Stories from Subiaco
For those readers of Trove who don't live in Perth, Subiaco is one of the oldest suburbs that lies just west of the city centre. The land on which the city was created belongs to the Whadjuk Noongar people. For the past couple of years, I have used Trove to research the stories of women and children from Subiaco, my local community, and more widely Perth and Western Australia. Much of that knowledge can be found in daily gossip and children.
Gossip Columns
Early gossip columns provide an account on what was happening in local suburbs like Subiaco and other suburbs around Perth and country Western Australia. The columns Subiaco Snaps (1907) and Subiaco Skits (1922) provide an interesting look into the lives of women, men, and children. They describe the events of the Subiaco Council, social and sporting events, the establishment of new institutions, and fundraising events for churches and schools. They were well attended by the locals including men and women, politicians, and councilors. The column also advertised upcoming attractions.
They also give us insight into the businesses run in Subiaco such as the butcher, furniture store, drapers, newsagency, jeweller, fish monger, paint shop, dancing school and tearooms. Mrs Thomlinson ran the tearooms in Hay Street. Not only could customers get afternoon tea, they could also buy a range of fresh produce. "Subiaco ladies can now have afternoon tea at Mrs. Tomlinson's in Hay street and can there procure fresh eggs and butter, supplies of which come in twice daily" (Express, 18 August 1906.).
In 1922 Mrs Young ran a motor garage for juveniles in high school. The High School for juveniles has vacated the motor garage and taken up more prepossessing quarters at the corner of Rokeby and Nicholson roads. "Mrs. Young, who has the administration of this Seminary, is the right party for the job, and we wish her success in her new enterprise" (The Mirror, 14 October 1922).
Women had many interests like shopping, were talented musicians and performers and keen gardeners. They competed in numerous sports such as billiards, croquet, bowls, and rifle shooting. Of particular interest was that women over a hundred years ago wanted to play football. "Some of the local girleens are anxious to start a female football team. They do it over East, why not here chortled one fair maiden. We think it a good idea. If hockey can prosper as a girls game, why not footy? There would be a good captain in, say E - I?" (The Mirror, 1 July 1922).
Recipe and Household Hints Columns
Some of the most interesting columns are the recipe and household hints. Mrs. M. Harding (nee Livingstone) of 220 Barker Road, Subiaco sent in recipes and household hints to the Sunday Times Recipe and Household Hints competition between 1910 and 1931. Miss L. Harding and Miss E. Harding from the same address also sent in entries. The entries won over a hundred prizes and honorable mentions, and were published in the newspaper. Mary's recipes and household hints provide a wonderful insight into the type of meals cooked at the time, and many of the practical household hints are still being used today.
Children's Columns
What was important in their lives can be found throughout the children's columns in the various local newspapers in Trove. The essays, creative work and letters were published in newspapers and prizes were given for what were considered to be the best according to age groups. It is difficult to know how much help, if any, children had from their parents or siblings. In some cases, such as the Catholic papers, the children's competition essays needed to be supported by a teacher's validation that were the student's own work and by the local priest before being submitted and published.
The Daily News newspaper in Western Australia established the Sunshine League through their column in the children pages on 18 May 1907 run by Uncle Tom. The object of the Sunshine League is to train children in acts of kindness and love, believing that such acts bring blessings to themselves and others, Our motto is:— There is nothing greater or more beautiful in all the world than kind deeds, and the humblest child can do them. Any child may become, a member by writing to Auntie Nell. There are no fees of any sort, but those who desire to do so may enclose contributions in the form of stamps, for our Sunshine Cot and in the Children's s Hospital.
After Uncle Tom resigned there were numerous exceptional women journalists who worked at the Daily News newspaper editing the column including Jessie Downie, Margaret Main and Boronia Giles. When World War I broke out Jessie Downie served and trained as a nurse with the Red Cross, studied French and worked as a V. A. D. Assistant in various hospitals around France. While living in Guernsey with her sister she raised funds for Belgium refugees. Margaret Main replaced Jessie Downie who spent 18 years writing letters to the Sunshine League members. She was then replaced by Boronia Giles.
Many of the stories of the children who made contributions to the Sunshine League are able to be traced through Trove. For example, Margery Owen’s name first appears in The Daily News newspaper’s children’s page ‘A Page for Boys and Girls of Western Australia’ on 7 January 1928 in the column ‘Welcome New Sunshiners’. From 1928 to 1932 Margery was actively involved in donating money to the Cot Fund for hospital beds in the Children’s Hospital, writing letters and sharing events in her daily life, completing competitions, writing poetry and short stories, and recruiting new members for the Sunshine League.
By 1932 Margery was a teenager and had changed schools, moving from the St. Joseph’s Convent to Victoria Square and her time was taken up studying. However, she managed to write to both Peg Peggotty who was still referred affectionately by the children as Auntie Nell and Auntie Kitty at The Sunday Times newspaper about her interests that included taking photographs, reading and writing stories, and travels throughout the state. Margery continued to make regular donations to the Cot Fund at the Children’s Hospital. After graduating university in Melbourne as a doctor she returned there to work at the Perth Children's Hospital and lived in Subiaco.
