Newport Beach
At Newport Beach
Where the wooded hills
Tilt down to the shore,
There the sunshine spills,
And eternally.
As breakers crash on the headlands bold.
The ceaseless tale of the sea is told.
A dreaming pool
Left by ebbing tide
On the amber sand —
From a flame flung wide
By the setting sun
Catches levin bolts of opal sheen —
Glory of crimson and. beryl green.
The road winds in
To the sleepy town
Round, a bushland way
Wandering up and down;
And the road winds out
To Avalon, past the cliff-top bend,
And trees and sky in a slant frieze blend.
Far out at sea
Liners come and go:
Mighty air-ships drone,
Flying swift and low;
Homing sea-birds call;
The rich colour pageant charms and' thrills
At Newport Beach 'mongst its wooded, hills.
— Annie MacDonald.
Newport Beach (1939, August 13). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 23 (MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231416386
In the lead into VP Day 2025 we share a few local connections to the World War Two conflict in the Pacific that may not be well-known, commencing with the Workers' Educational Association 'Summer School' facility, which once stood on the corner of Wallamatta and Nullaburra roads at Newport, and was the venue for Women's Australian National Service (WANS), in particular the Sydney University Wans (known as "Swans") training, and by 1945 was the place for US and UK War Brides (BPF: British Pacific Fleet servicemen) who learnt skills which may make their new lives in their husband's countries easier during the eras when women were expected to leave their own homes, upon marrying, and live in their husband's house and, in these instances, country.
Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day in 2025 will be commemorated on Friday, August 15th in 2025, and will be mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allied forces in 1945. This day signifies the end of World War II in the Pacific and is a time for Australians to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of all those who served in this conflict, and particularly in the Pacific.
A combined Sub-Branches VP Day Commemoration Service will be held at the Avalon Beach RSL Cenotaph, commencing at 11.30am, led by Vice President Tamara Sloper-Harding, OAM, with the 2025 Guest Speaker being Commanding Officer HMAS Waterhen; Commander Lucy Frauenfelder, RAN.
In the Pacific theatre of World War II, Australia experienced significant casualties. The Australian War Memorial records at least 27,073 Australian soldiers were killed and 23,477 wounded from enemy action. The Journal of Military and Veterans' Health states there were an additional 8,000 all-cause deaths of Australians in the Pacific region, from wounds and other factors. Additionally, over 30,000 Australian servicemen were captured by the Japanese during the war, with a significant number dying in captivity.
On September 3rd, 1939, the day Great Britain declared war on Germany, Australia also declared war, announced by then Prime Minister Robert Menzies on national radio. This declaration, a direct consequence of the United Kingdom's declaration of war, reflecting the strong ties between the two nations at the time, began in Europe but soon engulfed the pacific region.
Japan invaded French Indochina on September 22nd, 1940 and five days later, on September 27th, formed a military alliance with Germany and Italy, solidifying its role as an Axis power. This marked a significant step in Japan's expansionist policies and its growing involvement in the global conflict. Japan had been involved in conflicts in East Asia since the 1930s, including the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the escalating conflict with China in 1937. The 1940 event marked a significant escalation of its military actions and its entry into the wider European conflict.
Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in Hawaii on the 7th of December 1941, which immediately led the United States and Great Britain to declare war on Japan. The next day Australia also declared war on Japan, the first declaration of war Australia had ever made independently of Britain.
In his New Year’s message delivered on the radio on 26 December 1941 and published in the Melbourne Herald the next day, Prime Minister John Curtin announced that: ‘Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom.’ This decisive shift away from Great Britain would prove to be, by the end of the conflict, what stopped millions more Chinese peoples starving to death or being killed, and would lead to the restoration of freedoms and peace in other nations invaded by the Japanese forces; Taiwan (Formosa), the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Burma (now Myanmar), Borneo, Celebes, the Netherlands East Indies, (including Sumatra, Batavia, Java, Timor, Ambon), the Mariana Islands, Guam, Palau and Caroline islands, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The conflict, which would continue for 6 years, saw Australia attacked for the first time, at Darwin, and through the mini-submarine attacks within Sydney Harbour and along the eastern seaboard, with one of these being found off Bungan Beach, now an official war grave.
When the Empire of Japan captured the British stronghold of Singapore between February 8 to 15 1942, imprisoning young men like Warriewood's Walter Williams and Palm Beach SLSC's Adrian Curlewis, by then Prime Minister John Curtin recalled many of the Australians serving in North Africa and the Europeans theatres of conflict.
Pittwater's Anthony Ruskin Rowe, a spitfire pilot and one of those recalled, lost his life on June 20th 1943 defending Darwin, while Narrabeen resident Lindsay Dufty served on the ground in the top end.
In Pittwater a submarine boom would be placed between Barrenjoey and the West Head headlands, anti-tank traps would rip up the countryside between Mona Vale, Bungan and Bayview, barbed wire would be placed along the beaches to thwart invasion and troops would be stationed at gun emplacements along the peninsula, while Coast Watchers, along with women who stayed would be part of the 'spotter' squads - stationing themselves along each headland - with the women taking on a roster of each staying atop the headlands twice each each week to look out for and report enemy ships, submarines and planes. Only one known fatality is recorded, at this stage, of those all-women 'spotter' squads, Palm Beach resident Ailsa Craig, by then the wife of Captain George Urquhart (Scotty) Allan.
Workers
The Workers' Educational Association arrived in Australia in 1913. It had been founded in England in 1903 by Albert Mansbridge as 'An Association to Promote the Higher Education of Working Men'. His experience in the British co-operative movement was that workers wanted political and industrial power, but lacked the knowledge to use it, which could be provided by the universities. Growing demand for adult education in Australia led Peter Board, Director of Education in New South Wales, to establish Evening Continuation Schools in 1911 to provide continuity of education between primary school and employment. As a member of the University of Sydney Senate, Mr. Board was concerned about what he saw as a lack of effective outreach by universities, and 1912 he drafted the New South Wales Parliament bill which established evening tutorial classes at the University.
In the same year, Mr. Mansbridge wrote to David Stewart, a Scottish-born carpenter who had arrived in Sydney in 1910 and was a delegate to the Labor Council of New South Wales. In 1912 Stewart persuaded the Council to investigate sponsoring a scheme for working-class education. He met Board, who remained a strong supporter of the WEA and tutorial classes, but he found the University unenthusiastic. Mansbridge's visit to Sydney in late 1913, however, provided the catalyst for the establishment of the New South Wales branch of the WEA. Stewart was elected unopposed as general secretary, a post he would hold until his death in 1954.
By the end of World War I the WEA had 80 affiliated organisations, including 38 unions. At the end of its first decade, it had 120 affiliated courses and was the most prominent provider of adult education in Australia. At the time of Stewart's death the organisation served more than 8,000 students, offered 103 courses and 31 study circles across New South Wales, hundreds of lectures, and a Summer school complex at Newport.
The WEA Summer School at Newport was established when David Stewart and Francis Armand Bland purchased two lots of land at Newport in the Spring of 1923.
In Vol-Fol 1749-227 is the land at the current day eastern end of Wallumatta, Irrubel and Bardo roads, Newport which was sold off by NSW Realty Company from October 6th 1906 on, on behalf of the Widows Fund Life Assurance Society. These were preceded, including Lots 23 and 22 on corner of Wallamatta and Nullaburra – in Vol-Fol: 1529-162 (Benjamin James 175 acres).
George Morgan, Merchant of Sydney, had a similar power of sale – see all these in Vol-Fol 1733-244 - from October 11 1906; of the further western and eastern ends of lots left. This included lots 22 and 23 – which included the future WEA site of 1 acre 3 roods and 21 ½ perches:
Lots 22 and 23 are sold to Vicary Horniman, Civil Servant, (Vol-Fol 2468-7) with the Certificate of Title registered on April 27th 1914. He sells to Mary Ann Edwards, wife of Robert Edwards of Narrabeen, Labourer, with the exchange recorded on September 27th, 1928:
On September 27th 1923 and David Stewart, Secretary, and Francis Armand Bland, University Lecturer, buy part of this (Lots 7 and 8 measuring 38 perches) with the Certificate of Title registered on July 19th 1924; Vol-Fol: 3616-125. They then turn over the same to the WEA on September 15 1924:
Francis Armand Bland, CMG, was a public servant, academic and politician who became a lecturer at the University of Sydney in 1913. Although his activities in adult education were soon overshadowed by his contributions to public administration, including becoming an adviser to the Premier of New South Wales, Thomas Bavin (Nationalist) in 1928, and remained in that position during the second administration of Jack Lang (NSW Labor) and the beginning of the administration of Bertram Stevens (UAP) and, in 1935 becoming a Professor of Public Administration, Editor and Author, and in 1951 being elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for the safe seat of Warringah, and holding the seat until his retirement in 1961, he continued to take tutorial classes for a further thirty years.
David Stewart, a carpenter by trade, is credited with much of the construction of the facility with plans approved in May 1924 and outside of their use over the Summer months, to be hired out to others - the Sydney Morning Herald reported:
SUMMER SCHOOL.
The Workers' Educational Association has decided to erect buildings for summer schools at Newport, and the plans have been passed by the Warringah Shire Council. The buildings will be used primarily for the summer schools, extending over about two months at Christmas time, and when the schools are not in session the buildings will be available for clubs, and will therefore, be revenue produc-ing. The site is on the crest of a gentle slope overlooking Newport Beach, and within five minutes' walk of Pittwater. The buildings are estimated to cost about £7000. SUMMER SCHOOL. (1924, May 14). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16135905
First gathering at WEA Newport Centre, 19th of October 1924 : WEA Collection
The first reported classes and lectures took place over December 1924 and January 1925 and included some provided by Francis Bland:
W.E.A. ACTIVITIES
Summer School
The W.E.A. has just completed a three weeks summer school in the new camping home at Newport. Members of the association have attended from various parts of the State, including Newcastle. The 'school' equipment, which Is costing the association upwards of £1700, is pleasantly situated among the trees on the slope overlooking the ocean beach. The time has been passed with an agree able mixture of holiday frolic and mental stimulation.
Mr. G. V. Portus, the director, lectured on 'The Influence of Geographical Factors In History' and 'The Conflict of Loyalties'; Mr. J. M. Nolan on 'The Founding of Sydney and Discovery of Pittwater.' The Rev. E. H. Burginann, of Armidale, provided a series of five lectures on 'The Psychology of the Family and Religion,' and 'The Myths of Birth and Rebirth'; Mr. F. A. Bland, three on 'The Functions of Government and Local Government,' and 'The Rights of Public Servants*' Mr. R. E. Mauldon, of Newcastle, lectured on 'The Influence of Physiography upon Communities on the Hunter.'
There were also three debates on the programme, three play-readings by Mrs. Gultermann, and a couple of evenings of impromptu speeches. Altogether the school has been a very pleasant holiday, combined with a most healthful stimulation of mind and mutual understanding among the students. W.E.A. ACTIVITIES (1925, January 14). The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163316935
A full description of the building was described in another news item, which closed with the premises being available for others to let:
WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
SUMMER SCHOOL BUILDING.
The W.E.A. Summer School Building is situated on the crest of a rise sloping gently from the southern end of Newport Beach. Bushrangers' Hill, to the south-east, breaks the force of the southerlies, and on the west another bush-covered hill shelters us from the hot westerlies. The house is built to face the north-east, with a magnificent view of the beach on one side, and bush and hill on the other. It is open to the cool northeast breeze, making the hottest days bearable.
The building itself is designed to provide kitchen, dining room, and lecture hall accommodation for fifty students, with a sleeping accommodation for twenty, but part of the big front verandah, which we use for holding lectures, can easily be made to provide additional sleeping accommodation. The over-all size of the building is 60 feet by 42 feet, with eaves projecting about two feet beyond this all round. In the front we have a glassed-in verandah, 42 feet by 16 feet, which is used as a lecture hall, lounge, etc.
Beyond this verandah there are eight-feet sleeping-out verandahs running practically the full length of the building on either side. They each provide accommodation for eight guests. Four dressing cubicles, each containing toilet chest, cupboard and a good supply of wardrobe hooks, provide convenient dressing rooms for those sleeping out.
The room accommodation comprises three bedrooms, a dining room 25 feet by 16 feet, a kitchen 17 feet by 15 feet, a very large pantry, a bathroom (at present without a bath), and a small room for a shower. The house is built with weatherboard up to the windowsills, with fibro-cement above that. It is lined throughout with Adamo board.
The furnishing includes thirty beds with mattress, pillow, blanket and counterpane for each bed; thirty plain' kitchen chairs; three armchairs; crockery and cutlery for thirty-six; an adequate supply of saucepans and cooking utensils, toilet chests in two of the bedrooms, and mirrors in each bedroom and dressing cubicle. The building is lit by the Wizard Hollow-wire Lighting System, which also provides a gas ring.
The house is admirably situated for a large party. The association would give preference in letting to educational or social organisations. We are convinced that there must be a number of such organisations, which, like ourselves, have found it difficult to secure accommodation for a large company. Terms on application to D. Stewart, Education Building, Bridge Street, Sydney.. WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION. (1925, February 7). The Methodist (Sydney, NSW : 1892 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155275915
WEA Summer School at Newport in 1957.Photo: WEA
Back garden drama tuition at the WEA summer school, Newport 1949 + front verandah, courtesy National Library of Australia [PIX, Vol. 23 No. 13 (24 September 1949), p24, via Trove]
Further insights into the following Summer's programmes were published, with one Notice showing David Stewart must have been on site or close by during these times:
W.EA. SUMMER SCHOOL
The annual W.E. A summer School is to be held at Newport from December 20 1926 to January 1, 1927. The summer school provides an ideal holiday for those who want the few days or weeks at their disposal to provide a mental stimulus, as well as a time for rest and recreation. Newport has magnificent scenery, surfing, swimming, boating and tennis. In addition to lectures, the social committee organises various functions, and members of the committee make it their special business to introduce strangers to other members of the company. The school is organised somewhat on the lines of a camp. Guests are expected to attend lectures arranged during their stay at the school, unless prevented by unavoidable circumstances. Further information can be secured from the University district tutor (Mr. C. E. Martin), Merewether. W.E.A. SUMMER SCHOOL (1926, November 30). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135178938
SUMMER SCHOOL - W.E.A. At Newport
The Workers' Educational Association summer school Is to be held at Newport from December 20 till January 10. The study programme for the International Week, from January 4 till January 10, will be under the leadership of Mr. Raymond C. Watt, secretary of the League of Nations Union. He will give a series of four lectures, around which It Is hoped some useful discussion will focus. The titles of the lectures are:— "Democracy— the Challenge of Bolshevism and Fascism." "Comparative, Social, and Educational Standards; Status of Women," "International Labor Organisations," "The League of Nations and the Attitude of Different National Groups towards It."
The enrolment for this week Is still small. If the numbers Increase sufficiently within the next fortnight to warrant it, arrangements will be made for a series of four lectures on Australian literature. No lecture programme is being arranged from January 10 to 14. The W.E.A, office, In the Education Buildings, will be closed from December 20 to January 10. Letters and urgent business should be addressed to the. general secretary, Mr. D. Stewart, W.E.A. Summer School, Newport, New South Wales; 'phone, Mona Vale No. 159. SUMMER SCHOOL (1926, December 9). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245916425
WEA marine biology weekend at Newport 1929. Photo: WEA
The focus on being able to hire the facility out to others to generate income proved successful, with many organisations leasing the site for functions including the Agricultural Bureau (1940) - later the Department of Agriculture (1950),the Recreation and Leadership Movement (1940), the with later ones including the Australian Student Labor Federation (1960), the Australian-Indonesian Association (1961), the New South Wales branch of the Australia-China Society (1962) with people who were at the top of their field in Australia and Internationally providing lectures and classes.
One conference certainly worth noting, given his later role in this subject, was a speaker at the 'Third Annual Conference of the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement' held February 26 to 28 1960 at WEA's Summer Schoolhouse at Newport. The Tribune reported:
Aboriginal bid for equal rights
SYDNEY: Presence of Aboriginals from a number of States was a feature of the Third Annual Conference on Aboriginal Advancement, held at Newport last weekend.
A proposal by the Aboriginal's for equal white and Aboriginal re-presentation on Government bodies dealing with Aboriginals was unani-mously adopted by the Conference. The Aboriginals further proposed that government departments should consider the wider employment of Aboriginals for work among their own people; this too was adopted by the conference. About 20 Aboriginals and part-Aboriginals were present among the 70 to 80 people attending the sessions.
Others present included Federal Labor parliamentarians G. Bryant (Victoria) and E. G. Whitlam (NSW) and South Australian Labor parliamentarian D. Dunstan. Mr. Dunstan was elected president of the Council for the coming year.
Repeal laws
Among the unions represented were the Building Workers Industrial Union and the Amalgamated Engineering Union. The Newcastle Trades Hall Council and a number of women's organisations also sent delegates.
The conference unanimously called for the repeal of all laws discriminating against Aboriginals and for an Act to prohibit discrimination in future. Equal pay for equal work by whites or Aboriginal settlements to the Aboriginals and a federal grant of £10 millions especially for Aboriginal houses were also demanded.
Stuart Commission
In a strong declaration the Conference declared "the extraordinary constitution of the South Australian Royal Commission on the Stuart case and the inconsistencies and double standards evident in its report." It proposed that the International Commission of Jurists should investigate the constitution of the Commission.
Miss Shirley Andrews of Victoria said that recent social services act amendments had brought considerable improvements, but there was a tendency to whittle them down in application.
£1 a week
Officials had told Miss Andrews that payment to Aboriginals of sums up to 33/- a week (the amount paid to white Australians living in institutions) would "disrupt local economics". Aboriginals' wages (often £2 a week or £1 a week for women) were now lower than unemployment benefits (up to £6/2/6 a week) or widow's pension (£6 for widow with three children). -
Dr. Charles Duguid, veteran fighter for the Aboriginals, said that the brutality of the last century had been replaced by "damnable" social and legal discrimination.
Dr. Barry Christophers of Melbourne said that in Darwin contempt for Aboriginals is reflected in the degrading names under which they appear on the official register — Tadpole, Spon-dulicks, Blind Nelly, Hunchback Nell and Strike-a-light. Delegates were told that Aboriginals deeply resented police in some parts of NSW invading their homes with out a warrant and even without knocking. Some Aboriginals had been barred from visiting Aboriginal stations to see sick or dying relatives.
Co-Op. Thrives
Rev. Alf Clint, speaking on the fostering of co-operatives, gave an inspiring picture of what had been done at Lockhart River in Queensland and the beginnings made at Cabbage Tree Island in NSW. The greatest change at Lockhart River had been in the people them-selves as they took on responsibilities. The conference was told that Aboriginal people in many areas were keen to form co-operatives. Aboriginal bid for equal rights (1960, March 2). Tribune (Sydney, NSW : 1939 - 1991), p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236738256
WANs
However, it is the W.E.A.'s connection with Sydney University that brought WAN's to Newport in 1941, through the work of Hilda Barnes, who is stated to have formed Sydney University's WANS. Hilda was the daughter of Aimee Barnes and Sydney University's Gerard Charles Barnes, Scientific Instrument maker, who was gassed in World War One in France (December 1917 - served 1915 to 1919) and later credited for the 'perfection of modern range-finding equipment for the armed services' in World War Two.
FOUNDER OF VARSITY WANS
THE founder and commanding officer of the Sydney University Wans, Miss Hilda Barnes, is having her second experience of camp life. With 40 other Wans she is in camp at Newport at the Workers' Educational Association House. The former camp was held at Richmond in August.
Miss Barnes, whose mother, Mrs. G. C. Barnes, is also a member of the Wans and is in camp at Clontarf, was educated at Sydney High School and is now a third-year Economics student at Sydney University. While at school she played in the first hockey and tennis teams and now plays inter-faculty hockey at the university. She is on the committee of the University Ski Club and goes to Kosciusko every year for the ski-ing season. Besides playing most games, Miss Barnes is fond of swimming, motoring and reading. She holds the rank of Lieutenant of the Wans. PERSONALITIES OF THE WEEK (1941, January 30). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 21 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230948280
Hilda Patricia Barnes, circa 1939-40. Photo: courtesy National Archives of Australia WWII Records
The "Regiment of Wans" refers to the Sydney University Regiment (SUR), an officer training regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. It has a long history, tracing its origins back to 1900 with the formation of the University Volunteer Rifle Corps. SUR is dedicated to preparing officer cadets for graduation from the Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC) and providing individual training for soldiers and officers in the Army Reserve.
The "Regiment of Wans" was the Women's Australian National Service (WANS), a volunteer organisation established in Australia in 1940 to assist in the war effort. They provided various crucial support services, including first aid, air raid precautions, and more.
A few insights into the 1941 WANS camps based at Newport's WEA facility, before newspapers became more cautious about what they were running in the wake of attacks on Sydney and Darwin in 1942, which were preceded by the December 7 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour. Strict censorship was imposed in Australia at the start of World War II. The Menzies Government formed the Department of Information (DOI) to control publicity as it was thought censorship was necessary to prevent valuable information falling into enemy hands and to maintain high morale at home. Those January-February 1941 insights:
Girl Students In Camp At Newport
Forty girl undergraduates of Sydney University will go into camp at the Workers Educational Association’s premises at Newport early tomorrow morning. They are members of the University Branch of the W.AN.S, and will spend nine days at the camp, working hard. It will be no picnic outing for the girls, who will be engaged all day in learning signalling, first aid, home nursing and squad drill. Arising at 6.30am they will have a surf before breakfast. This will be their only relaxation until late afternoon. The girls will be divided Into three platoons and each platoon will take turns at ‘’fatigue’’ doing the cooking, cleaning, housework, serving of meals. Miss Hilda Barnes is organising the camp, assisted by Miss Barbara Crago. A similar camp for University W.A.N.S was held last August at Castlereagh. Girl Students In Camp At Newport (1941, January 28). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247512767
Forty "Swans" Learn Campcraft
LESS than 15 minutes after the Sydney University Wans (known as "Swans") had arrived at Newport today, they were on parade, taking orders from the commanding officer, Lieutenant Hilda Barnes.
The forty girls arrived by car and bus, wearing their Wans street uniforms and before the parade whistle went they had changed into working clothes, had a quick morning tea, unpacked their kit-bags, arranged their beds, received their "fatigues" for the day, and were ready for work.
The camp will last for nine days, during which the girls will receive training in hygiene, emergency first aid, care of tents, signalling and other campcraft. A feature of the camp will be a route inarch to Palm Beach, which will be the first the "Swans" have attempted. For the march, which will take about four hours, the girls will wear khaki shorts and shirts, and they will carry their food supplies with them.
The daily programme consists of reveille at 6.30 a.m., followed by a swim, breakfast, lectures, squad drill study and camp work during the day, and a swim again in the late afternoon. They will each take their turn at doing the various household tasks. Lieutenant Barnes's mother, Mrs, G. C. Barnes, is also in camp, now being stationed at Clontarf, where she is chief quartermaster of the Wans, who are doing the canteen work for the coastal patrol in camp there.
Among the girls, who come from practically every faculty except engineering, are the well-known golfer, Barbara Crago, who is a lieutenant and who is assistant to the commanding officer, Lieutenant Philippa Street, Sergeant Joan McKibbin, and Sergeant Joy Minnett, well-known University sportswoman, Miss Barbara Glasgow, prominent actress in S.U.D.S., Misses Georgette Matson, Elaine Browne, Gwen Thompson, Joan King, Ranla Single and Mary Bertram. Forty "Swans" Learn Campcraft (1941, January 29). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 11 (LAST RACE ALL DETAILS). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230941069
ARMED VEHICLES IN REHEARSAL FOR DISPLAY - CANBERRA WAR MEMORIAL - W.A.N.S. IN CAMP AT NEWPORT.
A light tank leading Bren gun carriers in a run around the Showground arena yesterday in rehearsal for to-morrow's A.I.F. sports meeting. Items on the programme will range from athletics to technical displays.
Girls of the Sydney University W.A.N.S. (known as "Suans") training yesterday for their route march from their Newport camp to Palm Beach next week.
Squadron-Leader Garrett, the new commanding officer of No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Mascot, inspecting the garrison guard at Kingsford Smith airport, Mascot, yesterday.
The National War Memorial Museum, which is now taking shape at Ainslie, Canberra. The latest addition is the copper dome.
"Suans" plan their day. The commanding officer of the Sydney University W.A.N.S., Lieutenant Hilda Barnes (right), conferring with Sergeant-Major Gwen Thompson. ARMED VEHICLES IN REHEARSAL FOR DISPLAY — CANBERRA WAR MEMORIAL — W.A.N.S. IN CAMP AT NEWPORT. (1941, February 1). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17737001
NO DRESS RIVALRY AT UNIVERSITY CAMP
Regular bus passengers waiting at Wynyard Square early yesterday morning were startled at the arrival of 40 girls, most of them dressed in khaki, "giggle" suits and wearing matching sou'-westers.
They were University students and some of this year's freshers, who have gone into camp at the Workers' Educational Association House at Newport. Carrying canvas . haversacks and mackintoshes, they boarded the 8; 45 a.m. Palm Beach bus. Their luggage was severely rationed.
There will be no competition in dress in the camp, as the girls will be uniformly attired for all occasions. The giggle suits which most of them wore on their departure are an important item in their wardrobes, which also include khaki, shorts and slacks. For formal occasions, such as church on Sunday, the girls will wear the uniform of the W.A.N.S., with which their group is affiliated.
GIGGLE SUITS for University Wans. Misses Philippa Street (left) and Joan Baldock arrive at Wynyard Square to catch the bus to Newport, where forty University girls yesterday went into camp. HEAVING THEIR LUGGAGE on board the bus before setting out for Newport. Misses Georgette Matson (left) and Barbara Glasgow, members of the University Wans, who went into camp yesterday. NO DRESS RIVALRY AT UNIVERSITY CAMP (1941, January 30). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247508990
CAMP TRAINING FOR UNIVERSITY WANS
University Wans arriving at their Newport, Sydney, camp for nine days' training in first aid, home nursing and signalling. CAMP TRAINING FOR UNIVERSITY WANS (1941, January 30). The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167444992
Girls of the Sydney University W.A.N.S. (known as "Suans") training yesterday for their route march from their Newport camp to Palm Beach next week. ARMED VEHICLES IN REHEARSAL FOR DISPLAY — CANBERRA WAR MEMORIAL — W.A.N.S. IN CAMP AT NEWPORT. (1941, February 1). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17737001
Wans Camp Has Sentries On Guard
No one shirks fatigue duties at Clontarf. Stoking means 6 a.m. rising for Wan, Violet Holder. Breakfast is served promptly at 8.15. Wans cook, wash up. Members of the Coastal Patrol dry the dishes for them. There is no special working dress for the Wans. They wear print frocks, dirndls. Cosmetics are permitted, but girls are too busy to use elaborate make-up.
Twenty Wans at Clontarf are getting a taste of service discipline. In a sentry-guarded camp, they are undergoing a period of training in canteen cooking, and are practising signalling in conjunction with members of the Volunteer Coastal Patrol.
This joint activity camp is of particular interest in view of the proposal to send a women's unit to the Middle East, for it is known that several Wans have individually made application for service abroad. Rigid discipline is maintained at the camp, and every care taken that no incident should occur to which even the most strict "Mother Grundy" could object.
OUT of bounds notices divide the camp into separate sections for men and women, and only when on duty and superintended by officers do members of the organisations mingle. The camp, where members of the Volunteer Coastal Patrol are also training, is the first in which' Wans have completely controlled canteens.' There is no special working dress for the Wans at Clontarf. Print frocks and… are a popular choice. Make-up is permitted, provided the lipstick and nail lacquer arc hoi in vivid shades. The women, who include in married women and business girls on leave from their jobs, rise at (i a.m. lo light camp fires and heat large coppers for breakfast at 8.15. Roll call is al G.,10 a.m. Physical exercises take the form of wood chopping and carrying lulis of water. The women wash up, the men stacking the dishes and drying them. Camp inspection is carried out daily by a V.C.P. officer, a camp doctor and Miss Scoll, Wans' group leader. Spare time is devoted to practising Morse code and semaphore signalling with members of the V.C.P. Balanced meals are provided according to a scientific diet cliarl. A typical menu is: —
Breakfast: Prunes and cereal, tomatoes and bacon, marmalade, bread and butter and tea. Lunch: Pea soup, grilled chops and shredded lettuce, ice cream, bread and jam, and tea. Dinner: Roast mutton, baked potatoes and cabbage, rhubarb pie and custard, and black coffee.
No hair must dangle on coat collars in the Women's Volunteer Naval Reserve. Lieutenants' S. J. Green (left) and M. Long wear their's cropped short.
Another Wans ramp is being held at Newport where members of the University are receiving practical training.
' Dorothy Leason learns a numerical sign from instructor Signalman J. Whitworth, of the Volunteer Coastal Patrol. Use of the Morse key is demonstrated to Mrs. A. B. Pickering by Signalmate lies. Under the heading of exercise, Wans Mavis Holder and Alice Howard chop the wood for the day. Wans Camp Has Sentries On Guard (1941, February 2). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 1 (Women's Section). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230940024
TRAINING AS SIGNALLER
ELAINE BROWN, of Sydney University W.A.N.S., practising signalling at Newport camp yesterday. The W.A.N.S. will do nine days' training in first aid, home nursing and signalling. TRAINING AS SIGNALLER (1941, January 30). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247508891
WANS MARCH 14 MILES IN RAIN
Singing "Three Little Fishes" as their marching song, "because it had an appropriately watery sound," the Sydney University Wans squelched 14 miles through pouring rain today on the final route march of their present camp. . Soaked to the skin but happy, the Wans arrived back at Newport after the long march to Palm Bench, claiming a record. "So far as we know," a spokeswoman declared proudly, "no other women's organisation has walked so far." Wearing khaki shorts, the Wans marched the 14 miles in three hours and a half, and it rained all the way. WANS MARCH 14 MILES IN RAIN (1941, February 5). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 5 (LAST RACE ALL DETAILS). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230950066
Later that same year those at the WEA building helped fight a bushfire:
Big Newport Bushfire Fought By 1000 Men And Women
More than 1000 -civilians, soldiers and firemen last night fought desperately for two hours to save homes from destruction when a bushfire sweat through scrubland around Irrubel - road, Newport. Careless campers started the fire.
FATIGUED, the fighters rested when the fire had almost been defeated, but it spread again and all had to resume their beating. Twelve girls in slacks and shorts from the W.E.A. Summer School at Newport helped the fire-fighters. . Fire brigades from Narrabeen and Avalon attended, but before the fire had been checked it had: —
Swept through several properties; Threatened a score of cottages, necessitating the removal of furniture to safety; and Threatened a woman and children, who were saved only by a lucky change of wind.
Remained Alone
The campers who started the fire fled in a car when it began to spread. It was first seen by three girls from the W.E.A. school. While Miss Roma Payne (25), of Anzac-parade, Maroubra, a guest student at the school, remained alone to fight the fire, her two girl companions hurried off to obtain assistance.
"It had just commenced to catch on to the dry 'jungle' when we saw It." Miss Payne told "The Sunday Sun."
"Miss Osborne, one of the teachers, run to a party of campers, who immediately came to help. Then she ran back to the school to get the rest of the party.
"About 15 girls and 20 or 30 men, all attending the school, immediately turned out. "
"But there were insufficient of us to do anything but prevent the fire from reaching our school and the nearby buildings. "The men were occupied mostly in helping the people in the houses to take out their furniture. "The girls were very brave. Their only fear was that their hair would catch alight.
Lecture Went On
"We fought for about two hours, by which time there were over 100 civilians, many in bathing suits and bare feet, a large number of soldiers, and the two fire brigades. "We were black with smoke and ashes when we returned to the school. "We thought we'd missed a rather 'dry' lecture, set down for 7.30 p.m. But we didn't. They waited until we had all returned, and then turned it on."
Premises in Walloumadda-road, occupied by Mr. Martin and Mr. Mitchell, were saved. Several fences round the buildings were destroyed, "We were lucky the place was full of Christmas' visitors to help fight the blaze," said Mr. F. T. Jeffery, Newport estate agent. "It was pretty fierce." Police were inquiring for the campers who had started the fire, said Mr. F. J. Griffiths, W.E.A. executive, who also fought the flames. Mr. Griffiths praised the W.E.A. girls. "They'd make good fire-fighters in Sydney if the occasion ever arose," he said. Big Newport Bushfire Fought By 1000 Men And Women (1941, December 28). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230965638
The 'Walloumadda-road' mentioned would be Wallamatta road. "Wallamatta" is an Aboriginal word meaning "place of snapper fish" or "snapper fish place" and from the Eora language. It refers to the Wallumattagal people, an Aboriginal tribe from the Ryde-Hunters Hill area of Sydney.
Hilda Barnes joined the WAAF on August 11 1941 and served until discharged in November 1945. She was around Darwin in 1942, going on at least two flights - one there and another in north Queensland. Her war records state on September 28 1942 she flew in a test flight for the 'Wirraway', which involved aerobatics, which Flight Officer Bill Deague later confirmed when this was questioned, and in November 1943 in a 'Loadstar' from Townsville to Cairns via Palm Island, the flight Squadron Officer this time being the legendary Amy Gwen Stark. Hilda's records state she was at that time the officer-in-charge of medical records and took the flight with the principal medical officer 'for the purpose of seeing the Lepersarium at Palm Island and visiting units at Cairns'.
Section Officer Hilda Barnes. Maker: Heysen, Nora. Place made: Australia: Queensland, North Queensland, Cairns. Date made: 1945
The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the largest of the Second World War women's services. It was disbanded in December 1947. A new Australian women's air force was formed in July 1950 and in November became the Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF). The WRAAF was disbanded in the early 1980s as female personnel were absorbed into the mainstream RAAF.
However, W.E.A. Summer School at Newport photos, apparently dated as taken on June 24th 1942, just weeks after the Japanese submarine attacks on Sydney Harbour and along the eastern seaboard, as photographed by Ivan Ives, courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd., show how the school and Newport looked then - these have not been found in any articles, so far, from that period, so no one in them can be named, as yet - although it is known Mr. Ives took photos for PIX magazine during these years and that they too ceased naming the places their images were taken:
WEA guests and north-east aspect in background - note roads in Newport had still not been sealed - those further north, Burrawong road in north Avalon and Surf Road in Whale Beach weren't sealed until 1983!
MUNITION WORKERS THEIR FIGHT, TOO—GIRLS BEHIND GUNS, Pix (May 30, 1942) Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-476505993
Wives
The third aspect relating to the WEA Summer school at Newport and directly linked to VP Day was the use of the premises for War Brides support measures, perfect for those who are today's June Brides and busy with their final preparations for the big day. In some traditions, June is considered a lucky month for weddings, potentially stemming from Roman times and the goddess Juno, the goddess of marriage. It is believed when a couple marry in June, they will be blessed with happiness forever.
During World War II, Australian war brides and fiancées formed the US Servicemen's Wives and Fiancées' Club, and the UK Servicemen's Wives and Fiancées' Club, which had branches in all state capitals. The club's main goal was to prepare Australian women for life in the United States and United Kingdom, including American and English customs, cooking, and way of life. The Australian War Memorial describes the clubs as places where they could meet and discuss their shared experiences and concerns. In a period of two and a half years, over 10,000 marriages and 2,000 engagements between Australian women and US servicemen occurred. Others state Between 1944 and 1946, 15,000 young women from all over Australia immigrated to the United States, now the wives and fiancées of American servicemen.
Photo: A MEETING OF WIVES AND FIANCEES OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN. AS WAS TO BE EXPECTED, MANY OF THE FRIENDSHIPS WHICH DEVELOPED BETWEEN LONELY AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND YOUNG AUSTRALIAN WOMEN RIPENED INTO MORE LASTING ASSOCIATIONS. IN AUGUST 1945 IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT 10,000 WIVES OR FIANCEES OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN WOULD EVENTUALLY GO TO THE UNITED STATES. Courtesy AWM. Place: North & Central America: United States of America. Accession Number: 042776
US sources state that American men married between 60 and 70 thousand women across all the theatres of conflict they had served in. With American men and women heading home by the Winter of 1945, planners behind ''Operation Magic Carpet'', the largest combined air and sealift ever organised, worked tirelessly to bring the more than eight million men and women from every service branch, scattered across 55 theatres of war and spanning four continents, “Home Alive By ‘45.” In 1945 the War Brides Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress to facilitate the immigration of foreign wives, fiancées, and minor children of American servicemen who had served during World War II. The law aimed to help veterans readjust to civilian life by easing the process of bringing their foreign spouses and dependents to the United States. The act was later supplemented by the Alien Fiancées and Fiancés Act of 1946, which further expanded the eligibility of foreign fiancées to immigrate to the U.S.
Above: Circa 1943 wives class at Newport's WEA facilities. Photo: AWM.
The AWM states Australia's first school for wives was organised by Captain Cecil Gidley, AIF, a graduate of Sydney University and a Teacher before he became secretary of the Lord Mayor of Sydney's Allied Relations Committee and Officer-in-Charge of the American Division, Australian Department of Information. Nineteen war brides, members of Sydney US Servicemen's Wives and Fiancées Association attended, learning more about their own country in order to talk of Australia in American homes. Last class receives a talk from Mrs R. Scott of Sydney, NSW, honorary supervisor and an energetic war welfare worker. Left to right in above photo are: Shirley Suarez of Detroit, Michigan, US; Mary McCormack; Elaine Mooney; Marjorie Eastman; Phyllis Layton-Ives; Mrs John Maurer; Beryl Tooth; Gloria Grey-Sutcliffe. Captain Gidley is seated behind Mrs Grey-Sutcliffe.
Also credited is Elva Collins, who founded another club for US wives and fiancées in September 1943:
LOVELY gift of lingerie satin for her trousseau received by Elva Collins from her future mother-in-law. Mrs. E. W. Newton-Hager, of Santiago, California. Elva, who is president of N.S.W. Wives and Fiancées of United States Servicemen's Club, plans marriage when fiance, Chief Warrant-Officer Maurice Newton-Hager, U.S. Navy, gets Ieave.
Bride-to-be's aunt, Mrs. Pauline Atlas, who lives in America, is sending out wedding gown for ceremony. Elva, who commenced club in N.S.W., which now has membership of more than 100, invites any Australian girls who are engaged or married to U.S. servicemen to join. On and Off DUTY. (1944, June 3). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 16. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47219314
There isn’t a busier girl in this city than Elva Collins. Elva founded and is president of the First N.S.W. Wives and Fiancées’ of U.S. Servicemen’s Club. It has a membership of 250, and Elva is kept busy finding accommodation for out-of-town members, or sometimes even arrivals from other States who have come to Sydney to marry U.S. servicemen. The club is a happy centre for the girls, and the president’s experience is invaluable for those departing for a new country.
The club’s first birthday will be on Saturday, and patroness Mrs. Ely Palmer, and General Rilea, of the U.S. Army, will be the guests of honor at the celebrations in Vere Mathews’s cafe. Miss Collins is engaged to Chief Warrant-Officer Maurice Newton-Hager, of the U.S. Navy. Women's Letters, September 13, 1944 The Bulletin Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-539530169
The love matches are of interest to Pittwater’s history, first for US Brides, and later for those who had married or were engaged to British Pacific Fleet servicemen and would head to the U.K., as a series of educational weekends were held at Newport – with photographs taken by Mr Ives for PIX in 1945 allowing us to see, in the background and foreground, the Newport of then, along with remembering our own girls were not immune to the charms of those who came to Australia as part of those Pacific operations - just one example is Lois Wickham of Avalon Beach:
KOONCE-WICKHAM.—The Engagement is announced of Lois Jean, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stan Wickham, of Avalon Beach, to 1st Lieut. William D. Koonce, Adjt.-General's Dept., U.S. Army, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Koonce, of Hollywood, California. Family Notices (1942, August 22). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17801559
Born July 9, 1912 and passed away May 16, 2005.
After having graduated from UCLA with a Bachelors degree in Education, where he was a member of the ROTC, he received his masters and supervisory credential from USC. He taught in the Los Angeles public school system for 28 years, where he shared his love of art and history.
William served proudly as an officer in the U.S. Army from 1941-1953, serving with honour in the South Pacific during WWII from 1941-1946. It was during this time that he met his loving wife, Lois. She remained the light of his life for the last 63 years. William is survived by his beloved wife, Lois; his two devoted children, son Gary, daughter Charlene Broudy, son-in-law, Sherrill; and endeared grandson Skye Gwilliam. Liked by all who knew him, William was a kind and gentle man with a great sense of humour. He lived a truly full life and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Private interment at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills.
A few reports from the newspapers of then provide insights into what was taking place, with that Sydney University connection, through Capt. Cecil William Gidley, turning up again:
Brides Back To School
AUSTRALIAN BRIDES of American servicemen photographed in the bus which 'carried them from Wynyard Station to Newport, where a two-day school sponsored by the Allied Relations Committee was opened today. The girls will be given lectures on American and Australian history and geography, Australian Literature, and Australian plant life with a view to preparing them for their, future life in America. Brides Back To School (1945, March 21). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 2 (Country Edition). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article272494820
WAR BRIDES TO ATTEND SCHOOL
Sydney. — More man 45 brides and fiancées of U.S. servicemen will leave today to attend a week-end school at Newport, on the north coast. It will be the fourth of a series organised by the Allied Relations Committee for the U.S. Wives and Fiancées’ Association to bring together members of the association in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere and let them hear informative lectures on American and Australian affairs. WAR BRIDES TO ATTEND SCHOOL (1945, June 1). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article249172578
SCHOOL FOR U.S. BRIDES
These THREE PRETTY GIRLS (top) have enrolled at the U.S. Wives and Sweethearts' School at Newport (N.S.W.), where they study and listen to lectures on the American way of life. They are Mrs. Julie Hull, North Parramatta, Miss Verris Glasby, Randwick, and Mrs. Margaret Hansen, Bexley. Right: Mrs. Rhona Sasher plans for life in Washington, D.C. The housing shortage problem is one subject she has no need to study. SCHOOL FOR U.S. BRIDES (1945, June 2). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 3 (Last Race Foot Ball). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article272465965
CAKE DECORATIONS LENT TO WIVES OF U.S. SERVICEMEN
Decorations bought two years ago, by Miss Elva Collins for her own wedding cake have not yet been used by her, but have been lent to twelve members of the First N.S.W. Wives and Fiancées of U.S. Servicemen's Club.
Miss Collins is president of the club. Her fiancé, Chief Warrant-Officer Maurice Newton-Hager, U.S. Navy, has been unable to get leave to be married, and she believes he is now in Tokyo.
Last night the cake decorations were used again on a cake made to celebrate the wedding anniversary of another member of the club, Mrs. Robert Collyer, when a party was held at Romano's.
More than 100 members of the club will leave this week-end for the United States, and about 50 members of the N.S.W. branch of the U.S. Servicemen's Wives and Fiancées’ Association will also leave. A group of wives from Perth and other States are already on their way by train to Brisbane, where they will embark.
Mrs. George Markovich, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. McCarthy, of Goulburn, will be met at San Francisco by her husband, a captain in the U.S.A.A.F., who was for fourteen months navigator in General Mac-Arthur's 'plane "Bataan." He has been offered a position as air attaché with the American Air Corps in Europe, so Mrs. Markovich has no idea where her future home will be. CAKE DECORATIONS LENT TO WIVES OF U.S. SERVICEMEN (1945, September 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27925528
BRIDES OF BRITISH SAILORS
Learning About Australia
The formation of a Wives' and Fiancées of British Servicemen's Club was bound to follow the arrival in Australia of the British Pacific Fleet, just as the two clubs for wives and fiancées of U.S. Servicemen, followed the arrival of our American Allies'.
Australian wives of British Servicemen meet every Friday night at Central Hall, Haymarket, and the Allied Relations Committee, which has been so helpful lo Australian wives of U.S. Servicemen-is arranging educational courses on Australian geography and history.
Mrs. Elsie Fordham, an almoner attached to the R.N. Welfare Service Section of the British Pacific Fleet, has asked commanding officers of all ships in the B.P.F. for the names of sailors engaged or married to Australian girls, who will be invited to join the club.
Only two of the 60 members of the club, of which Mrs. M. Fuller is president, have completed passport arrangements and are ready to sail. BRIDES OF BRITISH SAILORS (1945, November 2). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17958326
Bound For Britain
The Department of Information started a school today at Newport for the wives of British servicemen to give them an idea of life in England and to brush up on their knowledge of Australia. Left to right: Lieut. S. W. Wright, R.N.V.R., Mrs. M. Fuller, president of the British Servicemen's Wives and Fiancées’ Club; Captain C. Gidley, organiser of the school; Second Officer H. S. Walters, W. R.N.S.; Mr. R. Grenish, Allied Relations Committee. School For Brides Bound For Britain (1945, November 13). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 2 (Late Final Extra 2). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article272521087
School For War Brides
SCHOOL WAS OUT for these wives of British servicemen at Newport, where they were learning a few facts about life in Merrie England, as well as more about Australia, so that they can give the folks in the Old Country the "dinkum oil ". School For War Brides (1945, November 14). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 5 (Late Final Extra 2). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article272526452
The only poignant note from all this sharing of help and support is it did not work out for Elva Collins, even into the early 1950's her name appears in newspaper articles as helping others with their weddings but she remained 'Miss'. This becomes more of a 'what if' when you find she had been engaged to another in 1941:
MISS ELVA COLLINS, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Collins, of Randwick, whose engagement is announced to Mr. Frank Ryan, third son of the late Mr. W. J. Ryan and of Mrs. M. Ryan, of Merrylands, formerly of ''Glen-Ryan'', Grenfell. —Florence Mellor. Some Recent Engagements (1941, March 25). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 9 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231208379
ENGAGEMENT is announced of Elva Collins, of 'Windermere,' Randwick, to Frank Ryan, of Merrylands. The Jottings OF A LADY ABOUT TOWN (1941, April 6). Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954), p. 35. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169763128
However that did not stop Elva from continuing to help others:
CLUB TO FAREWELL FIANCEES OF U.S. MEN
NEXT week the 1st N.S.W. Wives and Fiancées of U.S. Servicemen Club will start a series of "Bon Voyage" parties, for fiancées leaving for the U.S.
MISS ELVA COLLINS, president and founder of the club, today said that she had suggested the mothers of the wives ana fiancees should carry on the club to meet, exchange news and discuss one another's daughters and grandchildren three moncns ago. Already a number of mothers have been going along to the meetings to get acquainted with the girls who will be their daughters' future friends in America. Mothers whose daughters are already ensconsed in the U.S. are taking in cuttings from newspapers, letters and photographs. Miss Collins would like any mothers of girls who left for the States before the Mothers' Club was formed, to contact her at FX6448.
About 80 fiancées have been notified to make their final arrangements before leaving. The First N.S.W. Wives and Fiancees' Club, which was formed three years ago with a membership of 20 in Miss Collins' home at Randwick, has now 1600 brides and fiancées, including some corresponding members from the country. Last week two Americans arrived here to wed two of the club's members. 'They will settle in Australia. At these weddings Miss Collins represents the bridegroom's mother, and with her sister Noelene is often a bridesmaid. Miss Collins was excited last week when she received a cable from Mrs. Eugene Stanton, of Boston, formerly Jill Mitchell of Melbourne, informing her that twin daughters had arrived and were being named Elva and Noeline after Miss Collins and her sister, and that once again she was to be a godmother. Welfare Worker's Diary (1946, July 31). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 20 (Race Acceptances). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article272678064
ANOTHER BRIDE-SHIP FOR AMERICA
SYDNEY, Monday: The departure from Sydney to-day by the Marine Phoenix of 200 fiancées and 70 wives and children of American servicemen from New South Wales and other states leaves only one member of the Australian Wives and fiancées of the United Servicemen's Club In Australia. She is the president, Miss Elva Collins, who expects to sail on the next ship, which will take the several hundred other girls still waiting to go to the United States. Miss Collins said that some of the girls who sailed to-day had been engaged for three years. ANOTHER BRIDE-SHIP FOR AMERICA (1947, February 25). Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145159131
ELVA Collins, of Randwick, was hostess at a pre-wed ding luncheon at Prince's last Tuesday in honor of Patricia Cecily Dugan, of Belfield, who will marry John Stafford, also of Belfield, at St. Joseph's Church, Burwood Heights, on November 18. 'A sprig of heather from Inverness, Scotland, will be included in Cecily's bridal bouquet. She will also carry rosary beads from Madrid. The beads, which have been lent by Elva Collins, have been carried before by eight brides. CARD PARTY (1952, November 13). Catholic Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1942 - 1954), p. 17. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147082651
The silver rosary beads were given to her during the conflict by her then fiancée.
MISS Elva Collins, of Randwick, entertained a number of guests at a bon voyage luncheon at Prince's in honor of Mrs. W. O'Connor, of Randwick. Mrs. O'Connor, who was formerly Annabelle Murdoch, of Toronto, Canada, is returning to Canada to visit her mother after seven years in Australia. She will sail in the Stratheden to London and in the Queen Mary from London to New York. At the luncheon, Mrs. O'Connor was presented with a red, white and blue boomerang. ALL ABOUT PEOPLE (1952, December 18). Catholic Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1942 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147081512
STEPHANIE Ann, baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stafford, of Neutral Bay, wore a 35 years old American christening robe when she was baptised at St. Joseph's Church, Neutral Bay by Rev. Father J. Lander recently. The robe, which was sent to Miss Elva Collins, of Randwick, eight years ago, has been worn by eight babies. Stephanie's godparents were Mrs. E. M. Regan and Mr. Frank Henry. A christening party was held at the home of the baby's parents following the baptism. NEWS FOR WOMEN (1954, January 7). Catholic Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1942 - 1954), p. 21. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147162156
Photos of the Brides' school at Newport, apparently taken on April 4th 1945 and photographed once again by Ivan Ives, courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and ACP Magazines Ltd, show in one image the girls 'in school' then walking down the main road between the shops in place at Newport. Seen through the windows in those taken when they were 'in class' show how many trees Newport, then home of koalas, had.
Worth noting is that soon after the Pittwater Summer Houses: Ocean beach House - The Combers, Newport Beach history page ran, the news service was contacted by Mr. Phil Harvey who thanked us for sharing some photos from that which finally helped him identify photos taken by his grandfather, a carpenter, who had built and fitted-out the shops installed by Josie Scrivener in 1924/25. Mr. Ives' photo provided a further insight into how these looked in April 1945.
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Section from E B Studios (Sydney, N.S.W.). (1917). Panorama of Newport Beach, New South Wales, ca. 1925-26 (showing Newport Ocean House and Josie's store at front on Barrenjoey Road) Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162404370
Phil Harvey's photos from his grandfather's albums:
A few of Mr. Ives photos from April 1945, when the girls are going for a swim and undertaking their classes - more available online at the State Library of NSW:
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David Stewart passed away on August 4th 1954 after decades of battling diabetes, aged 71. The WEA premises was named after him posthumously, to honour his over four decades of service to the WEA - the 'David Stewart Summer School at Newport'.
By 1974 WEA was conducting classes at Forestville, Brookvale and Manly and the Newport premises, in need of repairs, were sold a few years later. Edward Jonathan Cockle of Stokes Point, Builder, is registered as the new owner on September 30th 1977.
The WEA is still going with courses on a wide range of subjects available for all lifelong learners. Visit: www.weasydney.com.au
References - Extras
- Walter (Wal) Williams - 2017 Profile
- Sir Adrian Herbert Frederic Curlewis: 13th of January, 1901– 16th of June, 1985
- Bilgola SLSC Salutes Bruce Robertson's 76 Years Of Service: Lifesaving Legend And Australia's Oldest Active Member Hangs Up His Patrol Cap - 2018
- Bruce Robertson OAM - Profile
- VP Day 2019: Anthony Thomas Ruskin Rowe, Spitfire Pilot (1919 To 1943) - Who Defended Darwin And His Mate: An Avalon Beach And Pittwater Hero
- Lindsay Dufty WWII Veteran - Remembrance Day 2023: Darwin, February 19, 1942
- Avalon Beach Norfolk Pines: to Honour those who served – Anzac day 2023 history precursors
- Opportunity to Visit Submarine War Grave Renews Memories of 75 years ago - 2017
- Pittwater's Midget Submarine M24 War Grave Renews Memories Of 75 Years Ago - 2020
- The Mona Vale-Bungan Beach-Bayview tank traps: Coastal Defences of Pittwater during World War Two - Some History - request for same in: Bungan Head 'Bridge' and Tank Trap during WWII
- BROKEN SECTION: The Story Of Pittwater's Anti-Submarine Boom Net By John Illingsworth - Pittwater Pathways
- North Narrabeen Rock Pool: Some History
- Narrabeen Cenotaph + RSL History: 100 and 65 years Markers of Service in 2021 - Light Up the AWM Dawns with their names
- Pittwater Summer Houses: The Cabin, Palm Beach - the Pink House of the Craig Family - Ailsa Craig
- Traces Of WWII Coast Watchers (1942) Found On Bangalley Headland After Recent Fire - 2017
- Brock's 'The Oaks' - La Corniche from 1911 to 1965: Rickards, A Coffee King, A Progressive School, a WWII Training Ground
- The Black Swamp Camping Reserve Becomes Kitchener Park, Beeby Park & Mona Vale Golf Course
- Mona Vale Primary School's World War Two Honour Roll Board: The Stories behind the Names
- Salt Pan Cove Public Wharf on Regatta Reserve + Florence Park + Salt Pan Reserve + Refuge Cove Reserve: Some History
- WWII Shipwreck Discovered: Australian Freighter SS Iron Crown Found After Being Sunk By Submarine In 1942 - 2019
- Lost At Sea: War Veterans Tribute On Mona Vale Headland Formally Dedicated - 2022
- Montevideo Maru Found: Descendants Of Those Lost In World War Two Tragedy May Now Commence The Healing - 2023
- Pittwater Summer Houses: Ocean beach House - The Combers, Newport Beach
- Ross Curnow, 'Bland, Francis Armand (1882–1967)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bland-francis-armand-9525/text16771, published first in hardcopy 1993
- Parry, Naomi, The Workers' Educational Association in the post-war era, Dictionary of Sydney, 2018, https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/the_workers_educational_association_in_the_post_war_era
BEER AND FRESH AIR
HOLIDAY CAMPERS at Newport yesterday drinking beer on the lawn at the Newport Hotel. Men hired glasses from the bar and carried them out to where their families waited. One man has his glass identified with a cross. BEER AND FRESH AIR (1944, December 24).The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248074875
Bus Services
AFTER Sunday night's experience of getting home from Newport (3 hours 25 minutes, door to door), I was amused to read in Monday's Mirror that the new restricted bus services ran smoothly. STREWTH, can a bus service that finds it necessary to run a quarter-hourly service in the mornings shift the crowd home in the afternoon with a half -hourly service and run smoothly? The only things I saw running smoothly were the wheels on the buses that wouldn't pick us up. I have been a regular weekend visitor to Newport, as well as spending my holidays there, for the past 17 years, and even in the old bus days could usually do the journey in two hours.
E. WILLIAMS, 38 Bay Road, Waverton. Bus Services (1942, October 2). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 9 (War News Edition). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article271904070
TWO-YEAR-OLD GIRL RUN OVER BY FATHER'S LORRY
FRANCES KAY ANDREWS (2), of Queen Parade, Newport, was fatally injured last night when run over by her father's lorry. Her father, Frederick Williams, was driving his 2 1/2 ton lorry to the garage when he felt a bump. He found his daughter lying on the ground. She died in the ambulance on the way to Manly District Hospital. TWO-YEAR-OLD GIRL RUN OVER BY FATHER'S LORRY (1942, November 12). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 6 (War News Edition 2). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article271992866
Expectant Mother Stranded
Holidaymakers crowded an expectant mother out of Mona Vole buses at Narrabeen for five hours on Tuesday. Mrs. W. McRobert, Narrabeen librarian, said this today, when criticising the lack of transport for residents during holiday periods.
"People have to shop at Manly because there is only one butcher in Mona Vale, and he does not get enough meat to supply the district," she said.
Mrs. J. Spencer, of Mona Vale, said that she had to walk from Manly with an 11-months old baby in a stroller today.
"I had to take baby to the Manly clinic," she said, "and to buy baby food not procurable at Mona Vale.
"Surely they could run feeder buses for residents when tourists take all the normal space," added Mrs. Spencer.
Mrs. L. Ewing said that she had to visit Manly for food, and had to walk the three miles home. Palm Beach hourly bus service was unable to cope with the crowds at The Spit tram terminus. Many people who intended spending the day at Newport, turned back at Narrabeen, where crowded buses were unable to cope with further passengers. Expectant Mother Stranded (1943, December 30). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 3 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231604628
John Wayne, film star, who has come to Australia to entertain troops always has a hot and cold shower after his daily dozen. This photograph was taken today at the Australia Hotel. No title (1943, December 30). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 3 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231604632
WOMEN IN HOTELS: VISITS PLANNED BY MANPOWER
Unwanted Seamen Called Up
Manpower visits are planned to city hotels, exclusive restaurants and night clubs, to check activities of hundreds of women who, apparently, are making no contribution to the war effort.
"It is unthinkable that expensively-dressed, healthy women can spend hours daily, idling in hotel lounges, when labor is needed urgently for war work," said the NSW Manpower Director (Mr. Bellemore) today. Mr. Bellemore also announced that seamen not required by the Maritime Industries Commission, were being directed to essential work.
Women were especially required for metropolitan canneries, where hundreds of tons of fruit would go bad if processing were not carried out speedily. Mr. Bellemore said he was determined this would not happen. Idle women, capable of- working in essential undertakings, would be called up and directed, to work.
He admitted the possibility that some idle women who might be interviewed by Manpower raiding officers were already engaged in essential work and enjoying legitimate leisure.
"I feel sure that they will welcome these raids," he added. "They will realise that any check-up is directed, not at them, but against idlers who refuse to pull their weight in the national effort."
Seamen "Directed"
Mr. Bellemore said he had cooperated with the Maritime Industries Commission in placing in employment all seamen not required by the Commission. Arrangements had been completed for direction orders to be given to a number of seamen to start work on Tuesday.
Mr. Bellemore said that large numbers of school-teachers had volunteered for work during the Christmas vacation. Some were now employed in canneries and rural industries. Many had not offered their services. He appealed for their help, even if only for two or three weeks. "Hospital staffs are desperately overworked. By volunteering for domestic duties, schoolteachers could give these people a much-needed rest." he added. WOMEN IN HOTELS: VISITS PLANNED BY MANPOWER (1943, December 30). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 3 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231604582
Torpedoed Ship Makes Port
SUBMARINE ATTACK OFF N.S.W. COAST
An Australian ship, torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off the N.S.W. coast, reached port with her stern torn and crumpled and four of her crew dead. The bodies of the four men who were killed when the torpedo hit the ship were still among the wreckage in the ship's , stern when the vessel reached port.
Another man was so badly injured that he died in hospital. Nine men were injured.
Those killed were:— John B. Bromilow, A.B., 305 Douglas Street, Newport, Victoria. Ernest Noble, A.B., 25 Soundwell Street, Largs, South Australia. Arthur Sundell, fireman. 49 Crown Street, Sydney. Henry C. Talbot, 20a Quebec Street, Port Adelaide, South Australia. Alfred Smith, fireman, died from internal injuries 24 hours after being admitted to hospital.
Injured are: — Donald McCauley, 30, Napier Street, Sydney. Maxwell Pemberton, 22, Steel Street, Nielsen. Park, Sydney. H. Smith, Miller's Point, Sydney. John Clarke, 52, Arris Street, Ryde. Laurie Bignell, 36, Brace Street, Bondi. Sidney Williams, 31, Smith Street, Sydney. William Rich, 52, Balmairi Road, Leichhardt. George Cartwright, 55, Garret Street, Maroubra. Ernest Brown. 46, Argyle Place, Sydney.
Aerial Wrecked
Experts regard the salvage of the vessel as a remarkable feat, and praise the commander for his masterly handling of the ship. . The explosion of the torpedo tore a huge hole in the stern, shattered the screw, and wrecked the wireless aerial. Survivors from the ship said she was steaming towards the coast when the torpedo struck. Unable to: offer any resistance, the . crew watched the submarine and waited for the next attack,
Soon after the first torpedo hit, the submarine surfaced about 500 yards away and fired another torpedo, which narrowly missed. The submarine, which appeared to be large and of an ocean-going type, slowly circled the ship, gradually coming closer until it was almost alongside. Several Japs were seen standing near the conning tower. The commander, in perfect English, called out, "Abandon ship, men." The submarine then fired a shell high over the bows of the vessel as a warning, and the captain ordered his men to take to the boats.
Lifeboat Damaged
Most of the men left in a sound lifeboat; but some had to use a boat which had been damaged by falling debris after the explosion, There was little time to attend to the wounds of the injured, who were assisted into the boats and made as comfortable as possible. As the boats were about, to pull away the captain climbed back on board arid returned with 40 packets of cigarettes, which he distributed among the men. Once in the boats the men rowed fast to get clear, as they expected the submarine to shell the ship. After about 20 minutes, when the submarine had disappeared, the captain called for volunteers to return to the ship. The entire ship's company volunteered.
The captain selected four men, the first-officer, bosun, carpenter, and wireless operator. They returned to the ship, re-erected the broken wireless aerial, and sent out an S.O.S. Half an hour later the men were ordered back on board. Soon after a naval patrol vessel appeared and came alongside.
Hero of the attack was the ship's boy, Frank Grant, 16, of Sydney, who, although blown from his bunk, groped through the darkness and rescued an injured seaman who who was in danger of falling through the hole torn by the torpedo. Debris from the explosion was falling all about Grant as he pulled the injured man to safety.
Most of the crew had seen active service in this war, and some of the older seamen had had adventurous careers with the Mercantile Marine in the last war.
Able-seaman Ernest Brown dismissed his injuries as a "flea-bite," and revealed that he was on a ship at Darwin during the first Jap raid. "I was in the merchant service in the last war, and will still be going strong when this war is over," he said. One of the officers praised the courage of the men, particularly the wounded, when the submarine was circling the ship. The men all praised the captain, arid declared they would sail under him anywhere.
FRANK GRANT
Torpedoed Ship Makes Port (1942, September 5). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247895023
TORPEDO BLEW OFF RUDDER; BADLY DAMAGED STERN OF FREIGHTER
TORPEDOED off the N.S.W. coast, this ship arrived in an Australian port with a huge hole in its stern and the rudder blown away. A workman views the damage from a point above the propeller. TORPEDO BLEW OFF RUDDER, BADLY DAMAGED STERN OF FREIGHTER (1942, September 5). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247895038
FRANK GRANT enlisted, when almost old enough to legally (then aged 21) in 1942:
Gough Whitlam's Pursuit of Justice for First Nations Peoples
On August 16 1975, then Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam formally handed back a portion of Gurindji land to the traditional owners, Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people, in a symbolic ceremony at Daguragu (at Wave Hill Station) in the Northern Territory. Mr. Whitlam poured soil into Lingiari's hand, symbolising the return of the land and recognising Aboriginal land rights. This event marked the culmination of the 'Wave Hill Walk-Off', a protest by Aboriginal stockmen against poor working conditions which had commenced in 1967.
“Vincent Lingiari, I solemnly hand to you these deeds as proof, in Australian law, that these lands belong to the Gurindji people and I put into your hands part of the earth itself as a sign that this land will be the possession of you and your children forever,” Gough Whitlam said.
In response, Vincent Lingiari said:
"Let us live happily together as mates, let us not make it hard for each other... We want to live in a better way together, Aboriginals and white men, let us not fight over anything, let us be mates.”
Photo: by Mervyn Bishop - then staff photographer for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. © National Indigenous Australians Agency, courtesy National Portrait Gallery
Worth noting during the [post-WWII:
MEETING TO PROTEST AGAINST 'JACKY ACT'
A mass meeting of aborigines, including returned soldiers and servicewomen, at the Boot Trades Hall, Redfern, tonight, will protest against the "Jacky Act," which permits them to be chained by the neck when arrested and forbids them citizenship rights.
THE meeting has been convened by the Aborigines' Progressive Association, following the recent case in Oodnadatta, S.A., where a man was fined £100 for having chained an aborigine, without having authority to do so.
President of the Progressive Association (Mr. W. Ferguson) said today he felt the aborigines of the Eastern States, being more advanced than those of the inland, should take up the cudgels on their behalf. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Aborigines' Welfare Board.
"Those boys and girls of ours who enlisted fought for the same kind of freedom and democracy as the rest of this country and Allies, but they certainly are not getting any of it," Mr. Ferguson said. A number of prominent speakers, including Mr. M. Davidson, M.L.A., and Mr. J. Renshaw, M.L.A., will be present. MEETING TO PROTEST AGAINST 'JACKY ACT' (1946, January 15). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 3 (Late Final Extra). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article272650263
ABORIGINES WELFARE
Commenting upon press reports of the meeting of aborigines, held at the Boot Trades Hall, Redfern, the Chief Secretary, Mr. Baddeley, said that the statements concerned happenings at Oodnadatta, which was not in New South Wales, and not within the jurisdiction of the Aborigines Welfare Board or the New South Wales Government.
The Minister, added that in this State the welfare of aborigines was regarded as being of the greatest importance by the Government. They were entitled to vote in State elections and could own property. The Police in this State could not remove an aboriginal child from the custody of its mother. Their own representative sat on the Aborigines Welfare Board and the administration was based on democratic principles.
''The policy in New South Wales is to uplift the aboriginal population and to endeavour to care for their material comfort and moral welfare in the best possible -manner,'' concluded Mr. Baddeley. ABORIGINES WELFARE (1946, January 18). The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100027514
Warringah Shire Council took one quarter of a perch Vol-Fol 4589-179 of this old Robert Henderson 1841 Land Grant in 1933 for road purposes - across current day Bardo road; drainage (Pittwater Creeks).
Another Summer School held at Newport in the Summer of 1924-1925:
GREENLEAF THEATRE
Summer School Promised
FOLK LORE AND PLAYS
"What's that!" she said, "a little house! "A real, real broom, "To sweep the room, like this .and so "Into the corners it can go. "Over the rug with gentle pat. "Until the creases all lie flat."
In England In these very modern days live two idealists, Constance Smedley and her husband. Maxwell Armfield, from whose combined genius has evolved the Greenleaf Theatre. In this theatre plays are produced with special emphasis on rhythm, and as a medium of introducing art and literature to the young mind nothing could he more effective, for simplicity .and spontaneity characterise Greenleaf Theatre work. Miss Joan Rayner, who is the Australian representative of this synthetic drama, is very careful in training pupils to give them first a thorough understanding of the subject to be interpreted, and then to lead them to a wise interpretation.
Next Thursday, at the breaking-up of the Sydney Church of England Grammar School for Girls, "The Nativity will be given by the children, under Greenleaf conditions. "First of all I ask them what they think the shepherds would be like — quick, slow, sharp, or dull?" she ex-plains. "And they know. And what they would think when they saw an angel appearing in the sky? Wonder. Then what they would think when they saw the Christ child. Every phase of the play I go through laboriously With them. And In their own way the children interpret their ideas. And If at times the Greenleaf should appear crude when performed by children, it must be remembered that what Is given is absolutely the chlld's work and development, not the parrot-fashion mimicry of a teacher. It is one of the best media for instilling mental, discipline, because It is such a sweetly-coated pill that the children don't recognise in it anything but the greatest fun." . ,
An elementary training in this work is being provided by Miss Joan Rayner at a summer school, to be held at Newport from January 10 to 24, and an old house, "The Outlook," has been taken, and here teachers, amateur actors, and producers will be introduced to a wealth of new material, and will get into touch with the newest form of play production. One of the things to be given is "Bello and Beau," a delightful phantasy, light as fairy floss, written by Constance Smedley. The picture shown is from this playlet. "The Nativity" will be given, also dramatised folk songs and ballads from Chaucer and Walter de la Mare. Students wishing to attend the summer school are asked to communicate with Miss Rayner, "The Greenleaf Studio," Victoria Arcade.
Mrs. Finigan, who was actively associated with Miss Rosa Scott in women's work for many years, also Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. George Petersen, country branch presidents of the Women's Country Party, will be guests of the W.C.P.. at 15 Bligh Street, on Thursday, at 3 p.m.
The following guests are staying at the Hotel Steyne, Manly:— Captain F. Smith (Sydney), Mr. G. Leutemogger (Brisbane), Mrs. C. M. Sawyor (Be-thungra), Mr. B. J. Nicholson (London), Mrs. Blake Tyler (Philadelphia), Mrs. Scott (Sydney). Mr. G. H. Knoen (Sydney), Mr. and Mrs. Stltt (Forbes). Mrs. M. F. Daltbn (Orange), Miss Dalton (Orange), Mrs. R. Keating (Wellington, N.Z.), Mrs. Costello (Brisbane), Mr. F. Higglns (Hamilton N.S.W.), Mrs. IC. E. Lurnach (Forbes), Mrs. H. Davidson (Cootamundra). Mrs. S. Golsby (Cowra),' Mr. W. Franklin (Sydney), Mr. Al. Potter (Manly). Mr. Norman Laycock (Sydney), Mr. Robinson (Queensland), Mr. Temple (Queensland), Mr. Knox (Cooma), Mr. and Mrs. Sharps (Sydney).
BOOKS FOR BOYS.— The Bush Book Club of New South Wales Is undertaking a now branch of work In supplying books to the boy migrants to New South Wales. A special appeal is being made for all sorts of books, particularly those suitable for boys and young men. Miss Gladys Owen, Miss Dorothea Mackellar, and Miss Barbara Knox are arranging a collecting depot at Edgecllff post office corner on the morning of December 13, and would be grateful for gifts of books. GREENLEAF THEATRE (1924, December 9). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245467275
March 24 1924 Warringah Shire Council Meeting:
57. J. Garlick, Under Secretary for local Government, circular letter suggesting action for the entertainment of sailors of the visiting British fleet. Resolved, (Crs. Hewitt, McKillop) That the Warringah Shire & Manly Agricultural & Horticultural society be guaranteed up to £20 towards the cost of entertaining officers and men of the British Fleet whom they are inviting to their Annual Show in Brookvale Park. The Shire's part of the entertainment to be left in the hands of the President. Resolved (Crs. McKillop, Campbell) That Mr. Garlick be informed of the invitation extended by the Warringah Shire 'Agricultural & Horticultural Society and the assistance to be given by the Council. 58. Local Government Department Letter of 4/3/24, enquiring whether the Council proposes to proceed further in the matter of having Ordinance No. 31 (Bridges &c. Heights of Loads) applied to the Shire. Resolved, _(Crs. Hewitt, McKillop) That the Department be informed tint the Council proposes to impose a restriction of 10 ton loads on the Condamine Street Bridge, Narrabeen Bridges, Careel Creek Bridge and Pittwater Road Bridges over Curl Curl Lagoon.
NSW BDM’s:
Marriage; 14167/1916 STEWART DAVID TEVELEIN LILLIAN M G at ASHFIELD
Death; STEWART LILLIAN MAY GARTH 1614/1941 parents: HENRY and EDITH registered at ASHFIELD
Department of public instruction – 1912: Public. Tevelein, Lillian, Assistant, Wagga Wagga South Public. - NSW Gazette
MRS. LILLIAN M. G. STEWART
The death occurred on Wednesday of last week at her home in Haberfield (Sydney) of another former Jerilderie resident in the person of Mrs. Lillian May Garth Stewart, wife of Mr. David Stewart. Deceased was a native of Jerilderie, having been born here 55 years ago, being the eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. H. Tevelein. She spent her girlhood days in Jerilderie and later was teaching in this district. She subsequently left for Sydney, where she later married and has resided there ever since. She is survived by her husband and a family of two daughters (Joyce and Heather) and one son (David). Following a service at her home on Thursday her remains were taken to Rookwood for cremation. MRS. LILLIAN M. G. STEWART (1941, February 6). Jerilderie Herald and Urana Advertiser (NSW : 1898 - 1958), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134121574
STEWART David, O. B. E.—August 4, 1954 (suddenly) late secretary of Workers Educational Association of N. S. W. at his residence, 47 Wattle Street, Haberfield dearly beloved husband of Flora, loved father of Joyce (India), Heather (Mrs D Williamson), and David (India). At rest. For funeral announcement see Friday's "Herald." Family Notices (1954, August 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 20. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18430779
Death Of Mr. D. Stewart
Mr. David Stewart, founder and general secretary of the Workers' Educational Association of New South Wales, died suddenly at his home at Haberfield last night.
Mr Stewart, who was 71, had been secretary of the association since its inception in 1913.
Mr. Stewart is survived by Mrs. Stewart, a son, and two daughters.
His funeral will take place to-morrow. Death Of Mr. D. Stewart (1954, August 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18430721
Scots Carpenter Was Pioneer Of The W.E.A.
By OUR EDUCATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
ONLY one thing Was not known with certainty about David Stewart, general secretary of the Workers' Education Association of Australia, who died in Sydney on Wednesday-his age.
He was probably 72 years old, because he hinted indirectly to the executive of the W.E.A. two years ago that he felt he ought to retire, to make place for a younger man, and that three score years and ten was the proper age to do it; but he used to say himself that he was "cagey" about his exact age.
One of a large Scots family, he started work as an apprentice carpenter in his native town of Leith, near Edinburgh, at the age of 10.
He came to Australia in 1908, and quickly became active in Labour politics and trade-union matters.
In 1912, one of his brothers sent him an account of the formation and success of the Workers' Educational Association in England and Scotland, and a tribute to its founder, Albert Mansbridge.
He showed the letter to a few of his friends in the Carpenters' Union and they agreed that a similar organisation should be set up in Australia.
At about that time Albert Mansbridge had created a strong impression in an address to the Empire Universities' Conference in London and Sir John Barrett of Melbourne University had asked Mansbridge if he would come to Australia to- found a W.E.A.
Also at that time, another prominent educationist, Mr. Peter Board, director in N.S.W., had drafted an amendment to the University Act empowering the University of Sydney to give non-degree courses to adults.
When David Stewart called on Peter Board to ask his help in setting up a W.E.A., Board produced the proposed amendment to the Act and told his visitor that he would give him every help. The Act was amended without a hitch.
Mansbridge came to Australia in 1913 and David Stewart was soon in touch with him. Together they toured the Commonwealth, talking to meetings of unionists, teachers, and university men from Queensland round to Western Australia. In Nov-ember, 1913, the W.E.A. was set up in Australia, with David Stewart as its first secretary.
He guided the W.E.A. for 42 years and the immense progress it made in that time was due very largely to his ability, enthusiasm and tenacity. Scots Carpenter Was Pioneer Of The W.E.A. (1954, August 6). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18436551
David Stewart (1883-1954), carpenter and educationist, was born on 11 April 1883 at Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, eldest son and third of ten children of David Stewart, porter, and his wife Jane (Jean), née Crawford. His early life was shaped by two powerful influences: the frequent unemployment of his father and the proud, working-class puritanism of his mother who, by dint of careful management, kept her burgeoning family together and out of debt. On leaving school at 12, young David worked as a messenger-boy in a draper's shop; at his mother's insistence, he was then apprenticed to a cabinetmaker.
By the age of 19 Stewart was the family's chief breadwinner. His activities as a unionist and later as an office-holder in the Independent Labour Party made steady work difficult to obtain. For three years he studied economics and sociology at workers' education classes; he discovered in socialism both an explanation and a cure for the ills of his age. In 1908 he worked his passage to New Zealand. Although there were jobs aplenty, he found the cold and isolation of Palmerston North distressing.
Two years later Stewart moved to Sydney where he worked as a carpenter and upholsterer; he was a delegate to the Labor Council of New South Wales from 1911. His passion for reading and for studying society was unabated, and he used his position in the labour movement to press for a programme of workers' education. At the invitation of Albert Mansbridge, founder of the Workers' Educational Association in Britain, Stewart established a branch in Sydney in November 1913 and was elected unopposed as general secretary of the Workers' Educational Association of New South Wales. For the next forty-one years, his life and the progress and vicissitudes of the association were indissolubly linked. He pursued adult education and the workers' cause with missionary zeal; his indefatigable energy, doggedness and considerable powers of advocacy were expended in its service. On 11 November 1916 at Summer Hill he married Lillian May Garth Tevelein, a schoolteacher.
David Stewart and his first wife Lillian, wedding photo from 1916
The growth of the W.E.A. was swift. By 1914 there were fifty-five affiliated organizations and Meredith Atkinson offered the first classes under the joint sponsorship of the W.E.A. and the Department of Tutorial Classes of the University of Sydney. By 1915, largely at the instigation of Mansbridge and Stewart, branches had been established in every State and in New Zealand. A federal council (with Stewart as treasurer) was inaugurated in November 1919 following the launching of the association's journal, Australian Highway, to which he was to contribute numerous articles and reviews. From 1927 Stewart was the council's secretary. A residential summer school, built largely by his own hands and posthumously named after him, was established at Newport.
Yet, set-backs to his work were frequent. The association was continually short of money and, although he never complained of it, Stewart was paid a pittance. Relations with the university were sometimes troubled, most particularly in 1918 and in 1932-33 when divisions arose over the control of tutorial classes. Even more damaging were conflicts within the labour movement itself in 1916 over the conscription issue and in 1942-43 over perceived anti-Russian bias in one of the classes. Against all these pressures, Stewart steadfastly upheld the right of free speech and, through the Highway and at union meetings, re-asserted the association's original purpose as a non-partisan, non-sectarian, voluntary workers' educational movement. For his devotion to these ideals he was appointed O.B.E. in 1953.
On 30 April 1948 Stewart, then a widower, married Flora Mary Carmichael Smith at Burwood. She supported him in his many activities.
David Stewart (seated), founder of WEA in Australia, discussing WEA activities with organiser Stan Bollard 1949, courtesy National Library of Australia [PIX, Vol. 23 No. 13 (24 September 1949), p23, via Trove]
Afflicted with diabetes for twenty years, Stewart died of heart disease on 4 August 1954, at the end of a full day's work for the association, and was cremated after an Anglican service at St James's Church, King Street. He was survived by his wife, and by two daughters and a son of his first marriage. A portrait of Stewart by Mary Abbott is held by W.E.A. House, Sydney.
From: John Clanchy, 'Stewart, David (1883–1954)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stewart-david-8661/text15145 , published first in hardcopy 1990
Francis Armand Bland - Biography
Francis Armand Bland CMG (1882-1967), public servant, academic and politician, was born on 24 August 1882 at Macdonaldtown, Sydney, eldest of six children of Charles Edward Bland, a native-born shunter, and his wife Eva Emily, née Strehz, a New Zealander. Armand attended Greigs Flat Public School while his father was farming at Pambula. On the family's return to Sydney, he completed his schooling at Peakhurst and at Kogarah Superior public schools. Having passed the junior public examination in 1897, he began work as a clerk with Bosch, Barthel & Co. Two years later he joined N. F. Giblin, an official assignee, and in 1901 passed the public service examination. On 1 February he was appointed to the taxation department in the State Treasury. Moving to the Public Service Board in 1903, he was assistant to R. F. Irvine who fostered his lifelong interest in education and in an emerging field of study—public administration. Bland was clerk to the Local Government Clerks' and Auditors' Examining Committee and from 1914 secretary to the Board of Examiners.
At All Souls Anglican Church, Leichhardt, on 19 December 1908 Bland married Elizabeth Bates Jacobs; they were to have one son before she died in 1910. On 7 September 1912 he married Lillian Victoria Orr (d.1951) at St Philip's Anglican Church, Sydney. The family grew by three sons and two daughters, although Lillian's eldest son lived only one day. To rectify his lack of formal education, Bland studied at night. After matriculating, he embarked upon arts, law and economics at the University of Sydney (B.A., 1909; LL.B., 1912; M.A., 1914) where in 1910 he shared Professor Pitt Cobbett's prize for political science. The law was now open to the bright young man: he was admitted to the Bar on 31 July 1913 and had the opportunity to read with an Equity barrister (Sir) Frederick Jordan, later chief justice. (Sir) George Beeby, minister for justice, sought Bland's services as a legal officer in his department, but the board refused to release him because Irvine had claimed Bland as his 'private secretary'.
Irvine's appointment in 1914 as professor of economics at the university did not sever the link between patron and protégé. Bland accepted with alacrity an invitation from Meredith Atkinson to become a part-time tutorial-class lecturer at Helensburgh and Wollongong; from 1915 Bland also lectured part time on public administration, under Irvine. In 1916, 'with confident recklessness', he took leave to study at the London School of Economics under Professor Graham Wallas. To support his family, Bland relied on savings and fees from the tutorials he gave at Oxford, Liverpool and Leeds which brought him into contact with the leaders of the Workers' Educational Association in England.
Back in Sydney, in 1918 Bland was appointed assistant-director of tutorial classes at the university under G. V. Portus who relied on his administrative, financial and political skills to consolidate the status of the department of tutorial classes and its close relationships with the W.E.A. Although Bland's activities in adult education were soon overshadowed by his contributions to public administration, he continued to take tutorial classes for thirty years. Editing Australian Highway from 1919 to 1935, chairing the joint committee for tutorial classes, and, according to Portus, being 'the life and soul of the party—at sing-songs, games, swimming and dressing-up' at summer schools, indicated his diverse contributions to the cause of adult education.
Bland continued to teach two half-courses at the university, public administration (lecturer from 1930) and municipal administration. Lacking textbooks in the field of Australian government, let alone public administration, he filled the gap himself. A set of notes for students allowed free rein to his inimitable lecturing style—a 250 words a minute 'outpouring of frankly biased comment on current affairs', 'delivered with clarity, fire and passion and conviction'. From course handouts, he produced his books: Shadows and Realities of Government (1923), Budget Control (1931), Planning the Modern State (1934) and Government in Australia (1939).
A much-needed fillip came when he was visiting professor of government (1929-30) at Washington Square College of Arts and Science, New York University: in 1930 a three-year diploma course in public administration, designed for unmatriculated public servants, was introduced in Sydney. The content of the course—economics, public administration, modern political institutions and prescribed arts subjects—reflected Bland's belief that universities 'should aim to provide well-educated candidates rather than technically trained officials'. His view set him apart from his main protagonist Professor (Sir) Douglas Copland at the University of Melbourne who advocated a heavy concentration of financial and economic subjects. Former diploma students recalled how a seemingly innocent question about that day's editorial in the Daily Telegraph would set Bland fulminating for at least thirty minutes. The 'Prof' was friendly and generous to students—too generous, his colleagues felt, when he bent the by-laws outrageously in their favour.
Rarely drawing a clear line between scholarship and partisanship, in 1932 he launched an 'S.O.S.' campaign to highlight the sacking of senior public servants by J. T. Lang and what he saw as the introduction of 'a spoils system', whereupon Lang used financial threats to pressure the university senate to silence Bland. Unrepentant, Bland informed the vice-chancellor Sir Mungo MacCallum that he had no intention of writing or speaking as F. A. Bland of Strathfield—people only listened to him because of his position at the university. His polemics paid off: in 1935 Premier (Sir) Bertram Stevens secured an increased parliamentary vote for the university to establish a chair in public administration, to which Bland was appointed. He was later to claim, with some justification, that the story of his long association with Stevens was 'mainly written in the countless [unofficial] memoranda that I wrote for him on almost every subject'.
Most of Bland's more scholarly works had been completed before he accepted the chair. An executive-member of the Sydney University Settlement, he sat on the Board of Social Studies and the Bursary Endowment Board, and in 1944-64 served as a fellow of the senate, elected by the graduates. Beyond the university, in 1935 he helped to 'professionalize' the public service by establishing the State regional group of the Institute of Public Administration, with the support of Geoffrey Remington. From 1937 Bland (helped by Thomas Kewley) was foundation editor of Public Administration until 1947.
Associated with local government since 1906, Bland had eventually become chairman of the Local Government Clerks' and Auditors' Examination Committee. 'In season and out of season' he addressed the annual conferences of various local government bodies, trying to infuse 'some life and strength' into the 'puny frame' of Australia's anaemic third tier of government. He was also the (unacknowledged) author of the Local Government Association's A Charter for Greater Local Government (1945), and one of his special interests during his visit to England in 1936-37 was developments in local government. An ardent States-righter, he fought the 1944 and 1946 referenda in his native-land.
Many voluntary organizations benefited from Bland's enthusiasm. He was vice-president of the Constitutional Association of New South Wales, foundation chairman of the Constitutional League of New South Wales (1947) and of the Taxation Institute of Australia, an active member of the Australian Institute of Political Science and the Institute of Pacific Relations, as well as a founder of the Sydney group of Round Table and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House). His other London connexions centred on the Round Table and on the Royal Institute of Public Administration, of which he was the Australian council-member.
A devoted High-Churchman, Bland was for many years a lay reader and a member (secretary 1921-27) of the Synod of the Diocese of Sydney and of the Provincial Synod. Possibly to seek harmony after the discord of synod battles, he began to train choirs. He was a council-member of The King's School, Parramatta, and of Moore Theological College.
After retiring from his chair in 1947 and visiting Britain where he took an interest in Commonwealth affairs, Bland turned his considerable energies to partisan politics. Unsuccessful in a bid for pre-selection as a Liberal candidate for the Senate, in 1951 he was elected to the House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Warringah. Many expected that he would prove a mere back-bench ornament, but Bland put his polemics about the proper role of parliament into practice. In his maiden speech he criticized the Menzies government for allowing increasing power in the hands of the executive. By re-establishing the joint committee of public accounts, he mocked the traditional wisdom that parliamentary committees were rendered ineffectual by the strong party system. As the J.C.P.A.'s indefatigable chairman, he presided over the drafting of a number of 'memorable' reports that embarrassed ministers and senior public servants alike. One of Bland's academic successors claimed that it was among 'the most effective committees that has ever existed in an Australian parliament'. In 1958 Bland was appointed C.M.G. Three years later he failed to gain re-endorsement and retired from parliament.
Bland's influence on public life, particularly between the wars, was considerable. He averaged fifty addresses a year and wrote numerous newspaper articles. A generation of New South Wales senior public servants bore the stamp of his thinking, and non-Labor politicians, especially during the Stevens administration, were receptive to his advice. His prolific writings have been criticized for their contradictions, but, as a zealous reformer, he was more concerned with the practical issues of government than with elegant, theoretical frameworks. Essentially a nineteenth-century liberal who had flirted with Fabianism, Bland once described himself as 'an uncompromising opponent of the extension of centralized authority' and 'an incorrigible Federalist'. He argued vehemently for an educated, efficient and independent public service, devoted to the public interest.
Although references to his works are rare, Bland's preoccupations are still debated intensely—preoccupations such as accountability, politicization and the career service, open government, administrative tribunals, public enterprise and the statutory corporation, and problems of implementation. His insistence on the separation of politics from administration, long out of fashion, has recently been embraced enthusiastically by the managerial school. Unfortunately, Bland's proselytizing style often distracted from the substance of his argument.
'Even in his domestic life he broke records, outliving three wives and marrying a fourth', wrote one of his obituarists. On 3 July 1954 he married his widowed cousin Ida Mary Warby, née Bland, at St Luke's Anglican Church, Mosman; she died on 11 March 1960. On 12 December that year the resilient Bland, aged 78, married his secretary Gertrude Rollins at St Canice's Catholic Church, Elizabeth Bay. One wag among his academic colleagues observed, only half in jest, that 'Blandee was now probably looking for a new house near a school'.
Having defied for more than a quarter of a century the predictions of his doctors that his heart condition would not stand his gargantuan workload, Bland died of pneumonia on 9 April 1967 in St John of God Hospital, Burwood, after falling and breaking three ribs at his home. A memorial service was held at St Anne's Anglican Church, Strathfield, the suburb in which he had lived for most of his life. His body was bequeathed to the faculty of medicine, University of Sydney. He was survived by his wife, the son (Sir Henry) of his first marriage, and by a son and two daughters of his second. Portraits of Bland by Dora Toovey are held by the University of Sydney and Parliament House, Canberra; the former depicts a recently retired Bland in academic dress with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, as though about to begin a lecture with his characteristic, 'Well, peoples'.
From: Ross Curnow, 'Bland, Francis Armand (1882–1967)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bland-francis-armand-9525/text16771, published first in hardcopy 1993
Hilda Patricia Barnes - Notes
BARNES HILDA PATRICIA : Service Number - 351226 : Date of birth - 31 Dec 1920 : Place of birth - RANDWICK NSW : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - BARNES G
War Record - courtesy National Archives of Australia - a few, starting with enlistment and later photos for id to show how htis conflict aged everyone, and not just due to the 6 years duration of conflict:
The CAC Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) between 1939 and 1946. It was an Australian development of the North American NA-16 training aircraft. The Wirraway has been credited as being the foundation of Australian aircraft manufacturing.
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Wirraway aircraft under construction at a CAC factory in 1940. Photo: AWM
When the name was announced on 6 April 1938, it was said to be "an Aboriginal word meaning challenge". The word presumably comes from Daniel Bunce's compilation Language of the Aborigines of the colony of Victoria, where Wirraway is glossed 'challenge; dare, to defy; incite, to stir up; menace, to threaten'.
During the Second World War, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) deployed a number of Wirraways into combat roles, where they served in a light bomber/ground attack capacity, striking against the advancing forces of the Empire of Japan. While the type had been primarily used as a general purpose aircraft, being present in small quantities within the majority of front-line squadrons for these purposes, the aircraft was often pressed into combat when required. Typically, fighter versions of the Wirraway were operated over theatres such as New Guinea to perform ground attack missions and other Army co-operation tasks over extended periods until more advanced aircraft had become available in sufficient quantities. On 12 December 1942, the Wirraway achieved its only shoot-down of an enemy aircraft—thought to be a Mitsubishi A6M Zero at the time, but later determined to be a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa—while flown by Pilot Officer John S. "Jack" Archer.
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Photo: Laverton, Vic. 1940-02-09. A Wirraway aircraft of No. 21 Squadron RAAF, in flight. Pilot is 251382 Flying Officer James Herbert Harper; observer/gunner believed to be 3488 Sergeant H.F. Hogens. A20-21. Pic; AWM
Hilda Patricia Barnes – born December 31 1920. Birth: BARNES HILDA P 6431/1921 to GERARD C and AIMEE registered at RANDWICK
Parents Marriage: 3025/1920 BARNES GERARD C to INGAMELLS AIMEE registered at RANDWICK. Aimee Barnes (nee Ingamells) was born in 1894 in Victoria – she had a brother; Loris Ingamells.
Fathers death: BARNES GERARD 27451/1951 parents: CHARLES and MATILDA registered at PADDINGTON
DEATHS
BARNES, Gerard (Jerry).—November 14, 1951, at his residence, 340 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra, dearly beloved husband of Aimee, and loved father of Patricia (Mrs. J. D. Balfe), and Rupert, loved puppa of Peter, aged 64 years.
FUNERALS
BARNES.—The Relatives and Friends of the late GERARD (JERRY) BARNES, of 340 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra, are invited to attend a short service at the Kinsela Chapels, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst, To-morrow Friday, at 9 a.m. Private cremation. CHARLES KINSELA PTY. LTD., A.F.D.A., Est. 1830. Taylor Square, Darlinghurst. Phone FA4136-7-8. Family Notices (1951, November 15). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 24. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18239433
OBITUARY MR. GERARD C. BARNES.
News has been received of the death of Mr. Gerald C Barnes, of Edgecliff (brother of Mrs A. F. Witcombe). Mr Barnes was a veteran of World War I., and served with the 5th Australian Field Ambulance in Egypt, France and Belgium. It was during the course of this service that he experienced those enemy gas attacks which subsequently undermined his constitution and brought about his long illness which preceded his death.
Although compelled by ill-health to relinquish his work as a scientific instrument designer and maker for the University of Sydney at the commencement of World War II, he resumed duties at the request of the Commonwealth Government, and with a team of laboratory workers, was largely responsible for the perfection of modern range-finding equipment for the armed services. The added strain which this work put upon his health was heavy, and from that time onwards he was under constant medical attention.
Mr. Barnes is survived by his widow, daughter (formerly Section Officer Patricia Barnes, W.R.A.A.F., now the wife of Squadron Leader J. Balfe, D.F.C.), and son Rupert (ex-A.I.F.). One brother, Harry (Sydney), and two sisters, Nora (Mrs. A. Smith, London), and Doris (Mrs. A. F .Witcombe, Grenfell) also survive the deceased. OBITUARY (1951, November 15). The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser (NSW : 1876 - 1951), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113426746
Hilda married in 1948, unsurprisingly, her husband was a RAAF man:
7691/1948 BALFE JOHN DONELLAN to BARNES HILDA PATRICIA at SYDNEY
Wedding, Army dance
Patricia Barnes will be married tonight to Squadron-Leader John Balfe, AFC, RAAF, at St. Stephen's Church. The bride is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Barnes, of Edgecliff, and the groom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Balfe, of Melbourne. Members of the 38 Transport Squadron, of which Squadron-Leader Balfe is CO, will attend the wedding. The reception will be at Rancliff. "The Sun" Women's News (1948, April 5). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 11 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228997577
Officers Form Guard Of Honor
R.A.A.F. officers of 38 Squadron formed a guard of honor last night when their O.C., Squadron-Leader John D. Balfe, and his bride, Miss Patricia Barnes, left St, Stephen's, Macquarie Street. One of the squadron, Flight-Lieut. Alan Somerville, was best man. The bride, who is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerard C. Barnes, of Woollahra, met her husband while she was stationed with: the W.A.A.A.F. at Townsville during the war. She wore a white crepe after-, noon frock, and an off-the-face white velvet hat. Her flowers were red roses. A reception was held at Rancliff.
SQUADRON - LEADER J. D. BALFE and his bride. WOMEN'S NEWS (1948, April 6). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248184274
Journalist Family
Sergeant P. D. Balfe, 21, whose name is Included in the list of prisoners held at Nish, is a member of a well-known journalistic family. Sergeant Balfe's father, Mr. H. O. Balfe, is Melbourne representative of Smith's Weekly. His brother John was formerly Darwin correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Argus. He Is now a flying-Instructor in the R.A.A.F. at Camden.
Another brother, Nigel, formerly on the staff of the Melbourne Argus, has enlisted in the A.I.F. Before he Joined the A.I.F’ Sergeant Balfe was a Jackeroo on a sheep station near Orange. No Official News Of Prisoners (1941, May 19). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248141170
The Balfes’ ended up in Gooseberry Hill, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Kalamunda. It is the site of Gooseberry Hill National Park.
A relative was:
John Donnellan Balfe (1816-1880), spy, politician, and journalist, was born in County Meath, Ireland, son of James Balfe and his wife Sara Sutherland, daughter of Baron Duffus. He was educated at the Jesuit Clongowes Wood College near Dublin and then entered the Life Guards. He was stationed at Windsor and at the crowning of Queen Victoria was detailed to her bodyguard. Leaving the army, he returned to Ireland where he became a member of the Repeal Association under Daniel O'Connell. He was active in seeking redress of the grievances under which Ireland laboured and was the author of letters on the landlord and tenant question published in the Dublin Evening Post. However, he was acting as a British agent provocateur, and was reporting to the authorities on the intentions of the Young Ireland party. This continued even after he had been denounced in the council of the Irish Confederation, and included identifying Young Ireland leaders following the failed rebellion of 1848.
In 1850 Balfe married Mary, daughter of Terence O'Reilly, and a sister of Christopher. His services for the British authorities were rewarded with a grant of land in Van Diemen’s Land, to where some of the Young Ireland leaders he betrayed had been exiled. The Balfes arrived there in the Australasia in October 1859. Balfe carried letters of introduction from Earl Grey and Lord Clarendon and was appointed assistant comptroller of convicts by Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Denison, who wrote of him: 'His education and habits fit him peculiarly for the situation, and I trust he will by his conduct prove himself worthy of the confidence which will be placed in him'. Rumours and accusations of treachery followed Balfe to his new home. In December 1852 he publicly assaulted Thomas Gregson who compared Balfe to Judas, and had claimed that he was the controlling power behind the Hobart Town Advertiser. Balfe was taken to court and fined £200 which was then raised by public subscription. Next year Balfe resigned from the Convict Department and settled on his land at Port Esperance in the Huon district. There he engaged in a long and bitter conflict with the police magistrate at Franklin; at gunpoint Balfe twice rescued his servants who were being taken into custody, believing that they were arrested only to annoy him. When the police magistrate later petitioned the lieutenant-governor against Balfe's suitability as a justice of the peace, his charges included drunkenness and perjury.
Balfe was nonetheless an able political journalist: as 'Dion' he opposed the Anti-Transportation League in 1850-53 and as 'Bill Shingle' drew attention to the needs of the Huon district. In the House of Assembly he represented Franklin in 1857-70, West Hobart in 1871-72 and 1877-80 and South Launceston in 1874-77. He held no ministerial office but was chairman of committees in 1863-66. Always an active member he sat on many inquiries, introduced dozens of petitions and was noted for lively speeches that were often caustic about corruption in the House. In 1868 he was engaged for a year by John Davies as editor of the Mercury under an agreement that pledged him to total abstinence and obliged him to vote in the assembly consistently with his editorials. Dismissed after four months for a breach of the first clause, Balfe sued Davies for £500 but lost. A select committee in 1869 declared the second clause a breach of privilege because it tended 'to fetter freedom of vote and action of the Honorable Member for Franklin in this Honorable House'. In the 1870s Balfe was editor of the liberal Tasmanian Tribune. In 1875 he published Life in Old Ireland in Olden Times, a lecture he had given to the St Patrick's Society. The Bulletin, 3 April 1880, called him 'the finest writer, best speaker, readiest wit and ablest constitutional lawyer in Tasmania'. He died aged 64 at his home in Battery Point on 13 December 1880 and was buried at Cornelian Bay cemetery. He was survived by his wife, a son and three daughters, one of whom was a Sister of Charity at St Joseph's Convent.
John Donnellan Balfe (1816-1880), by J. W. Beattie, State Library of Tasmania, AUTAS001125647289.
Biography From: L. L. Robson, 'Balfe, John Donnellan (1816–1880)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/balfe-john-donnellan-2924/text4225, published first in hardcopy 1969
CHEMISTS' BALL
The Chemists' Ball was held at the Ambassadors last night, when many beautiful dresses were worn. Mr. L. Ingamells, the president of the committee, entertained a large party, which Included Mrs. Loughlin, the wife of the Minister for Lands, in pale pink; Miss B. Loughlin, wearing jade green satin; Mr. John M'Kimm, the' president of the Pharmacy Board; and Mrs. M'Kimm. the latter being in powder blue embroidered taffetas, beneath a magnificent shawl: Mrs. Martyn, wearing black velvet, with touches of gold; Mrs. Barnes, in mastic satin and lace; Miss Madge Noble, wearing peacock green georgette; and Messrs. W. J. Archer, Barnes. Webb, and Murray. Mr. L. Townley, the hon. treasurer, entertained Mrs. Townley, in saxe blue marocain. buded in rose pink; Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. G. N. Reynolds; Mr. and Mrs. F. Knight, Miss Donnan, Miss Dutton, Mr. M'Greal, Miss Patterson, Miss Edwards, and Mr. Blackett. Miss G. Heaney, ' who wore white georgette, beaded all over in crystal, had in her party Miss M. Walker, Miss K. Sutherland, and MIsb Blackett. Among others present were Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bowden. Dr. Gerald Kelly, Dr. Dinley, Dr. Burge, Dr. Calien, and Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Dawson. CHEMISTS' BALL (1925, August 27). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245249468
Gerard Barnes WWI enlistment papers - courtesy National Archives of Australia's digitisation of Australian War Records program and project:
Amy Stark - Notes
The Australian War Memorial Biography for this lady states:
Amy Gwendoline 'Gwen' Stark, born in Sydney on 3 April 1910, and living in Rose Bay, was inspired by the Australian visit of Amy Johnson in 1930 to join the Australian Women's Flying Club (AWFC) in the late 1930s. She gained her pilot's licence shortly before the outbreak of World War Two, and flew the de Havilland Moth series - the Gypsy, Avian, Hornet, Puss and Tiger Moth.
Upon the declaration of war, the AWFC became affiliated with the NSW branch of the Women's Air Training Corps, and she served as its commandant from 1940. She was one of the first women appointed to a position in the Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force in March 1941 and the first officer appointed to New South Wales where she was posted Assistant Section Officer under service number 351010.
Stark soon promoted to Section Officer on 12 August 1941 and then Flight Officer on13 November 1941 when she served in Headquarters Training Group, Point Piper and was tasked with selecting new recruits. In December 1941 she spent a brief period at RAAF Headquarters in Melbourne, where she was promoted to Squadron Officer, before being assigned to the North Eastern Area Headquarters at Townsville as Area Staff Officer in July 1942.
Squadron Officer Stark was assigned to Number 2 Training Group at Wagga, New South Wales on 16 December 1943, where she embarked on a programme of visiting air bases across eastern Australia to check on the welfare of airwomen. On 1 January 1945 she was promoted to Wing Officer, one of only four such officers in the WAAAF. In this capacity and in this position she ended the war.
Postwar, she travelled to Europe and worked with the Berlin Air Lift at a Royal Air Force station in Germany for several months. Whilst in England she met her future husband William Caldwell, a retired bank officer; he returned to Australia with her in January 1949 and in July they were married at 23 July at St Philip’s Anglican Church, Sydney.
In 1964 she became the federal president of the Australian Women's Pilots' Association and was appointed to the Order of the British Empire on 8 June 1968 for her services to aviation. Until well into her 70s she was devoted to the welfare and friendship of the WAAAF Association, aviation and the Girl Guides.
In 1979 she donated a number of 16mm black and white and colour films to the Australian War Memorial. This revealed that as early as 1938 she had been shooting 16 mm Kodachrome colour film of the Australian Women's Flying Club, the NSW Women's Air Training Corps and the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force- a task she continued throughout the Second World War.
Elva Collins - Notes
Parents marriage: 9821/1917 COLLINS WILLIAM T to KENNY FRANCES M at SYDNEY
Wedding.
COLLINS— KENNY.
A very pretty wedding was solemnised at St. Paul's Church Redfern, on September 29, the contracting parties being William, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Collins, of Church-street, Mudgee, and Maud, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenny, of Donset, Mill-street, Carlton. Archdeacon Boyce officiated. Wedding. (1917, October 22). Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156191882
Carlton is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Carlton is located 15 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area. Carlton lies across the boundary of two local government areas, the Georges River Council and the Bayside Council. It is next door to Rockdale.
Birth of Elva: COLLINS MARJORIE E15470/1918 WILLIAM FRANCES M ROCKDALE
Birth of Elva's younger sister: COLLINS NOELENE JOYCE 20480/1923 WILLIAM THOMAS FRANCES MAUD at RANDWICK
SMEDLEY.—A tribute of love to our dear niece and cousin, Audrey, who passed away Oct. 9. 1945.
We smile with the world,
But we never forget,
In our garden of memories,
You live with us yet.
Inserted by Uncle Will, Auntie cousins Elva, Noelene and Barry Collins. Family Notices (1954, October 7). Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100986770
Cecil William Gidley - Notes
Gidley, Cecil William b. 16 May 1912 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia d. 29 Sep 1988 Leura, New South Wales.
Born May 16, 1912 in Sydney, he had been a High School Teacher prior to enlistment – he had served in the AMF as a private in the infantry from 1929 on. He was aged 30 and married to Maria, and they lived at 12 Cobar Street Willoughby, when enlsiting.
Marriage: 20894/1940 GIDLEY CECIL WILLIAM to BOLDINI MARIA CECILIA registered at WAVERLEY
Two years later a marriage ceremony takes place: NSW BDM’s date wrong (?) – they met at Sydney University:
ENGLISH II.
Pass (order of merit).-J. M. Ward, It M. Murchi-son, Margaret T. Allen, Jessie U. Kershaw. R. T. Dunlop, F. G. Rigg, Ina M. Cumpston, Phyllis D. S. H. Purves, J. M. Power. R. N. Walker Hast three aeq.), Roberta H. P. Tivcy, Elsa G. Pigott, Ruth Knowles, Kathleen M. M. Landers. R. Gollan (last three aeq.), R. A. Smee, V. B Seton. D. Wells, A. A. C. White (last three aeq.), Philippa S. Morgan, J. Forsythe, A. W. Welch (aeq.), W. A. Enright. J. M. Wark (aeq.p), C. B. Ramsay, Mavis Bain, Olive P. H. Jones. Les-ley, J. Maleer. A. H. McNaughton. D. E. Rose. B.Ec. (last four aeq.), Betty C. M. Adamson. Margaret Gibson. Jean M. D. Hogg, (aeq.l, Mary E. Pickard, M. R. Booker, I. Shevill(aeq.), Eleanor H. Gibson, Cecilla Golden, J. E. Roberts, S. J. Pass'(alphabetical).-P. C. D. Alcorn. W. Anderberg, Helen T. Asplnall, S. G. Barr, Dorothy M. Batty, Maria C. Boldini …
PSYCHOLOGY I.
Pass (alphabetical): Isabel G. Anderson, Mar-garet J. Baker, J. G. Barrett, S. G. Barr, N. C. Beck, J. V. Bcttrldge, Helen J. Blackall, Betty K. Bland, F. J. Billings, Barbara Bourke, Maxine A. Boydell, Edna R. Broadfoot, G. O. Brown, Rose-mary S. Budge, L. K. Burgess, Freda Bussman. R. Campbell, Enid M. Carey, J. R. F. Clark, Nancy A. Clarke. H. H. Clarkson, O. L. Conway, C. E. Corten, Betty M. Cowley, Margaret A. Cramp, Betty I. M. Cunynghame, G. A. Cutler, T. P. Deamer, Hazel J. Dobson*, Ruth L. Dobson. W. T. Dowsett, Lola K. Dunster, G. B. Ellis, Joyce A. Ellis, W. A. Enright, Olive S. Evans, F. S. Evatt, R. G. Flanncry, Betty B. Fletcher, E. K. Fisk, Sheila B. Fraser, W. W. Frcame, T. P'ulton, Phyllis Q. Galtley, A. R. Gardner, R. G. Qeerlng, Faith G. Gibbons, C. W. Gidley, Kathleen M. Golding, … FACULTY OF ARTS. (1937, December 22). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27981334
The wedding of Lieut. C. Gidley, a former popular teacher at Forbes I.H.S., and Miss Maria Boldini, was celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, on Thursday. The couple are both graduates of Sydney University. Lieut.-Col. Madgwick gave the bride away, while Lieut. John Patience and his wife acted as best man and matron of honor. Men in khaki pre-dominated at the reception, which was attended among others, by Major J. Wilson, Capt. Coates and Capt. Greenland. About People (1942, April 28). The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219514495
GIDLEY (nee Maria Boldini).—August 17, at Mater Misericordiae, to Captain and Mrs. Cecil Gidley (A.I.F.)—a daughter (Maria Cecilia Philomena). Family Notices (1943, August 24). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17861582
A GALLANT ACTION.
To the Editor,
Sir,—Many residents of Arncliffe have heard mention of the gallant action of Cecil Gidley, a popular Northern Branch tennis player, but they are mystified as to why no reference to his courageous act has occurred. At Museum Station on Thursday, 18th inst., at 6 p.m., I saw this young man jump to the rails before a fast approaching train to draw to safety another youth who had fallen upon the track. The lad he thus saved seemed, however, to lose his nerve and struggled desperately, and for the moment we all expected him to drag himself and his rescuer beneath another train which was passing in the opposite direction. Fortunately he was held firmly and the pair escaped. Yours, etc., "EYE-WITNESS." A GALLANT ACTION. (1934, October 26). The St George Call (Kogarah, NSW : 1904 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232215848
All About People : Tittle Tattle
MR. CECIL WILLIAM GIDLEY.
At the last meeting of the Royal Ship-wreck Relief and Humane Society of New South Wales, several awards were made, among which was a bronze medal and certificate of merit to Cecil William Gidley, for rescuing Ronald David Miles from being run over by an electric train at Museum station, on October 18 last. This young man is an ex-student of the Marist Brothers' High School at Darlinghurst and West Maitland. He is now resident at Arncliffe, where he is a member of the Holy Name Society. All About People: Tittle Tattle (1935, January 31). The Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1942), p. 24. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104506272
HOLD-UP MAN GETS £4 WITH HOME-MADE 'GUN'
A bicycle-handle grip with a lead "barrell" was used in a hold-up last night. Cecil Gidley, of Forest Road, Bexley, was walking in a dark part of the Sydney University grounds, when he heard, from a clump of trees, a man's voice calling for help. As Gidley approached, a man stepped out, thrust what seemed to be a revolver against the student's abdomen, and demanded money. Gidley gave him £4 and then punched the man. The man felled Gidley with a blow with what was later found to be a cricket ball. After Gidley, who was not badly injured, summoned police, the "revolver" was discovered. HOLD-UP MAN GETS £4 WITH HOME-MADE 'GUN' (1938, May 10). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247252819
ROBBED IN VARSITY GROUNDS
Medical Student Attacked.
SYDNEY, Tuesday: — Cecil Gidley, a medical student, of Bexley, was attacked and robbed in the grounds of Sydney University last night.' He told the police he was walking to a tram after attending a lecture, when a man stepped out of the darkness and thrust a length of hosepipe, which he -thought was a revolver, against his chest. "Hand over your cash," said the man. He took about £4 from Gidley and then struck him a heavy blow on the forehead with a cricket ball swung in a stocking. ROBBED IN VARSITY GROUNDS (1938, May 11). Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW : 1914 - 1949), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195489159
A few insights from Mr. Gidley's War Service Records, courtesy of the National Archives of Australia:
Farewell Party
Many members of the Wives and Fiancées of US Servicemen's Club will celebrate their last Christmas together in Australia when they attend a party at the Feminist Club on Friday. President of the club (Miss Joan Maurer) will cut a special Christmas cake, and Mrs. Walter McConnack, whose husband is a petty-officer (first-class) in the US Navy, will compere the show that will be run in connection with the party. Among guests will be Captain C. Gidley, AIF, a member of the Army Education branch. A WOMAN'S NOTEBOOK (1944, December 20). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 8 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229282424
After the war:
MGM's New 16mm FILM EXECUTIVE
Mr, N. Bernard Freeman, managing director, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has announced the appointment of Mr. Cecil W. Gidley to the newly-created 16mm division for the distribution of entertainment, education and documentary films throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Mr. C. W. Gidley served as a captain in the AIF and is a graduate in economics from Sydney University. Before his enlistment he was a high school teacher in the NSW Education Department. MGM's New 16mm FILM EXECUTIVE (1946, January 21). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 7 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228784524
HIGH U.S. FILM EXECUTIVE TO VISIT SYDNEY
Mr. Charles Goldsmith, one of the chief executives of Loews International Corporation, parent company of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, will reach Sydney from the U.S. on October 16. HE is making the visit at the invitation of Mr. N. Bernard Freeman, managing director of -M.GM. in Australia, and will attend the company's Convention to be held in Sydney from October 21 to 28. Dir. David Lake, general sales manager in Australia and New Zealand, is due back in the Monterey after a four months' tour of the United States in which he visited the M.G.M. studios and saw a number of big pictures in production. The 1946 convention promises to be the largest gathering in the company's 22-year-old history. Much discussion will centre on M.G.M.'s new 16mm. department, headed by Mr. Cecil Gidley, who returned recently from the U.S. after attending a special training course. HIGH U.S. FILM EXECUTIVE TO VISIT SYDNEY (1946, October 2). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 13 (Noon Edition). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article272758938
LIVERPOOL ROTARY CLUB
The feature at last week's meeting was an address, followed with films, by Mr. Cecil Gidley, of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
The speaker explained the policy of the company regarding educational films, and his remarks about experiments in the Pacific Islands were, both interesting and amusing. : He said there may V>e : differences of ' opinion regarding the motion picture industry; but : there was no doubt they would in { future his some interest And influence for everyone. He said the films were really based' on optical Illusion, a defect in eyesight making them appear animated, whereas they were, really, a series of "stills:'' If all picture theatres were closed, what a gap they would leave to our lives. They were a potent force-some may think for evil, some for good, fend others don't care. Equipment now available made it possible to show moving pictures in the smallest and remote places, and provided education and entertainment..
Experiments with films In schools had proved their value, and this had been the experience in other spheres of education. The combination of the visual and vocal made learning easier, and It had been proved knowledge was more quickly assimilated by that method. It was hoped, with the world-wide development of the motion pictures, to break down international prejudices and misunderstanding, and thus create friendship and goodwill to make war impossible. .
The films shown depicted methods of saving non-swimmers from drowning, with such aids as one's own trousers, tied at bottom of legs and thrown over the head to be someone... Inflated; a drum or bucket; pieces of timber thrown to the person in difficulties; the proper way to throw a rope and pull in the rescued. Altogether, this was a very Instructive picture lecturette.
Another screening revealed the development of the Australian crawl, and its influence on swimming until the present day. The method was carried on from the days of the former champion, Johny Lane. Vice-president Colin Craik presided In the absence of president John Cole, owing to the illness of members of his family. LIVERPOOL ROTARY CLUB (1952, July 17). The Biz (Fairfield, NSW : 1928 - 1972), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75596200
The Gidley family still had a connection to Pittwater years after Cecil first served at the Newport school for Brides:
BOLDINI, Cecilia.—June 30, 1952 at her residence, Warriewood Road, Warriewood, beloved mother of Marie (Mrs Gidley) and Adele, and dear grandmother of Maria and Cecil. Requissent in pace. Family Notices (1952, July 2). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 22. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18271414
Narrabeen Lagoon's barbed wire defences during WWII