Evacuees

Practical Help For

What New Guinea Women's Club is Doing

A PLAN that has been a-cooking in the minds of members of the New Guinea Women’s Club for many weeks has at last been approved by the authorities.

The going has been hard for many Territories’ evacuees since they found themselves on Australian soil. Some women, whose husbands have been miss ing since the Japanese invasion of New Guinea, have families which they must try to maintain on the meagre susten ance allowance provided by the Federal Government. Others —men. usually—who escaped after great privations, are often ill when they reach this country, and have to go to hospital.

Briefly, the Women’s Club proposes to institute a sort of “Co-prosperity-Co cperative” plan, and New Guinea and Papuan people who have sufficient for their own needs are asked, therefore, to help those who have not.

Most ex-residents already will have been circularised and asked if they will give a straight-out donation or contri bute regularly. If they have not, they may consider that they are being asked now; and any amount, from pence to pounds, will be gladly accepted by the Secretary of the Club, c/o the Feminist Club, 77 King Street, Sydney.

The average Territories’ resident, after a year or so, loses touch with Australia.

They live under a totally different set of social conditions—develop different inter ests. In the days of peace, theirs was looked upon as an enviable state. But in these days of war it is a different matter and, in many cases, it is a lam entable fact that evacuees have been made to feel that they are indeed for eigners in a foreign land. It behoves them all. therefore, to pull together, and for the fortunate to lend a hand to the not-so-fortunate.

The Women’s Club, up to date, has been doing much of this work out of its own funds —often out of individual mem ber’s pockets—but now all are afforded the opportunity of doing their bit in this direction. There are, for instance, on an average, 14 members of New Guinea Units in Sydney military hospi tals. These lads are visited several times a week by the Club’s official hospital visitor, Mrs. Peadon, and one other chosen by her, who take them cakes, sweets, flowers and other comforts. These things, naturally enough, are greatly appreciated by the men, and it is hoped to be able to increase this service.

Addresses Of Fighting Men

As many former New Guinea and Papua residents who enlisted in the AIF have returned from service in the Middle East and overseas, and have since been posted to new units, it is difficult to locate them. The secretary of the Club would be glad if they or their friends would forward their new addresses.

Card Afternoon

A card party and afternoon tea will be held in aid of Club funds in the Femi nist Club, 77 King Street, on Saturday, October 31, at 2.30. All who can are asked to attend. At the last general get together held there in August, £27 was raised, and it is largely due to this effort that the Club has been able to donate £2O to the Red Cross Prisoners-of-War Fund.