LIVING MEMORIAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 2 May 1925, Page 13

LIVING MEMORIAL

FOR SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES »■■

TRIBUTES OF AUSTRALIANS

"THEY DO NOT FORGET."

(Written for "The Post.")

A particularly interesting and impressive story was told to a recent visitor to Sydney of the efforts of a number of business men during and since the war. As soon as the sick and wounded men began to return to Australian shores efforts were made towards establishing homes for them, and some land was secured at Marrickville, about as far out of the city as Island Bay is from Wellington. The district consists of sandhills, pure and simple, and a committee of about thirty of the business men, with as many helpers as they could gather, set to work, clearing, levelling, and preparing tho ground for the first buildings. They worked week after week, at every spare moment, and later assisted with the building itself—every cottage being of brick, and each of different design, the plans all being prepared gratis by a Sydney architect.

A visit to the settlement, where visits were paid to a number of the residents through the kindness of Mr. Moore, who remains secretary of the effort, was very interesting. There are the most charming little gardens, with flowers and vegetables flourishing as they can in Sydney, where there is plenty of sunshine, and, apparently, a never-ending supply of city water. 'She red-brick walls are embellished with beautiful creepers, and such things as bougainvillea, hibiscus, oleanders, and glorious cannas are to be seen in every direction. A central small park-like place contains, besides flowers, a German cannon, and a tablet giving the name and purpose of the place. The only double-storied building contains a series of shops, and these are let to returned men. Those who occupy the houses are mostly considerably maimed or. injured men, or widows, and children of men who formerly occupied tho houses. ■ ' . . AN INSPIRING PLACE.'

The streets are formed at Marrick*ille, and preparations are being made at present for the erection of ten more houses, those already there having been paid for either by the .exertions of the committee before-mentioned, by individuals who gave them separately, by associations such as the Jockey Glub or by money left by will, the last 'sum amounting to about £40,000, which is now being expended. A small charge per week is made for tho houses—it was abo.ut 7s, but is now a little more owing to increased rates and other causes. Marrickville is a most cheerful and inspiring place, for tho pleasure of the inmates of the houses is so. great, and they show all the nice fittings, such as porcelain baths,- caliphonts. gas stoves set in white tiles; and tasteful paperin" and finishing in every direction, with a pride and satisfaction which shows a true appreciation of the intentions of tho citizens who have made the place "a living memorial 'of the best possible kind. ° ■ .?.% very del 'Shtful Place to visit is the frurlough House" at Narrabeen close to a fine sea beach, and surrounded with beauty, including the Narrabeen .Lake, where picnics and excursions are among the pleasures of life. This place has been erected solely and only for the benefit of the wives, widows, and children of members of the A.IF and for their rest and recreation.: In one year the guests numbered 666, making a total of 2835, about a year ago, and it must have grown considerably since then, for. every bed in the cottages is always occupjed with a waiting list always ready. The families are admitted for a fortnight at a time, but in; cases where it is seen to be for the great benefit of health, the time is extended. There are no charges made, and the place is kept up by the efiorts of committees of both men and women. A pleasing feature noticed by the visitor is that efforts are £ll 6 Aff ™oth. ers have a separate table so that their tim ß is not taken up attending to the children, but they have and staff attending to the children with the greatest kindness and tact. The | whole place breathes kindness and peace and rest, and must indeed bo a boon to !e^f osr edjandver" oormoth-

FOR THE BENEFIT OF FAMILIES. Another delightful effort for the benefit of the famihes of returned men is the ChX TV°T M°Untain Home or Ms Edith w ISn beaU-iful P^-lent by Miss Jidith Walker, is a roomy buneaow at Leura, one. of the picked spots of the mountain. Between 20 and 30 deU catp little girls are accommodated there even Ihe t^^ imP™^meni S T-Z lh, e f ."108t-ddicate' cases i s marked, ijater still another Junior Red Cross Home has been establiehed for, boys at Ran^gate Th ls i s also for delicate ones and has large sleeping-out verandahs! Both there and.at Leura good diet with plenty of milk, and tho fresh air" Too begin to make the young ones fill out and those; who go away can .hardly be re' cognised so great is the improvement and the homes can really be deemed! m 'preventoriuras," for many a chUd 1 at been .aved -from- >he most trying and dangerous illnesses of all by. the time a . one home or other.

prom.se, nobly, and are to be con" °atu joy which such continued kindness gives or the health which i» .--built up by the 'wo""" 8" Ml