A letter sent to the Secretary of the trustees of the Bentleigh Recreation Reserve, from Lucy Wood, for the Bentleigh Soldier's Comfort League requesting the use of the Burgess Pavilion for the Leagues meetings. The Bentleigh Soldier’s Comforts League is but one example of many other organisations that made use of the pavilion. After the League’s inaugural meeting a letter was sent to the Trustees of the Recreation Preserve Bentleigh requesting the use of the pavilion to hold their meetings. The objects of the Bentleigh Soldier’s Comforts League were: 1. To provide comforts for Bentleigh boys on active duty 2. To ensure a suitable public welcome upon their return 3. To visit the sick and wounded ones at the Military hospitals A committee of local ladies formed a committee, An amount of 2s was allotted to each worker who endeavored by personal effort to increase that sum. A Gymkhana, in association with the Equestrienne Club, was held to raise funds to help the return soldiers and to send Xmas boxes to the soldiers on active duty abroad. Lucy Wood (1872 - 1956) was the wife of William Howard Wood (1868 - 1947). William and Lucy lived in Jasper Road opposite the recreational reserve. William was a poultry breeder and a local accountant, auditor, real estate, insurance and general commission agent.The efforts made by the citizens of the Shire of Morrabbin to send comforts to the troups overseas during WWI, and to welcome home the soldiers.A hand written letter wwi, city of moorabbin, lucy wood, burgess pavilion, bentleigh recretional reserve, william burgess, fundraising, xmas boxes, bentleigh soldier’s comforts league, bentleigh, moorabbin

Concert Ticket - Orchestral Community Concert, Bendigo, 18th Dec. 1929, Town Hall, Bendigo. In aid of Christmas Comforts for children of Unemployed. Organized by R.S.S.I.L.A. (Returned Soldiers, Sailors, I ?? League of Australia???) G. V. Lansell, President; N. McL Young, Treasurer. On reverse - stamped number '959'organization, club/society, r.s.s. i. l. a.

A wide variety of items all in a damaged and incorrectly labelled tennis ball box. It is labelled 'Authors Book Reviews.' Some items are ephemeral others are of historical importance. (I) A black exercise book titled 'Correspondence Golden Square Patriotic League.' Lydia Pethard Hon. Sec. This book has pages labelled 'inwards' and 'outwards' and details correspondence between Aug. 2nd 1918 and C1921. (II) A Secondary Infantry Bendigo Brigade Comforts Fund cash book. 1919. (III) A black exercise book titled 'Golden Square Patriotic League.' Contains the minutes of meetings held between November 26th, 1917 and August 5th, 1918. Also includes the 'Annual Report p resented at Public Meeting held August 15th, 1918 and presented by President Lydia Pethard, Hon. Sec. (IV) A black exercise book labelled 'Wilsons' Reed Branch 2nd Infantry Comforts Fund. Mrs. Geo Goulden. It contains information relevant to the members and is dated 26/7/17 to 28/12/18 and 3/8/17 to 13/12/18. In the centre of the book is a list of donations. (V) A black exercise book titled 'Red Cross Golden Square.' Contains meetings held from June 30th, 1915 to October 29th., 1917. (VI) A small black notebook titled 'Carnival Returns July 21st 1917.' Appears to pertain to raffle tickets. (VII) 20 booklets titled 'Austral-American Souvenir. The Glorious Fourth.' Reprinted in connection with Bendigo-Eaglehawk Australian Comforts Fund Effort, 4th July, 1918. Written in connection with the visit of the American fleet August 1908 (VIII) A small cream sympathy card for a lost soldier Bendigo, Oct., 1918. (VX) A small blue and white election advertisement urging 'yes' for Reinforcements on Dec. 20th. (X) 2 copies of the Australian Comforts Fund Bendigo Appeal June-July 1916 Receipts. (XI) 2 copies of an application for authority to make an appeal, or to collect. Pertaining to Patriotic Funds. (XII) 2 copies of parcel slips 'for our Australian Troops From the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League.' (ix) small card circ 1917 -A christmas flash from the boys in the trenches -on Dec 20th for Reinforcements Hold up the light -the front of the card shows a picture of three soldiers in a trench shining a searchlight on a map of Australia .The back shows a searchlight with the words -vote yes - Authorised by the Reinforcements Referendum Councilorganization, club / society, australian comforts fund, lydia chancellor, collection, ephemera, golden square patriotic league, bendigo brigade comforts fund, wilsons' reed branch 2nd infantry comforts fund, red cross golden square, bendigo-eaglehawk australian comforts fund, war, world war i, clubs, clubs and societies, organizations, finance, history, australian history, australian comforts fund

Directions for the knitting of standard socks for men in active service during WWI. Issued by the Lady Mayoress's League, Melbourne, in September 1915. The Lady Mayoress's League, or Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League, was formed on 7th August 1914 by Lady Hennessy, Lady Mayoress of the City of Melbourne. The League was formed to supplement the official supplies issued to each soldier by providing 'comforts' such as socks and food packages, and by 1915 was the recognised agent in Victoria for the reception and despatch of all gifts other than those sent privately. In September 1916 it became part of the Australian Comforts Funds, an Australia-wide umbrella organisation formed from individual state-based organisations of this type. Folded single sheet of white paper that has discoloured with age, printed in black on both sidesthe lady mayoress's league, wwi fund-raising

Certificate of appreciation dated 30/6/1946 presented to Wangaratta Comforts Fund by RSS & AILABlack plastic frame containing certificate with black and red writing below two symbols and picture of a buildingThe Returned Sailors Soldiers and Airmen Imperial League of Australia Presented to Wangaratta Comforts Fund in grateful appreciation of meritorious service rendered to the RSL War Service Fund during 1939-1945.comfort fund, ww2, wangaratta, certificate

This depiction of Major George Devine Treloar (1884-1980) by artist Lis Johnson was commissioned by the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee an initiative of Merimna Kynon of Oceania, Central Portian Pontion Association of Melbourne and Victoria Pontiaki Estiaâ and the City of Ballarat. Treloar was appointed as the League of Nations Commissioner for Refugees in Greece in 1922 where he worked to provide food, aid and comfort to what would eventually total over 100,000 refugees from the collapsing Ottoman Empire. This memorial grew from the desire of the descendants of refugees to honour his memory and his humanitarian work. Bronze statue of George Treloar and a child on granite plinthFront: Major George Devine Treloar (Born Ballarat 1884 - Died Dalkeith 1980) Artist: Lis Johnson Commissioned by the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee an initiative of Merimna Kynon of Oceania, Central Portian Pontion Association of Melbourne and Victoria ‘Pontiaki Estia’ and the City of Ballarat. Unveiled by Ballarat Mayor Councillor Samantha McIntosh on 8 September 2019 His glory lies not in the earth, but in the hearts of men (After Thucydides, 460-395 BCE) Back: Ballarat’s George Devine Treloar – Soldier and Refugee Helper Born in 1884, George Devine Treloar the son of Jane and Thomas Treloar, grew up in Ballarat attending St Patrick’s College. Treloar began his military career by joining the British Army during WWI and transferred to the elite Coldstream Guards where his bravery earnt him the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross. Treloar was appointed as the League of Nations Commissioner for Refugees in Greece in 1922 where he worked tirelessly – with his wife and family – to provide food, aid and comfort to what would eventually total over 100,000 refugees from the collapsing Ottoman Empire. Based in the town of Komotini and then Thessaloniki, he created new villages to accommodate refugees. For his efforts Treloar would earn the praises of those he had helped. One of the new towns he had helped create was named in his honor – Thrylorion. He was awarded the Greek Gold Cross of the Order of the Redeemer in 1923. This memorial grew from the desire of the descendants of refugees assisted by Major George Devine Treloar in Greece to honor his memory. Without his help their ancestors would not have survived, making their way from across the former Ottoman Empire, from Pontus and Asia Minor to Australia. Here in the town of his birth stands his memorial, dedicated to his memory and good works, created by the people of Ballarat and the descendants of the refugees he saved.treloar, george devine, refugee, asia minor

This is an example of posters with a patriotic theme the purpose of which was to raise money for goods for service personal overseas, during WW2. "Tin-hat" badges were sold for 1 and 2 shillings and 1pound. The 'tin-hat' appeal was conducted from 4 Sept - 17 Sept in 1943. Organised by the Returned Soldiers League. A poster is superimposed on a hidden print. The poster which is on top of a hidden print has these words written on it: "Don’t Let the Boys down, Help the tin hat appeal for the Australian Comforts Fund, Friday 1 Aug buy a tin hat or send your donation to RSL War Service Fund Tin Hat Appeal Office – Town Hall Melbourne"australian comfort funds, ww2, tin hat appeal