Adversity & Resilience: Community Organisations

Local organisations
Balls appear to have been one of the most popular social events of this period. Many organisations held a formal annual ball, with long accounts of the event, the decorations and the dresses worn by each woman appearing in the next day’s newspaper.

The Country Women’s Association had started in New South Wales in 1922. This was an important organisation which provided companionship and support for women in the relatively isolated country areas. A Rosewood branch was formed in 1924. The Rosewood Show of this year was opened by the Governor Sir Matthew Nathan who was interested in the work of the CWA and asked a local women Mrs. Stevens to try to form a branch. A public meeting was subsequently held and a branch was formed with Mrs. Stevens as president. The branch opened a rest room in 1925. The Ipswich branch of the CWA was formed in August 1926 with Mary Tregear as its first president. The founding members talked of the problems of women from country areas who had to come into Ipswich when babies were due. Mrs. Nott of the Toogoolawah Branch suggested opening a hostel and a rest room and said that “If they could do that, many women would bless them". By November, a simple rest room had been opened above the ABC Bank in Brisbane Street. Fundraising continued through the Depression and a hostel was finally purchased and opened in June 1943. Its occupants were mothers waiting for babies to be born or mothers bringing children in to Ipswich for medical attention. This historic building in Limestone Street is now known as the Mary Tregear Hostel. A second hostel to accommodate young women and students was opened in 1949. A Redbank Plains Branch started in 1932.

A less well-known organisation was the Bush Book Club, formed in Ipswich in 1922 to assist country people. This was a type of free lending library and was based in a room at the Memorial Hall. Parcels of books and magazines were packed up and sent by rail to people on remote country properties.

The first service club for men in the Ipswich area was Ipswich Rotary Club which started in 1930. One of its early community projects was to assist financially with the establishment of a children’s section in the library. Apex was launched in Ipswich in 1938.

Children could become members of organisations such as the Sunshine Club already mentioned or several church organisations. The Scout movement gathered strength during this period. Started in England by Lord Baden-Powell in 1907-08, it quickly spread to Australia. The first troop in Ipswich was started in 1910 by Major C.A.H. Watson who was the Head Teacher at the Central Boys School. The troop met initially at the Drill Hall in Queens Park. By the 1920s and 30s, there were several local troops. A Girl Guide company was formed in Brisbane in 1919 and one had been started in Ipswich by 1923. A visit by the founders Lord and Lady Baden-Powell in March 1931 increased local interest. [1]

A Rotary Club began in Ipswich c.1931, the president in the mid 1930s was F. J. Meacham. In 1935, there were approximately 35 members who were also members of the R.S.S.I.L.A.  Meetings were held every second Tuesday night at the Soldiers Memorial Hall in Nicholas Street, followed by a meal. The main purpose of Legacy was: to remember, assist, comfort and direct (the dependents) the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers. Each member took charge of a family and watched over them.