UNION JACK CLUB

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24352, 2 September 1944, Page 2

UNION JACK CLUB

FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE Wednesday was the fourth anniversary of the opening of the Union Jack Club. The club opened on August 30, 1940, and since that time 1,274,000 meals have been served and 141,300 servicemen have been provided with sleeping accommodation. Of this number 2300 have been Australians, 5481 members of the first furlough draft, 1176 second furlough troops, and 856 Imperial troops. The sum of £27,943 has been obtained in takings from the buffet, and £12,963 from the dormitory. Deviations for the first three years totalled £4227, and the figures for this year are not yet complete. The sale of black wool given by farmers has realised £943, and £lO2l has been obtained from the sale of miniature busts of Mr Churchill. The following commodities have been used at the club since its inception, the amounts spent on each being given in parenthesis:—pies, 38,821 (£3779): milk, 135,853 pints (£1410); bread, 25,954 loaves (£1293); butter, 14,8671b (£1028); sugar, 23,9401b (£350). The sum of £1823 has been spent on laundry. When the club opened there was a staff of voluntary workers numbering 305, but this figure has decreased and the staff now numbers 285, although the club is busier now than during any, other period. In the dormitory particularly, difficulty has been experienced in catering for the number of men, and there has not been one vacant bed on any night for the last eight weeks. The club is entirely self-supporting, and no call has been made on patriotic funds since its inception.