THE SLCG CONTINUES TO GROW AND FLOURISH

Excerpt from "THE CLOCK OF TIME" by Gertrude Ruston.  (pp 150-153)

"We soon decided we would need to obtain a permanent home for some of the older intellectually handicapped children, and an areas was acquired for a farm village which was named "Hawkevale" after the Premier the Hon. A.R.G.Hawke.

Two cottage homes were built on this block and, at the suggestion of parents, they were named after Mrs Newton and myself, as the two people who had been most active in putting the SLCG on the map.

The boys became very proud of their cottages, and a little rivalry arose as to whether the trees round one cottage grew better than those round the other.

After some years the first farm village was taken over for extensions to the Perth Airport and another has been acquired and developed.  it is still called "Hawkevale" and our two cottages are still so named.  There are now four cottages - two for girls and two for boys.

It was nice to be invited to the opening ceremony performed by Sir Paul Hasluck and I was given the seat of honour next to Lady Hasluck (now Dame Alexandra Hasluck) at the top table.  The Hon. A.R.G. Hawke was an honoured guest, and the name of the farm village will always remind us of the Premier who gave us our first official support and encouragement.  Unfortunately Mrs Newton was ill at the time of the opening and could not attend.  (I am not a Labor supporter but have always considered that Mr Hawke was one of the best Premiers W.A. ever had.  He was, of course, related to Bob Hawke who was at one time Prime Minister of Australia; an uncle I think).

This is Sir Paul Hasluck:

The latest idea is to encourage a number of young people, who have the ability, to live independently, under supervision, in small groups.  The SLCG is still developing and expanding, while the knowledge of mental retardation today is beyond anything we had anticipated in the early days. SLCG is now one of the largest welfare bodies in this State, and caters for a very large number of various types of intellectually handicapped people.

I resigned from the position of President in 1954 and was made an Hon. Life Member.  I carried on the Fun Club for its first nine years.  As a testimonial I have a bound copy of the early newsletters and an Honorary Life Certificate.  I have also been honoured as Vice-Patron of the SLCG.

Photographs of the original officers were taken some time ago and were to be hung in SLCG Headquarters.  I have not seen mine and I understand none of them have been hung to date. (I wonder if they ever did get hung??)

I hunted around and was thrilled to find two pictures relating to Hawkevale Village in 1957.  You can see them above.