Thursday, July 24, 2014

DID I EVER TELL YOU

about the time my mother stood in for the Governor's wife at a ball?

It was the night of the *S.L.C.G. ball to be held at the Government House ballroom in Perth.  Lady Gairdner had been marooned in the north of our state owing to floods and mum (as **President of the S.L.C.G.) was invited to take her place.

The first photo shows mum walking down the red carpet with the Governor, Sir Charles Gairdner, and the second photo shows her being presented with a bouquet of flowers which were, of course, intended for the Governor's wife.



Information re the formation of the S.L.C.G. of W.A:

Mrs B. Rischbieth, President of the Women's Service Guilds of W.A. (mum at that time was Hon Secretary of the Guilds) had been asked by members of the community to pay a visit to the Claremont Mental Asylum in order to survey conditions there, as many felt special provisions were urgently needed for the mentally retardedchildren placed there, many of whom shared wards with adults.  The Guilds formed a committee and important people were invited to become members.  Unfortunately subsequent meetings held were only attended by representatives of organisations already dedicated and confirmed in the belief that action on behalf of these children was long overdue.

Finally it was my mother who convened a meeting to which all known parents of retarded children were to be invited.  Many of these parents had a guilt complex and some hid their children in back rooms and back gardens, and needed sympathy, understanding and encouragement.  The speakers at the meeting were chosen carefully to emphasise the fact that mental and physical illnesses were allied, and that there was no more reason to be ashamed of either one or the other.  

A second meeting also attended by parents was held and a resolution passed to form an organisation to deal with the care of mentally retarded children.   At the final meeting the *Slow Learning Children's Group of W.A. was formed and mum was elected as **State President and Mrs Gladys Newton as Hon. Secretary.   The resolution was supported by the Women's Service Guild and other like minded organisations.  (Mrs Newton can be seen walking down the red carpet behind the Governor and mum.)

I remember back to the early 1950s when I was still living at home, and how hard mum and Mrs Newton worked to bring these plans to fruition.   It is now a huge organisation known as the Active Foundation.

(The name Slow Learning Children's Group of W.A. was retained from 1951 to 1989 when the organisation became known as the Active Foundation.  I felt rather pleased that the name was not changed until after mum's death in 1985).

NOTE:  Much of the above information has been in part quoted from Mum's book "The Clock of Time".


13 comments:

  1. Oh Mimsie you must be so proud of your Mum she was truly a gracious gorgeous lady. Hug B

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    1. She was indeed Buttons, and set a very high standard which I'm afraid none of us have been able to live up to. She had just so much 'get up and go'.

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  2. Your Mom was an accomplished woman.

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    1. Yes, and in so many different ways...as a wife, mother and in her social welfare work in her later years.

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  3. wow, that is so amazing, and such a special moment for your Mum! I love the photos x My friend are you on facebook, if you are please add me Michelle M Burke xo

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    1. She was amazing and deserved the accolades heaped on her over the years. Those photos would I think have been taken 60 years ago. Yes, I am on Facebook so will try and make contact Michelle. xx

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  4. Hari OM
    Fabulous! ... your mum has a book??? Now you have to spill the beans on that one! &*> YAM xx

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    1. They were great times for my mother. Her book was published in the early 1980s and I believe copies are still available in some city libraries. In the book she told of her personal life as well as all the organisations with which she was involved many of which she was responsible for starting. xx

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  5. She was SUCH a special woman. To you, and to the community. No wonder you are soooo proud.

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    1. Proud is certainly the word and we all loved her so much as well. She was always there for me for which I shall always be so grateful. She also did so much good for others in the community which earned her so much respect.

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  6. Your mum certainly was a doer rather than a watcher.
    A mum to be proud of.

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  7. Yes she certainly was that and I know she was really chuffed to stand beside the Governor that night as they were quite good friends and she admired him greatly.

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  8. She looks like a 'natural' in those photos! From your delightful stories, it's easy to tell that she was something special.

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