Sunshine League Concert At The Home Of Peace Subiaco (1908)
In 1908, the children from the Sunshine League performed a concert at the Home of Peace for the Dying and Incurable in Subiaco. Over 400 children attended. The concert was reported in the Daily News newspaper by Uncle Tom, a journalist and coordinator of the Sunshine League. The Sunshine League, the children, events and the adults who worked at the Daily News newspaper have been discussed in earlier posts on this blog.
The Sunshine League was established by the Daily News newspaper in 1907 and was coordinated by Uncle Tom. Those children who joined the Sunshine League members were known as nieces and nephews were encouraged to spread kindness where ever they could to orphans, the sick and dying and old people in various institutions. They also helped raise money for the Perth Children's Hospital and other causes in Perth.
In the first year 1908 then annual report stated the Sunshine League held 28 concerts, 2 fancy dress balls, 16 bazaars, 2 afternoon teas and one play, a total of 49 events many of them organised and volunteered by children (and their families) raising hundreds of pounds. The children and their families also made substantial donations of money many of them from Subiaco (Daily News, 30 May, 1908).
The article is from Trove, the database of National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 14 March 1908.
Conducted by UNCLE TOM.
My Dear Nieces and Nephews, - I must say at the outset that I was very pleased with the Sunshine Concert at the Home of Peace on Monday evening.
At its conclusion I passed around to each of the patients on the verandah, and they all said they had spent a most pleasant evening, and the beaming smile on their faces was evidence in support of their statement.
I was delighted also to meet so many of my happy and smiling nieces and nephews, and as for the program me, I cannot say more than that I was pleasantly surprised at its splendid quality.
The older persons present enjoyed It as much as we did, for no one left till the close, although there was ample opportunity had they felt so disposed. For the benefit of those who were not able to attend - (I estimate that about 400 children were present) - I will give you the programme as it took place: -
Overture, Miss Ella R. Weickhardt; song, Miss Dorothy Kelly; recitation, Miss Diana Lazarus; character song, Master Sam Masai (accompanist Mrs. Brown); recitation, Miss Hilda Jones; pianoforte selection, Miss Cissie Troy; rocitatlon, Miss Tessie Murphay; part song, Master Louis and Miss Nellie Harrison; character song, 'Gretchen,' the Mlsses Gracie M. White, N. Marie Burmaister, and Laura A. Porter; recitation, Miss Verona Rodriques; spectacular dialogue, the Misses Birdie Beckwith, Etta Hollis, Gwen Knox, Hattie Rlnger, Hilda Patterson, Gladys Taylor; and Mabel M. Wright; pianoforte selection, Miss Vera Cantor; song, Miss Margaret Parker; recitation, Miss Alice Rlckard; song, Miss Muriel Francis; part song, Misses Violet Frank, Eunice Thomas, Lizzie M'Narmara, Willa M'Donald, Rita Maddaford, and Vera Maddaford; recitation, Miss Janet Rlckard; pianoforte duet, the Misses Eileen O'Mahoney and Kathleen Dempsey; recitation, Miss Mavis M. Harris; song, Miss Katie Breadsell, recitation, Master Victor D. A. Courtney; chorus, Fremantle Girls.
That, you will all agree with me, was a fine programme, and I heartily thank all who took part in it. There was only one absentee from the programme, and that was Master Reggie Cohen, who was away under the orders of the doctor, who says the dear, little fellow must remain away from school for six months. I asked all my nieces and nephews at the concert to send Reggie a postcard. I also sent him one, and on Wednesday I resolved the following letter of acknowledgment: - 315 Bulwer-street, Perth.
Dear Uncle Tom, - Thank you very much for your kindness, and that of the dear little 'Sunshlners' who so thoughtfully sent Reggie post cards, wishing his return to health. I am pleased to say that he is getting on now, and the doctor thinks he will soon be about again. But he must go right away for some time. Thanking you again in Reggie's name, - I am, yours gratefully. C. COHEN.
The many post-cards Reggie received will help to pass away many a day, and as he has been such a splendid little sunshine-maker he deserved any attention we have paid him. I would like those who go Sunshine-making to the Home of Peace to select some cuttings or rooted plants from their own gardens and give them to the matron. I am afraid that some of the plants around the lawn were trodden on accidentally on Monday night, and it would be very nice to replace the damaged ones. I will take some plants with me at the earliest opportunity, and if a number of you do the same, the flower-beds should be fully replenished, and in a few weeks should present a pleasant sight for the patients and staff.
Our good friend the manager of the Girl's Orphanage, the Dean of Perth (the Very Rev. H. G. D. Latham), who has been appointed to act in the Bishop's place during the latter's absence from Perth in London, wrote to me regretting that he could not accept my invitation to attend the concert on account of a prior engagement. He added a postscript to his letter, which you will all read with interest, as follows: -
"You will be most welcome at the Orphanage .But, for the sake of your many relatives, wait till we are free of measles. Please make arrangements with the matron, and be sure to choose one of the rare occasions when I am free. - Yours sincerely, H. G. D. LATHAM.
Unfortunately, the measles are still possession of the Orphanage, but the number of patients is note only three or four. In any case, however, Grand Reunion Night cannot take place for, say, six weeks. Next week I will publish the letter I sent to the orphans and their reply.
Home of Peace, Subiaco c 1902 (No copyright infringement intended).
