Women

Spirit Of N. Guinea

Activities in Melbourne

rE New Guinea Women’s Association, which was formed in Melbourne a year ago, held its first annual gen eral meeting on November 14. The fol lowing office-bearers were elected for 1943; Mrs. Cooper (president), Mrs. Brit ten (vice-president), Mrs. Best (trea surer), Mrs. Bliss (secretary), and a committee consisting of Mesdames Lewis, Gollan, Hitchcock, Spensley, and Roy Smith.

The Association is registered with the Patriotic Funds Council, but its purpose is twofold: To work for New Guinea men in the fighting forces and to afford New Guinea evacuees an opportunity of meet ing at regular intervals and thus keep alive their own particular interests. The Association’s annual report makes it clear that this dual purpose has been fulfilled admirably.

Afternoon-tea meetings have been held on one Saturday in every month, with an average attendance of 64 and, as a result of raffles held at these meetings, £27/13/was raised. Total receipts for the year amounted to £126, of which £99 was received from members themselves as donations of some kind, and £26 from a party given by the treasurer, Mrs. Best, in her own home.

Expenditure was £93—including £5/15/donated to the “Sydney” Fund, £lO which was sent to Major Townsend in Port Moresby to be used on behalf of men arriving there penniless from other parts of New Guinea, and £3O donated to the Red Cross Prisoner of War Fund.

The general war situation in New Guinea was so uncertain earlier in the year that it was decided to postpone the sending of comforts to NGVR men until the position had clarified. It was July before the first batch was sent, but to date 94 parcels have been posted. The appreciation with which these are re ceived by New Guinea men has given Association members much pleasure, and it is hoped, in the future, to continue despatching them at intervals.

Parcels of warm clothing have been collected by members and sent to the Chinese Evacuees’ Home in New South Wales at intervals throughout the year— many Chinese evacuees from New Guinea are living in this home. A War Savings Group, in charge of Miss Felstead, has been in operation since February and, to date, 53 certificates have been issued.

Anxiety has been experienced by all members of the Association—and tragic loss suffered by some—but they have shown a splendid spirit throughout a difficult and trying time, and in its report the committee have placed on record their appreciation of that spirit and feel that if, as a result of these meetings, personal contacts and interest in New Guinea have been maintained, the work of the Association has not been in vain.

Editorial Note

These New Guinea women in Mel bourne—and members of the New Guinea Women’s Club, the sister organisation, in

Sydney—have stuck it out together dur ing one of the most difficult periods of the world’s history, and during a chaotic period for themselves. They have helped one another and worked for others, while their own world was shattered by the Jap invasion of their homes, and they cannot be praised too highly. Australia has not been particularly sympathetic to them —on the contrary!—but that spirit of co-operation which they have devel oped under war conditions should help them to re-establish themselves in the Islands when peace comes again.