Queanbeyan Red Cross 95 years of continuous community service 20 th August 1914 20 th August 2009 Compiled by Sandra Young, 2009. Photos by Sandra Young. (The above image is an extract from a personal copy of a WW1 Red Cross certificate) New South Wales Red Cross formed a few years before the August 13 1914 formation of Australian Red Cross, when the legal documentation for its formation was completed. Australian Red Cross was, for some years, under the overall administrative supervision of British Red Cross. Most of the larger regional Red Cross groups, such as Yass, Goulburn and Queanbeyan had their first meetings within a week of the initial legal formation of Australian Red Cross, in August 1914. The story of Queanbeyan Red Cross, which first formed a committee to assist Red Cross at its initial 1914 meeting and then worked informally until officially forming a Red Cross group on September 14, 1915, was similar to the formation of many Australian Red Cross groups in WW1. Understanding some of the efforts undertaken by Queanbeyan Red Cross therefore, allows us to glimpse a small fragment of the overall effort of the work carried out by Australian Red Cross throughout its history.
Some examples of the work undertaken by Queanbeyan Red Cross in WW1 Farewelling and welcoming home regional veterans, often with a gift, such as a sheepskin vest. Sending comforts to the overseas veterans, such as knitted sox, pyjamas, balaclavas, Christmas billies containing cakes, tobacco etc. Helping regional widows of veterans, by suppyong them with fruit, vegetables and an amount of money for their Christmas, or Christmas Cheer. Helping raise money that supported the Australian Red Cross hospitals for injured, blind or those veterans with TB. Helping feed the WW1 Snowy River volunteers, as they completed their recruitment march. ( Most of the regional Red Cross groups also helped with this, as the marches passed through their areas). Raising money for the Belgian Relief Fund. Jam and old linen were collected and sent to Red Cross headquarters (the old linen, after treatment, was used for bandages) Bags were made to be used as sandbags for the trenches, also soldiers hospital bags. (Above LHS is from the Queanbeyan Age 1915, describing how to make sandbags and above RHS is from a 1914 Yass Courier article that descibes the contents of hospital soldiers bags).
Above LHS is an example of a 1918 cartoon that appeared in the Queanbeyan Age before a Red Cross event. Above RHS is an example of the WW1 community support for Red Cross on its fund-raising activities. This community support still continues today, with the regional community conscientiously assisting to raise a substantial amount of $37,275.40 for the recent Victorian Bushfire Appeal, from the Queanbeyan and district community. The regional district community donated more than the above amount to the recent Victorian Bushfire Appeal, as many people donated online and through banks etc and not via Queanbeyan Red Cross.
(The above poem is an extract from a WW1 poem by F R W, published in the Queanbeyan Age in 1918 and the coloured image is a personal copy of a WW1 era Red Cross postcard)
Some of the early executive members of Queanbeyan Red Cross Presidents 1914-1915 (There was no initial president, however Mrs Richard Moore, the then Queanbeyan mayor s wife, was the coordinator of this Red Cross committee) 1915-1925 Mrs J. M Mc Intosh (Mrs. McIntosh then moved to Sydney) 1925-1939 Mrs J.H. Hincksman 1939-1955 Mrs Mary Bowers MBE Secretaries 1914-1943 Mrs C.T. Campbell (Mrs Campbell became too ill to continue) 1943-1944 Mrs B. Fallick 1944-1945 Mrs J. O Rourke Treasurers 1914-1916 Mrs A.S. Wood 1916-1927 Myra Russell (Myra married Harold Duncan in 1927, so possibly moved) 1927-1939 Mrs A.M. Webb 1939-1952 Mrs Eva Wormald Although not a member of the executive of Queanbeyan Red Cross, May Walker, a long-term teacher at the now Isabella Primary School in Queanbeyan, encouraged many students to join junior Red Cross, so she also deserves to be mentioned, as a person who greatly assisted Red Cross. (The Red Cross year was from about July, August to the following July, August, or September, depending on the actual date of their annual meeting.)
Some recent executive members of Queanbeyan Red Cross Presidents 1999-2002 Gladys Bartram 2002-2005 Mary Tanner MBE OAM 2005-2006 Gladys Bartram (Gladys resigned one month into 2006/2007) 2006-2009 Sandra Young 2009-2010 Ann Rocca (newly elected at the 2009 AGM) Secretaries 1999-2000 Carmel Leary 2000-2001 Sandra Dengate 2002-2003 Christina Tragea 2003-2005 Carmel Brown 2006-2008 Ian Wallace 2008-2010 Ruth Blunden (newly re-elected at the 2009 AGM) Gladys Hart was a Red Cross secretary for some years and was also a dedicated worker for Meals on Wheels. Gladys was awarded Queanbeyan Citizen of the Year in 2000. Treasurers 1998-2004 Tina Kazs (Tina was also president during 1993-1994-1995 terms, after the death of the then president, Margaret Scaysbrook, who had been a tireless worker and who was involved with several charities. Tina was awarded Queanbeyan Citizen of the Year in 2004) 2004-2007 Richard Rowe (A conscientious worker, Richard recently died) 2007-2008 John Gagel 2008-2010 Ian Wallace (newly re-elected at the 2009 AGM)
Some Queanbeyan Red Cross Members Some present or former members and our Red Cross administrators and patrons Left To Right: Reina French, our Wollongong administrator, handing out a service award to Gladys Bartram. (Gladys has been a member of Red Cross since she was 11 and has reached at least 70 years of continuous Red Cross service). Hellena Hanssen is the Red Cross regional community service co-ordinator of Hands on Care, Telecross and the Community Visitors Scheme, that is presently co-ordinated from Letchworth communt centre, Queanbeyan. Mary Pangallo, a Queanbeyan Red Cross member and patron for several years. Frank Pangallo MBE, a former Queanbeyan mayor and long-term patron of Queanbeyan Red Cross. The current Queanbeyan mayor, Queanbeyan Red Cross patron and life Red Cross member, Tim Overall. Left to Right: Three former Queanbeyan Red Cross members. Hilda Pobje is a 97 year old former WW2 Queanbeyan Red Cross member; Rene Woods, was a long-term Red Cross worker for at least 50 years in at least two different regions in her lifetime, who died several years ago and Catherine Genge, who is nearly 97 year old. Margaret Scaysbrook, Alexis Moore and Doreen Hughes were also highly-dedicated Queanbeyan Red Cross members. Left to Right: The 2009/2010 Executive for Queanbeyan Red Cross Ian Wallace (treasurer), Ruth Blunden (secretary), Ann Rocca (president), Gladys Bartram (vice-president) and Sandra Young.
L to R : Gladys Bartram, Tiina Kazs, Carmel Brown, Jose Buchtmann, Una Charlton and Elsie McGovern. L to R: Denise Sims, Jill Webb, Roslyn McNeilly, Ruth Blunden, Brenda Fardell and Katrina Higgins. L to R: Margaret Paulic, John Gagel (a former member), Karina Moore and Val Brown. L to R: Reina French presenting a service award to Gladys Bartram. Reina French, our Wollongong administrator, presenting a service award to Gladys Bartram and a 50 years service award to Jose Buchtmann. (Gladys and Jose have been members of other Red Cross groups during their extensive Red Cross service) Ailsa and Richard Rowe, former Queanbeyan Red Cross members, Richard was our conscientious treasurer for three years and died recently.