In mid-1915, the Camden Patriotic Fund took over fundraising for the first Australia Day appeal directing proceeds to the Red Cross for Australian wounded. The patriotic fund raised a substantial amount of money through various events. Meanwhile, on a national scale, the significance of the first Australia Day evolved from an idea initiated by Mrs. Elle Warton-Kirke of Manly NSW to an important Red Cross day. In Camden, the 1915 Australia Day activities were a significant wartime fundraiser, demonstrating the community's support for the war effort.
Tag: War at home
Camden Red Cross 110 Years Display: Objects and Ephemera Exhibition 2024
The Camden Red Cross exhibition at Camden Library in August 2024 showcased the historical contributions of local women to the Red Cross during World Wars I and II. Women from the Camden district played a pivotal role in supporting soldiers and shaping the narrative of the Australian Red Cross, creating over 20,300 articles in 40,000 volunteer hours during WWI.
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Ministering Angels, Myth and the Red Cross on the Australian Wartime Homefront
The paper presented at the 33rd Annual Conference of the Australian Historical Association at the University of Queensland in 2014 explored the role of Australian country women in supporting the Red Cross during the First World War. The paper focused on the Camden District Red Cross, emphasizing the conservative women’s empowerment in embracing the Red Cross, serving as ministering angels, and upholding patriotic values. Total words: 78
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‘Guardian Angels’, the Red Cross on the wartime homefront
During the First World War, Australian women independently joined the Red Cross to support the war effort. The Red Cross provided a space for women to express agency and contribute to the war through practical activities and fundraising. The organization's local branches established a sense of community and played a significant role in the homefront war effort.
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Blue Plaque recognises Camden Red Cross sewing circle in wartime
The wartime efforts of Camden women have been recognised by the successful nomination for a New South Wales Blue Plaque with Heritage NSW. The women volunteered thousands of hours of their effort and skills to supply hospital requisites for soldiers at military hospitals.
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Waley Convalescent Home at Mowbray Park
In 1919 Mowbray Park, five kilometres west of Picton, was handed over to the Commonwealth Government to be converted to a convalescent home for invalided soldiers from the First World War. The home was called Waley after its philanthropic benefactors.
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Understanding the Anzac Myth: Truths and Contradictions
The Anzac story is vital to Australian identity, yet its meaning remains contested. Historian Dr. Jen Roberts argues that the narrative, while centered on duty and sacrifice, encompasses contradictions surrounding nationalism, trauma, and the realities of war. Anzac's evolution reflects cultural transformations, highlighting diverse interpretations and ongoing relevance in society.
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Exploring Studley Park’s Role in Army Training 1939-1945
Studley Park in Narellan, NSW, served as a military training facility for the Australian Army Service Corps during World War II. It was leased by the Department of Defence in 1939 then purchased from its pre-war owners. Post-war, it transitioned into civilian use, notably becoming a golf club.
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Wartime volunteers and The War Workers’ Gazette
Wartime volunteers and The War Workers’ Gazette in New South Wales
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Reflections of a travelling scholar
Reflections of historian Ian Willis after attending the 2019 RANZ at the University of Warsaw Poland
