Club's 1948-49 Activities

NG Women in Sydney Review Club's 1948-49 Activities

THE annual general meeting of the New Guinea Women’s Club of Sydney, which was postponed owing to the NSW coal-miners’ strike, was held on the morning of July 28.

In her report, the president, Mrs. M. L.

Foxcroft, said that the activities of the Club had been curtailed in the past year

as many members had returned to New Guinea. A number of these, however, had become country members to keep an in terest in the Club’s doings.

Mrs. Foxcroft continued; “Various channels have been used during the year to try to get some extra benefits for our New Guinea widows, but without very much success. At the end of July, 1948, we had an interview with the Repatria tion Department who informed us that it concerned External Territories only. An interview was then arranged with Mr.

Halligan at External Territories Dept, on August 15, 1948. He gave us a sympa thetic hearing and we felt hopeful that something would be done. Since then we have written twice, but without receiving a reply.

“We then had a letter from Mr.

Anthony, MHR, inviting us to visit him as he was concerned by the way our New Guinea women had been treated and was anxious to help them, if possible. Two of our widows gave him the information he desired, and he said it would be brought before the House. This interview took place in October, 1948. As nothing further was heard, we communicated with him, whereupon he replied that nothing could be done at present.

“Club activities during the year in cluded the usual Christmas party for the children in December. The Commit tee is to be congratulated on the success of this function. We owe a debt of gratitude to Miss Brooks and her pupils for the fine programme provided; to Mr.

F. Salisbury for his generous gift of lunch boxes for the children; and to Mr. Hallam for his toys.

“The ‘Get Together’ for the adults at Christmas was a very happy gathering.

Over one hundred attended.

“Twenty-one parcels of food have been sent to New Guinea people who are now residing in England.

“Homage was paid to our dead by plac ing wreaths on the Cenotaph on January 23, April 25, and July 1. We appreciate the thoughtful and kindly action of Miss D. Stewart, of Rabaul, for arranging to have flowers at both services in Rabaul in January, on behalf of the New Guinea Women’s Club of Sydney, “Recently we wrote to the military authorities again asking if they could furnish us with a list of men who had enlisted in New Guinea and whose lives' were lost. They have now sent us an official list of names which will be a help in the allocation of funds we hold for that purpose.

“Five social evenings were held during the year.”

Office Bearers 1949-50

OFFICE bearers were elected, as follows: President, Mrs. M. L. Foxcroft; vice president, Mrs. J. Edwards; secre tary, Mrs. G. Haynes; treasurer, Mrs. H.

Carr; committee: Mesdames J. Whiteman, F. Harvey, N. Hallam, F. Northam, G.

McDonald.

Finances

IN spite of curtailed membership and activities, the Club finances are still healthy. After allowing for all ex penses, an amount of £377 was carried forward as a credit in the general fund.

In the special Prisoners-of-War and Civilian Internees’ Fund, a credit balance of £281 was carried forward.

During 1948-49 grants of assistance to the total of £25 were made from the special POW and Internees’ Fund: and grants of assistance to the total of £54 from the general fund.

At a formal dinner party at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva recently, Mr.

Charles Schon, of Auckland, announced the engagement of his daughter, Miss Mavis Schon to Mr. Mark Israel, of the Suva staff of Morris Hedstrom, Ltd. Mr.

Israel is the son of Mr. Claude Israel, who is one of the directors of Morris Hedstrom, Ltd., and at present the manager of the firm’s Sydney branch.

An earthquake in the central Pacific Ocean, of greater severity than the Ecuador shocks, was recorded in Welling ton at midday on August 6. The shock was felt severely at Tonga.