Australia's Red Cross was formed 9 days after war was declared in 1914. Seven ladies gathered at the home of Mrs J.B. Pearson in Berwick shortly after and decided to form the Berwick Branch of the Australian Red Cross. Mrs Scott Sharp became the first president and Mrs A.E. Thomas, the first secretary of the branch. The other 5 founding members were Mrs L.D. Beaumont, Mrs William Wilson, Mrs John Brown, Mrs Chris Griffiths and Mrs Pearson. Minute books for the Great War years, 1920s and 30s were destroyed in a house fire. School Note book with blue lines. Starting in 1969, each page has membership, raffle, Door Knock and donation information to 1984.red cross berwick/upper beaconsfield, membership records, upper beaconsfield (vic.), berwick (vic.)

Australia's Red Cross was formed 9 days after war was declared in 1914. Seven ladies gathered at the home of Mrs J.B. Pearson in Berwick shortly after and decided to form the Berwick Branch of the Australian Red Cross. Mrs Scott Sharp became the first president and Mrs A.E. Thomas, the first secretary of the branch. The other 5 founding members were Mrs L.D. Beaumont, Mrs William Wilson, Mrs John Brown, Mrs Chris Griffiths and Mrs Pearson. Minute books for the Great War years, 1920s and 30s were destroyed in a house fire.Blue vinyl padded covers with silver embossed 'Guests' on a diagonal white stripe across the cover. Inside pages contain guest lists for the Unit's 70th, 75th, 80th and 90th anniversary functions.Donated by Mrs. Helen Hudson. Berwick/Upper Beaconsfield Unit. Celebrating 70 years of Red Cross 1914- 1984. red cross berwick/upper beaconsfield, guest book

Born and raised in Scotland, Annabel Elsie Couper was 24 when she met Captain Frank O’Neil Ford, a British army officer, in Burma (now Myanmar). They married in Scotland two years later and returned to Burma for 10 years. The family were moved to a hill station during World War 2, Frank recruiting and training soldiers, Annabel working closely with the locals and working as cipher clerk for the army. When the women and children were eventually evacuated a long journey by train, plane and ship brought Annabel and the children to Calcutta. She began working for the Red Cross. They returned to England in 1944 and in 1949 they came to Berwick. Annabel quickly joined local groups, the Red Cross, the CWA and the Berwick Hospital Auxiliary. The family moved to Upper Beaconsfield in the 1960s where Annabel joined the RSL Auxiliary, Beaconhills Golf Club and attended St. John’s Church. She returned to Berwick after Frank died in 1980, but did not lose her close connection to Upper Beaconsfield. In 2001 she received the Red Cross Laurel Wreath Service Award for 50 years of service. Centre stapled 12 page A5 booklet with colour printed covers. funeral order of service, red cross society