For the Sake of the Soldier: Voluntary Work of Brisbane Women — John Shaqi
For the Sake of the Soldier: Voluntary Work of Brisbane WomenMacleod, Rita
History
For the Sake of the Soldier: Voluntary Work of Brisbane Women
Macleod, Rita
World War, 1914-1918 -- Medical care -- Australia; World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Australia
Look to the rose that blows about us. Lo,
Laughing, she says, “into the world I blow,
At once the silken tassel of my purse
Tear and its treasure on the garden throw.”
The Brisbane girl of war time should make a splendid woman, for she is
spending her youth in a heroic and self-sacrificing age. The silken
tassel of her girlhood has been torn and all the treasure of her youth
thrown into the arena of war service. The delights promised since
childhood have been swept away in the great tide of war, and instead
of idle pleasures occupying her leisure hours, it is war work on every
side. And the war work has become more to her than any idle pleasures
could ever have become. All soldiers have been her friends, and she has
worked with enthusiasm for them for the last three years.
At first her war work was a game, but as the seriousness of war dawned
on her she settled down to solid, earnest work in the interests of the
man in khaki. The business girl gives what time she can spare, the girl
of leisure has in many cases given up her freedom. In the Red Cross
Kitchen or the V.A.D. she will cook and serve for the Red Cross or
Comforts Funds. She will sew and knit, or, again, she will devote hours
to organising and taking part in entertainments, clubs, fêtes, or other
channels for raising money to swell some particular fund. No task is
too menial or too big for her in her endeavours to do “her bit” for the
soldiers.
THE BRISBANE GIRLS’ CLUB.
This was one of the first girls’ organisations for war work on a
big scale. Among their chief activities have been the providing of
Christmas and Easter Dinners to the men in camp, the purchasing of
a billiard table, a pianola and a piano for the White City, and the
supplying of pies to men on military duty two nights weekly. The
members have been successful in collecting over £1,900 since the
inception of the club, and £139 4s. 8d. of that sum was raised on
behalf of the Citizens’ Queen’s Carnival in aid of the Residential
Club. Other efforts include the presentation of flags, while the
conducting of the Comforts Funds of the 41st and 42nd Battalions is
included in the regular work of the club.
THE TOOWONG GIRLS’ CLUB.
This club has raised considerable sums through garden parties, concerts
and the selling of cakes and flowers, the result of their efforts being
divided between various patriotic organisations. The distributions
have included the presentation of side drums to various Companies, and
furniture for the sitting room at the Kangaroo Point Military Hospital.
The club also keeps a bed in up-to-date order in the same hospital.
The A.C.B.
Ladies’ Drapers,
THE VALLEY, BRISBANE.
Speciality Store for Ladies Only.
The Largest Speciality Store for Ladies’ and Children’s Wear in
Queensland.
Thousands of Ladies visit our Bargain Show Rooms daily.
We recommend customers to read our advertisements appearing
daily in the Brisbane Daily Papers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account