POOR CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 182, 4 August 1939, Page 10

POOR CHILDREN.

ROSY CHEEKS AGAIN.

SYDNEY WOMAN'S WORK.

"I think England is the most beautiful country in the world—after Australia," said Mrs. George Fitzpatrick, who is returning to the country of her birth in the Monterey. "I'd like to live there—if I didn't live in Sydney."

When at home Mrs. Fitzpatrick is very busy with her social work in the seamier side of Sydney. She is the power behind the Dalwood Health Home for Children, which was founded by her husband about twenty years ago.

"We care for about 85 little children all the year round." Mrs. Fitzpatrick

said. '"Some are orphans, some are children whose mothers are ill and temporarily unable to look after them. When a mother goes into the hospital and has nowhere to leave her other babies, we take them and care for them. The home is in a beautiful part, near the hush. We get numbers ot children suffering from all kinds of troubles, including malnutrition; and after a while we get the roses back into their cheeks again. Mothers can also come to us from the maternity homes and spend a few weeks before going back to their poor homes. It makes a world of difference t<> their health."

There is a staff of twenty nurses in the home and a matron. Vis' ing doctors and dental surgeons attend. The whole institution is run by public subscription and money raised by an energetic social committee. Effect of Good Feeding. "Another activity we are keen about is the food for babies' fund."' Airs. Fitzpatrick said. '•This supplies milk, vegetables and other needed foods to the poor children of Sydney's slums. You have no idea the amount of work this organisation does, and it is great to watch the result of a bit of good feeding."

This energetic woman has one other interest —the Community Hospital, of which her husband is a leading official. She has brought Up three children of her own, and is still as eager as ever for interests which enlarge her vision.

"We have just had a wonderful trip all round the world," she said. "The cherry trees out in the English lanes, and travelling on the Queen Mary were the highlights, but 1 have loved every minute of it. My husband has gathered many books, so lie too has enjoyed himself." We loved Hollywood. After seeing how they make pictures I*ll never again think the actresses and actors are overpaid. They work like maniacs."'