT-STREET, BUSSELTON.."

"...Nancy Orr, 48 Pearse-street, Cottesloe..."

Sunday Times, 4 May 1930.

"...HON WRIGHT, 48 Duke-street, East Fremantle..."



"...Lorna Sampson, 13 Fermoy-street, Northam..."




JUNE ELIZABETH GOES SHOPPING.

Sunday Times, 1 June 1930.

NOEL, AT THE PLOUGH

"... DOREEN BUTCHER, Glen Iris, Bunbury...

George Allen, 15 Newman-street, Fremantle..."

Sunday Times, 6 July 1930.

Sunday Times, 31 August 1930.

Sunday Times, 5 October 1930.

Sunday Times, 2 November 1930.

Sunday Times, 30 November 1930.

Sunday Times, 28 December, 1930.

Auntie Kitty And The Children Of Subiaco...(1930).

Auntie Kitty And The Children Of Subiaco...(1930).

During the early years the children of Western Australia and Subiaco wrote letters to children's pages in the local newspapers, not only to the Daily News newspaper but other newspapers such as The Sunday Times and the WA Catholic Record. 

The children asked to become members of clubs the newspapers formed, entered competitions to win prizes, wrote letters, shared their creative work and aspects of themselves and their lives as children growing up in suburbs such as Subiaco and country Western Australia.  

The local Western Australian newspaper, The Sunday Times children's page was edited by Auntie Kitty. The page contained letters from children who shared aspects of their lives. While the letters were acknowledged, not all of them were published and there do not seem to be any responses from Auntie Kitty. The page also included competitions, children's creative work, and a range of activities and stories and poems the editor thought children may like to do in their free time and a cookery corner. The children's birthdays were acknowledged and published on the page by Auntie Kitty. 

The children shared many insights about themselves and their activities as children growing up in the early years of Western Australia. For example, one young person Gwenyth Lewis of Subiaco Road, Subiaco wrote about going on a trip with Mrs Joyner to Fairbridge Farm in Pinjarra with the Little Citizens League. Mrs Joyner and some of her work with the Little Citizen's League in Subiaco is published in previous posts on this blog. Some of the young people such as Margery Owens of Hensmen Road, Subiaco I have met before who wrote to Auntie Nell at the Daily News newspaper. Her letters and story are also contained in previous posts on this blog. The only problem is the letters published do not contain the age of the children who wrote them unless they state it their letters and are not classified according to age groups such as in the Daily News newspaper. 

During the 1920's and 1930's the children's letters show that photography was becoming one of their favourite pass times. One young person Gilbert Hicks from Subiaco shared in a letter one of his favourite pass times was taking and developing photographs. Throughout 1930, The Sunday Times newspaper ran a competition which encouraged children to take photographs and send them into the paper for publication. The photographs published provide a wonderful insight into the lives of children by children. The competition information provided insisted the photographs be taken by children. The results were published monthly. This competition is the subject of the next post.  

"...Would you like to win a camera? Can you take good snapshots? If you can. enter for our Snapshot Contest, which will be held monthly. We are offering a fine CAMERA for the best snap sent in and a very useful WRITER'S COMPANION tor the next best snap. See what you can do. Snap your friends or your pets, and see if you can win one of these lovely cameras. Remember, you must take the snap yourself and you must write your full name and address on the back. Also write on the back of the snap the name or names of the people or pets snapped. Snaps must be addressed to Auntie Kitty "The Sunday Times." Perth, and the words "Snapshot Contest" written on the envelope. Snaps must reach the office by Monday.. and will he judged on the following day. We reserve the right to publish any snap entered..."

Throughout 1930 many children wrote to Auntie Kitty. Letters from the children of Subiaco were published nearly every month. 

The articles and photographs are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. 

Dear Auntie Kitty,- I have never written to you before, but I would like, to join your happy band. I have read the Children's Column ever, since, we came back from Melbourne. I won two scholarships for drawing in the, East, and I am learning painting here. I am also fond of reading, and have a nice bookcase with 120 books. I also have a cat 14 years old and a pet white cockatoo, whom we call Corry. He is an affectionate little thing, and very tame. He is never in his cage, and talks a good deal.  I remain, your would be niece. MAVIS HANCOCK, 76 Gloster-street, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 5 January, 1930). 

Dear Auntie Kitty, - For many weeks now I have been an interested reader of the Children's Page in "The Sunday Times", and was very much surprised at your long column of correspondence and I hope you will enrol me. I am nearly fourteen and am in the seventh class at school. Several of my school chums also write to you. I have noticed though, their letters have not been published. Not long ago. Mrs. Joyner, of Rheola-street West Perth, arranged a charabanc trip up to Fairbridge Farm, Pinjarra, for the Little Citizen's League to see their little friends to whom they write constantly. We spent a delightful day up there amongst the hills where it is very cool and refreshing. I have entered for the new year puzzles and think they are correct. They were fairly difficult this week, don't you think? Well, hoping you will enrol me as one of your many nieces, I will now close with heaps of love from your niece GWENYTH LEWIS, 104 Subiaco-road. Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 19 January, 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty,- I have not written to you for a year or more, but I will try to write fairly regularly now. I will send in some stories later on. You see, I am rather keen on writing and spend a good deal of my time making up stories. At present, however, we are busy tidying the house up, for we have been away in Europe for about nine months. I will tell you all about it in another letter. I have got a camera and will send in a photo of myself later on. The camera is a No. 2 Brownie and I have taken several interesting snaps although I only got it from London two or three months ago. I am enclosing the answers to the puzzles. I hope they are correct and that I win a prize. Your affectionate niece, MARGERY OWENS, 228 Hensman-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 26 January 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty - I suppose you think I have forgotten you, but that is not so. I still read the Children's Budget and enjoy it very much. I thought the Christmas number was very nice. I cut out all the stories and riddles and jokes and pasted them into a book. It is my birthday next Sunday. I am having a nice cake and a few of my friends to tea. I will be 14 years of age. I am sending in a few riddles which I hope to see in print I will close now, sending my love to you. I remain, your, loving nephew, JIM LUSTED. 330 Churchill -avenue Subiaco (The Sunday Times, 26 January 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty, - As this is the first time I have written to you, I would be pleased if you would enrol me as one of your nieces. I am ten years of age and I go to St. Joseph's Convent, Subiaco. I am In third class at school, and like it very much. I am entering for the Seaside Competition, and I hope I am successful in winning a prize. We get "The Sunday Times" every week and I rush for the Children's Page, which I enjoy reading very much. I will bring my letter to a close as I nave no more news. I remain, your would be niece, LILLIAN, SPENCER, 166 Barker-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 23 February 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty - I have written to you before and as my letter did not appear in print I would like very much to have this published. I would like to become one of your nieces and also would enjoy corresponding with a pen friend about eleven years old. I go to the Subiaco State school. After a vacation of six weeks I went back to school to find I had been passed into the fifth class. I stayed at the Sandycroft Hostel, North Beach, during the vacation and enjoyed myself immensely. - Your loving niece, HILDA GALLOWAY, 8 Kings-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 9 March 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty,- I tried very hard to solve the clues competition, but was unsuccessful so I am sending you the Maze Puzzle in this letter. It is no use my sending you the snaps for the competition as I have not camera of my own but I will send you a few for the, page. I am growing a few sweet peas in my garden now and I hope they will do well. I enjoy reading the stories printed in the "Children's Page" and will end one in myself one day. I am in Class V at school and am getting on fairly well, although I am behind the rest in arithmetic, as I have missed the other six months. I am afraid  must finish this short letter now as I have another letter to write. Your loving niece. MARGERY OWENS, 228 Hensman-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 6 April 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty,- I am writing to you to see if you will enrol me as one of your nephews. I have got a white Pom called Betty and also a tomcat called Tommy. I have done this week's Maze Puzzle and hope to secure a prize as I have not had one before. I will be sending a little story next week, which I hope will be published. I will close now and write you a longer letter next time. I remain, your sincere nephew, ALAN KAELLEY, 113 Roberts-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 6 April 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty.- This is my first attempt at your, lovely snapshot contest, I have tried other puzzles, but have never been successful. The snap is of Scotty, who comes to the door every morning and neighs for its  breakfast. I have developed and printed the snap and I think it is a good one being my first attempt at developing and printing. Your page in "The Sunday Times" is full of wonderful things, which are of great interest to me, I develop my ! snaps in a little room which is quite dark. When I first unrolled my film I was surprised to find that the film had no pictures on it but was yellow. After I had put it through a few liquids they appeared. I waited till it was dry and then printed it with the aid of the light and a few chemicals. I remain, your fond nephew, GILBERT HICKS. 124 Subiaco-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 25 May, 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty,- Yesterday we spent the day at Jarrahdale, where we had a most enjoyable time. During the afternoon we had a swim in the pool. In some places there were rocks, but we very seldom struck one with our feet. About thirty yards further up a man we know ls building a big cement dam. When it is finished it will be like Mundaring Weir on a miniature scale. He is making it for irrigation purposes. Further down the stream there is his farm. He has over 7000 cabbages growing and several acres of peas, beans, maize, etc. He lives in Perth, but he has men working for him. He also has three first-class guernsey cow. He makes butter and cream. We have a pet dog named Bob, who barks every night (probably at nothing) and sometimes wakes the neighbours from their sleep. I remain, I your nephew, FRANK CULLEN, 126 Coghland-road. Subiaco.

Dear Auntie Kitty.- I wrote to you once before but did not see my letter in print. I am 11 years old and in sixth class at school. I have four sisters and one brother, all except one are younger than me. Every Sunday morning I rush for the Children's Page, which I have been reading for about two years. I think the stories and jokes in it are lovely. Lillian Hamilton is a splendid writer and I wish I could write as well as she does. With love to you and all your merry band, remain, your loving niece, HELEN WHITTON, 196 Nicholson-road, Subiaco (The Sunday Times, 6 June 1930)

Dear Auntie Kitty,- I have not much news to tell you as it is only a week since I last wrote to you. I was rather disappointed at not seeing my name among the prize winners, but may have better luck next time. Since the inspector visited our school I have been put into Standard V, and we are now learning algebra and botany. I am entering for the June puzzle, and I hope to be successful. I remain, your loving niece, DOROTHY CARTER, 196 Hensman-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 15 June 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty, - I would like you to accept me as one of your many nieces. I am in sixth standard at the Subiaco State school. I am twelve years of age, and studying for the scholarship. I like the rain we are now having very much, and my garden and lawn are looking very nice. In this letter I am enclosing the Maze Puzzle, and as it is the first I have sent in I am hoping to win a prize. It was very hard at first for every new route I took there seemed to be a black one barring my way, but now I think I have puzzled it out. It is time for me to close now because I have home work. Your loving niece, VERA SHERLOCK, 208 Bagot-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 6 July 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty,-I suppose you have forgotten me as I have not written to you for such a long time. We get "The Sunday Times" every week, and I read the Children's Page. I enjoy reading it, and I always try to solve the puzzles. I am sending in this week's puzzle, which I hope is correct. I tried to do last month's, but I was not successful. We have had a week's holiday but go back to school tomorrow. We have had our half-yearly exam, and I passed in nearly everything, and we also received our reports. Mine was a good one. On August 15 we had our school bazaar, and I enjoyed myself very much. 

Our dog, Timmy, has gone away. But I think he will come back. A friend of my mother has got a little kitten, and she is going to give it to us, and we are going to get another little dog. I hope they will grow up together. The boy next door caught a green parrot, and he is going to try and get me one. Don't you think I will be lucky? I went to Wanneroo last Sunday, and I enjoyed myself very much. All the flowers were out. We got some wattle and pink myrtle, and a lot of other flowers. The roads are very bad. All the bush flowers are coming out now, and the bush smells lovely. I have a little garden of my own, and all the flowers are out. There are sweet peas, lilies, larkspurs and a lot of others. From your loving niece, BLOSSOM PIX, 282 Rokeby-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 7 September 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty,- Perhaps you have forgotten me, as I have not written to you for several months. I am twelve years of age, and am in Seventh Class at school. Last Friday we went up to Roleystone for a picnic, and had a nice time. There is quite a large swimming pool there, which I have never seen before. The current in the middle and over the far side is rather strong, but I should imagine that in summer it would not be too strong even for the weakest swimmer. There are two notices there which indicate the pool, and both are spelt with only one "m" in the middle, so its makes "swiming" pool instead of swimming pool -With love from your loving nephew, JACK SHARP, 126 Coghlan road. Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 14 September 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty.-Although it is a long time since I wrote to you last. I never miss reading the "Boys' and Girls" page. During the last few weeks at school, I have been making preparations for the Royal Show. I am entering for the painting and pencil drawing, but I don't think I have much chance. We get "The Sunday Times" every week, and I always follow up the Children's Page with much interest. I am particularly fond of Lillian Hamilton's and Vera Webster's stories. I am twelve years of age and in Class V at school. On Saturday I went to Hoyts and saw "The Rogue Song" and I enjoyed it immensely. As I am very fond of reading and sewing I would like to correspond with Lily Dixon, of Golden Vale Farm, Bungulla. I am enclosing the puzzle, which I I hope is correct. Your loving niece, HILDA GALLOWAY, S King's-road, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 5 October 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty,-This is the first time I have ever written to you. I would be very pleased if you would enrol me as one of your nieces. I am eleven years of age, and I am in Standard IV. I read the Children's Page In "The Sunday Times" every week. I am sending in a story, and hope to see it in print next week. You will find the story on another piece of paper in the envelope. I enclose a snap of my brother. Ken. We all call him the Mighty Aspro, because he ate an aspro once. I remain, your loving niece, NANCY WEIGHTON, 142 Hay-street, Subiaco. (The Sunday Times, 16 November 1930).

Dear Auntie Kitty. - Will you enrol  me as one of your many nieces, please? I am twelve years old, and went for a scholarship this year, as I am in Sixth Standard at school. You must excuse me if I do not write to you frequently, as I have numerous correspondents, among whom are some of my old companions in Geraldton. I was a newcomer to Perth this year. In fact, in Geraldton I used to I live opposite to Betty Christie, who has recently written to you. I am entering for the painting competition, and hope to be successful. I long to possess one of those beautiful dolls, not because i want to play, with it, but because I love to dress them and let small children enjoy themselves with them. Nowadays the meccano set would do almost as well for girls as for boys, as many girls have ambitions in the engineering line. I think it would be an interesting profession myself, but I would like to be an actress, far above all others. A school friend of mine has exactly the same ambition, and we often talk of the wonderful plays in which we are to act. I have just read the concluding chapters of "David Copperfield." What a wonderful writer Dickens was. Sir Walter Scott and he are my favourite writers, although. I prefer Robert Browning for verse. I remain, your would be niece, CONNIE WILLIAMS, 57 Bagot-road, Subiaco. " (The Sunday Times, 7 December 1930).

The photograph is from The  Sunday Times, 18 May 1930.