Splendid Response By Sunshine, Clubs

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 280, 26 November 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Splendid Response By Sunshine, Clubs

HLS TOUCH! We find twelve-year-old George just as you sec him here, out alone, except for his dog, on a two-day drove, taking cattlc to the saleyards. George has three brothers and four sisters, who, with their mother and father, live in a small house 1500 feet above sea level, nine miles from the nearest school, post office and store, which is readied by a narrow, rough, tortuous mountain road. The nearest neighbours are four miles away, so playmates are out of the question. When he is not away on a lonely droving job. George assists with the milking and general farm Work, and at night time when work is over he asks i for nothing better than to read stories and articles dealing with history and geography.

My Friends — It is just four weeks since we acknowledged the opening gift of our campaign— the 11/ subscribed by the Olivette Club. To-day everybody will join in our rejoicing over the manner in which our plea for a hoi iday in the city has been received and acted upon. Four weeks gone by and over £40 in hand —a holiday assured for ten children. And we will make that ten thirty-six by Christmas Eve. What a joyful Christmas that will be. Surely a holiday in the city is a benediction to an isolated country child. Typical of the spirit behind our campaign is the manner in which Grace —you remember the picture of Grace and the twins?—came to be given her holiday. A knock on the door; in came Mr. Atkins and his wife. Just two kindly folk whose hearts were touched by the story of Eileen, and who felt that they would like to do something to make possible a holiday for little ones who live under such circumstances. The £4 they left behind was no mean sum to them—but it bought for Grace a week of joy unimagined. Truly it is the ones with the small purses who contribute most generously toward our fund. And to-day we acknowledge the wonderful gift of £6 from that energetic band of Mount Albert youngsters —the Starlets and Twinklets. Money that has been raised by their own efforts and a gift which we really believe brings almost as much joy to them as it dpes to the young folk who will be their guests this Christmas. Likewise we acknowledged last week a gift of £5 from " Wellwisher." This kindly friend who has contributed most generously to past campaigns asks for neither thanks nor recognition. We do not even know "Wellwisher's" name, but we do know he or she is the possessor of a kindly heart and a great love for little children. But now we must tell you the story of Grace—the thirteen-year-old girl whose biggest thrill in life so far has been a trip to Whangarei—"the big city that is forty miles distant from her village home." Playmates almost unknown, Grace just dissolved into tears when she was invited to join thirty others—members of her school-by-mail friends—on a wonderful trip to Auckland. The mere thought of travelling such a long distance, to see the huge buildings, hear the bustling traffic, the roar of machinery, the hurrying crowds, things of which she had heard so much, but never in her wildest moments dared hope she would see, overcame her. But like many another shy one who has no idea of the fun and thrills of city life, Grace will blossom out during her stay in Auckland, and when she returns home one feels that her two younger brothers will stand wide eyed while she breathlessly recounts her adventures. One can imagine, too, her telling the story in baby language to the twins. Elsewhere on this page there are pictures of George and June, Mac " and Sylvia—the latest additions to our party. And so, spreading through the { y island is our message of good cheer, the most wonderful of all Christmas gifts— a holiday in the city.

JUNE'S SACRIFICE.—For pears past thirteen-year-old June (left) has been saving her pennies so lhat when the opportunity came she'could enjoy a holiday. That opportunity came six months ago when the Correspondence School planned a "school camp" at Gisborne. Just tvhen it ivas settled that she could go there came a bitter disappointment. Her savings Were needed and her father had to borrow from his daughter's money box, and June had to continue milking the cows. He hopes that this will be a good season and that he will be able to repay the money— but in the meantime June will have her holiday in the big city. June's father has been a miner for forty years and took up farming only five years ago when the mine at which he n»as wording closed down.