New Guinea Club Meets to Review Year's Work

Review Year's Work

THE New Guinea Women’s Club of Sydney, which was a wartime baby, has survived the post-war transition period and is still a vigorous organisa tion. In the past year, new members, country members, and increased atten dances at the regular Thursday morn ing meetings have given great encourage ment to those stalwart women who are responsible for running it. The club, they say, is “stronger than ever” —and through it they are able to keep in touch with old friends coming from or going to New Guinea.

The annual meeting was held in the clubrooms, Sydney, on July 20. Points from the report of the president, Mrs.

M. L. Foxcroft, follow: IN September, 1949, communications were received from Miss D. Stewart (Secretary, Melbourne Scholarship Fund) at Rkbaul, suggesting we begin a scholarship Memorial Fund for NS Wales. All members were circularised and an extraordinary meeting was held on October 28 when the matter was fully discussed by members. Their decision was: “It is now too late to start such a fund and it would be very difficult to raise sufficient monies for such a pur pose.”

It was agreed to continue as we have in the past by using what finances we have in assisting widows who need help in cases of sickness, or with children who need help. By so doing, the Club feels we are doing our share as a memorial, and that our men would be well pleased.

We are indebted to Miss Stewart for

her kindly action in having made ar rangements, on behalf of the Club, to have floral tributes placed at the memorial services held in Rabaul during the year.

As we have been unable to obtain a list of persons eligible to share in the Rabaul Prisoner of War Fund monies which we hold, we sought legal advice from Mr. Cahill of Phillip Street last October. He advised us that it was in order to wind up the fund, but that, before doing so, to insert a notice in a leading paper of each State calling for applications from persons eligible to par ticipate. This was done on February 23 and applications were open until May 31, 1950.

We advertised also in Reveille, and Pacific Islands Monthly, and had notices placed on notice-boards of Rabaul Hotel and Rabaul Returned Soldiers Commit tee Rooms.

A special Committee Meeting was held in June and applications were considered.

It was decided that the fund be wound up and all monies be equally divided between the applicants eligible. The books of this fund are in Mr. Costello’s hands for auditing purposes, prior to payments being made.

In early December, 1949, we had word that the sum of £75 would be granted by the Government for furniture for widows with children under 16 years of age in 1946, who were still in need of it. We are grateful for this grant, but feel that it should have been dated back to 1942 when our men were of

ficially reported lost. When the new Government went into office, Senator Cooper requested anyone who was dis satisfied with pensions, etc., to com municate with him. A letter was sent with the following requests; 1. —That widows’ pensions be re viewed; 2. —Furniture Grant be dated back to 1942;

3. —Pensions for noh-govefninent widows to date back to 1942, 4. All monies taken from Govern ment officials’ 1 accrued leave, etc., be paid back.

A reply from Senator Cooper, in which he stated that our comments were noted and would be looked into, was received.

Later, we received word that the mat ter came under External Territories De partment and would be dealt with by them. In due course, we had word from Mr. Halligan, but the only thing he

promised us Was a review of the fur niture grant. Nothing further has been heard.

OUR Christmas festivities were, as usual, a great credit to the working committee who organised them. Our children, whose numbers are getting less each year, had a wonderful party and our thanks go to all who gave dona tions and made it possible.

About 120 adults gathered on Decem ber 23 for a party—one of the best Christmas gatherings we have had.

Finances

THE Club’s balance sheet to June 30, shows that there is a credit of £325 in the general fund, and a credit of £340 in the Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees’ Fund.