Peggy Bolster, Subiaco Sunshiner, Age 11 Years (1929).
One of the most interesting subjects to research and write about Subiaco is the daily lives of children in the early years of the Western Australian colony. Their lives where recorded through letters published in the children's pages of local newspapers. One of those was the Daily News newspaper in Western Australia. The Sunshine League, their aims and the children who belonged have been published in previous blog posts. This blog post is continuation of those blog posts.
Peggy Bolster was a child who lived with her family through the late 1920's and 1930's at 229 Park Street, Subiaco. Peggy regularly entered competitions, wrote letters sharing the daily events of her life and donated stamps for the Cot Fund for the Perth Children's Hospital which were published the Daily News newspaper. She also wrote to Aunt Betsy at the W.A. Record, a Catholic newspaper. She does not mention her father or any brothers and sisters.
During the late 1920's and 1930's Australia entered the Great Depression. The last letter from Peggy Bolster was in December 1931. By the end of 1931 the much loved Auntie Nell (Margaret Main) had to retire due to illness. The concept of the children's pages changed. Boronia Giles took over. A lot of the content from the children was replaced with content from adults aimed at children.
The articles are from Trove the database for the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended. The photographs are from the State Library of Western Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Peggy first wrote to Auntie Nell at the Daily News newspaper to ask to join the Sunshine League in 1928. In 1928 she was eleven years old. "...Please excuse my writing, as I have been in bed for over three years owing to sickness, and am now on crutches and getting better..." (Daily News, 15 December 1928).
During 1929 Peggy wrote six letters that were published in the newspaper. In early January 1929 Peggy wrote to Auntie Nell to thank her for the prizes she had won in the competitions and donated some stamps to the Cot Fund. She wrote about some of the books she had received at Christmas time, presents from her friends that were popular with young girls. "I received your prize for the competition and it is a very nice book. I received 'The Lucky Girls' Budget', 'Just Peggy' and 'Blackie's Girls' Annual' as Christmas presents from my friends..." (Daily News, 5 January 1929).
In February 1929 Peggy wrote about her holiday with her mother to Cottesloe "...Mum and I went to Cottesloe and have already stayed two weeks at the Hostel Manly, and as I had no writing materials I could not write to you. We intended staying six weeks, but as you see by the above address we came home for today, as Mum had a few things to do, and we are going back tomorrow (Tuesday). I had some lovely shells given to me..." (Daily News, 2 February 1929).
During the 1920's and 1930's Cottesloe Beach was a popular tourist place to visit. In March 1929 wrote to Auntie Nell about her visit to Cottesloe and Luna Park. She had to come back to Subiaco because she was not well. "Since I wrote to you last I have been to Cottesloe, but had to come back as I was not too well. It was very nice down there. Have you been to Luna Park, Auntie ? Mum and I went nearly every night. There are a lot funny things there, such as 'hit the nigger in the eye,' 'knock his teeth out,' and wring the the duck's neck' there was also the dart, which I tried a few times and won a box of handkerchiefs, a candlestick with a kangaroo at the side and two boxes of chocolates..." Auntie Nell did respond and raised the point of arcade games and violence "When you talk of hitting the nigger and wringing the duck's neck, one feels that it is much safer to be away from such a spot..."(Daily News, 28 March 1929).
In 1929 Peggy shares some interesting news about what families did not on the weekend. "Since I last wrote to you, Auntie I have been for two lovely car drives. One was to Fremantle to see one of the mail boats off, and the other was to Queen's Gardens, Perth and around Mount's Bay-road, and the view of the Swan River was beautiful. I enjoyed myself very much..." (Daily News 18 May 1929).
By November 1929 Peggy had recovered enough from her illness to be enrolled at Subiaco State School. "...I suppose you will be surprised when I tell you that I am going to school now. I like it very much. The teachers and children are very nice to me. I have been going for about two or three months. I was very much surprised when the headmaster (Mr. Lewellyn), after asking me a few necessary questions, put me in the fifth class. My teacher's name is Miss Dunstan. She is very nice. The weather is very unpleasant isn't it? Well dear Auntie Nell, I will close with best wishes to yourself and your Sunshiners..." (Daily News, 9 November 1929).
During December 1929 Peggy writes about what is happening in the Subiaco State School. She is 12 years old..."I have been very busy at school lately, as we have parents' night every year before the holidays. We have to get all we have done during the year - drawings, paintings, compositions, show writing, and sewing together and fix them up on the wall. I only put my sewing up, as my drawings ect., were not very good, as I have not been there very long, My sewing consisted of seven d'oyleys (most of which I made when I was sick), a doll's pinafore, petticoat, and skirts and a little lavender bag. I really think that our room looked the best decorated room in the school. I was decorated with fern and different kinds of flowers. I am closing with best love. My age is 13 on February 20." (Daily News, 28 December 1929)
Peggy informs Auntie Nell and the readers that she been writing to Aunt Betsy at the Record a Catholic newspaper although none of her letters seem to be published. Peggy wrote about her birthday and entered a competition and sent a photograph of herself. "It is ages since I have written to you, but I have been writing to Aunt Betsay of the "Record", so I forgot to write to you until I picked up the children's page in "The Daily News", so I decided to write to you to show you that I had not forgotten you. Since I last wrote to you I have had a birthday party, I was thirteen on February 20. I invited fourteen girls, but only eleven came, as one had her tonsils out, another a cold and the other had a very sore throat. We had ice creams, fruit cakes ect and I had a lovely birthday cake with 13 candles on it. I had some lovely presents..."(Daily News, February 1930).
In May 1930 Peggy wrote about what she had been doing including going to the theatre with her mother..."Last week mother and I went to see 'Rio Rita' at the Capital. Have you seen it ? It was most dancing and singing. Although we like every part of it that was colored host of all. Bebe Daniels is a very clever and pretty actress isn't she ?" (Daily News, 17 May 1930).
During June 1930 Peggy again wrote to Auntie Nell thanking her for the prize and donating some stamps for Cot Fund. She had been to see a movie at the theatre called Black Watch "...Have you seen the 'The Black Watch' ? Mother and I went to see it a West's Picture Theatre last week and although we liked it very much I think it was too sad. Do you like sad pictures? I don't..." (Daily News, 21 June 1930).
In June 1931 Peg wrote to Auntie Nell to thank her for book she had received and to inform her she was confined to bed..."Please excuse my writing as I am writing in bed, as I am not too well, and find enclosed a twopenny stamp for the Cot Fund..." (Daily News 6 June 1931).
By the end of 1931 most of the Sunshiners had read about the retirement of Auntie Nell and the column was now being taken over by Boronia Giles or Peg Peggotty. This knowledge was reflected in this letter by Peggy. She had become extremely sick and confined to bed. "...During the last five or six months I have spent in bed as I hurt my leg somehow, but the doctor said I would be alright after a slight operation which might be performed in a few weeks' time. So you must excuse my writing as I find it rather difficult to write in bed. I was sorry to hear that Auntie Nell had to retire, owing to illness, and if you see her would you please give her my very best wishes and I hope she will soon be enjoying the very best of health..." (Daily News, 5 December 1931).
Peggy writes about going for a drive..."...One was to Fremantle to see one of the mail boats off, and the other was to Queen's Gardens, Perth and around Mount's Bay-road, and the view of the Swan River was beautiful..." State Library of Western Australia, Mounts Bay Road, 16 January 1935. 
In March 1929 Peggy wrote to Auntie Nell about her visit to Cottesloe and Luna Park. Sandbagging around Luna Park, Cottesloe Beach in 1929. State Library of Western Australia.
