On The Homefront: Community Life

The war brought many shortages. Petrol was rationed and by 1941, many car owners were taking their vehicles off the road. Some converted their cars to run on "producer gas" while St Paul's church committee considered giving their curate a horse and sulky. General rationing started in Ipswich in 1942. Ration coupons were issued and advertisements for clothing began to note the number of coupons required, as well as the price. Neighbours swapped coupons according to their taste and what they considered indispensable, for example swapping butter coupons for tea coupons. Many everyday items such as chocolate and stockings became rare luxuries.

A home front war was waged against waste and everyone was urged to be thrifty and resourceful. At Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, lawns were dug up and boarders grew their own vegetables. The Ipswich radio station 4IP held an appeal to encourage listeners to collect scrap aluminium for wartime production - one aluminium teapot could provide 438 rivets for an aircraft. Although wartime conditions in Australia were austere, Ipswich residents were conscious that the problems we were experiencing were mild compared with those faced by people in England, both during and immediately after the war. Sending food parcels to Britain became a common practice and many long-term friendships were forged. Students at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School sent parcels of knitted woollen clothing to Northgate School in Ipswich , England to be distributed to homeless children.

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