ANOTHER LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Once again searching through Trove I found this letter that my mother had written with regard to mentally handicapped children.  It was published in The West Australian on Monday 30 June, 1952 (63 years ago).

"AID FOR CHILDREN

Sir - We note with interest that a very necessary survey is to be made of physically handicapped children and we feel that it is very important we should also have a complete record of the mentally handicapped children in the State.  Any information given to the Slow Learning Children's Group would of course be treated as extremely confidential.

To enable plans to be made for the assistance that could be given these children in social adjustment and specialised training to fit them to take their place in sheltered workshops and the community, it is necessary for parents to communicate with us, no matter what degree of retardedness their child may have.  The record sought is for all mentally handicapped children under school age, going to school, and of girls and boys in their teens.  We ask parents and friends to make contact with the Secretary of the Slow Leaning Children's Group, 96 Northwood Street, West Leederville (phone *W38211).

Yours etc.
GERTRUDE W. RUSTON
President"

In her book mum omitted talking about the number of letters she wrote to publications seeking help with the many organisations with which she was involved.

*I was looking at that telephone number and thinking back to how few numbers they contained back in 1952, and that letter prefix too.  Now our landline telephone has NINE numbers and our mobile TEN!!!    Things were so simple back then but these days our memories are really tested having to remember lengthy numbers or do you all have them stored in your iPhone is similar device..