No. 41 -- 29 July 1932

The Great Depression, finances and the welfare of his loved ones continue to weigh heavily on George in this letter. The grim news concerning the Melbourne YMCA's finances continues, along with news about the Bendigo YMCA's troubles. While his three oldest children struggle to make ends meet and build careers, and news from his foster son, Rex Baker is scarce, the bright spots in George's life are so clearly his two youngest daughters -- Joyce and Edith.

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

One or two American mails have come in recently, but we have not had any letters from yourself. The next mail to arrive here is due on Monday, and as this mail closes today, I am afraid we shall not be able to await the arrival of your letter.

All the folk at home are reasonably well. Mother has had a very heavy influenza cold, but she is on the mend again. It left her particularly weak. Ruth is also picking up quickly now that she is on holiday. We expect her to be ready to return to work in about a fortnight’s time. Keith has not yet found anything to do, though he is trying hard in interviews with business houses and by replies to advertisements.

"The two kiddies are growing
 splendidly, and it is wonderful
to see the change in them.
You would hardly know Edith —
she is growing almost
while you look at her."

The two kiddies are growing splendidly, and it is wonderful to see the change in them. You would hardly know Edith — she is growing almost while you look at her. She was very tickled the other day when she got her certificate for passing her musical examination. This, of course, will have to be framed and ready for exhibition to her friends!

The Harrisons have moved in again to their house and Phil and Edith are tearing around like a pair of lunatics. They are as happy as they can be now that they are united. George Harrison is travelling in the country and only gets home once every few weeks. However, he is happy that he has got a job. His mother and sister are also living next door, so that it is quite a family affair.

We have not heard anything fresh from Rex Baker.

You will be surprised to hear that June Carr is married. Keith came home with the story the other day. You will be more surprised to learn that she married young Russell, who was for a time a friend of Keiths. I do not know much about the marriage, but I think it occurred just within the last week or two.

I suppose you had the opportunity of seeing the Australians play cricket at Chicago. According to the cables they were there for a match or two during the past week. You may have been some distance from the City and may not have been able to make the trip. I thought that if it were possible you would strain every effort to do so.

"Conditions in America, according
to the cables in our papers,
are not improving at all.
They seem to be more
bewildering than ever. I think
 there is a better spirit abroad
in business circles in Melbourne,
but we are still a long way
from solving our difficulties.
... the time back to prosperity
will be a very long, drawnout struggle,
and changes for the better
cannot come quickly." 

Conditions in America, according to the cables in our papers, are not improving at all. They seem to be more bewildering than ever. I think there is a better spirit abroad in business circles in Melbourne, but we are still a long way from solving our difficulties. Very earnest attempts are being made to deal with the problem of unemployment and all kinds of committees of citizens, backed by the Government Departments, are doing their best to find work for folk.

The distress is very serious, especially in the Industrial suburbs. The amount of fraud in connection with sustenance orders must be tremendous, judging from the large number of folk who are being proceeded against for fraudulent dealing with sustenance orders, etc. However, the time back to prosperity will be a very long, drawnout struggle, and changes for the better cannot come quickly.

"Here in the Association we are
right up against our bank position,
and were it not for the fact
that some of our Directors
have stood by us, we would
not be able to pay current
accounts this month."

Here in the Association we are right up against our bank position, and were it not for the fact that some of our Directors have stood by us, we would not be able to pay current accounts this month. It looks as if we shall have to face the position of very drastic economies in staff and expenditure, and I imagine that within the next week or two, the Board will have to take very decided action in these respects.

The Industrial work has been kept going in a very fine way by the firms concerned, but a week or two ago we received advice from Messrs. Lloyd Bros & Maginnis that they were making changes in their relationships with the Association, and from the end of this month their Hut will drop out from the Y.M.C.A. Industrial Scheme. Fortunately they are retaining Joe Norman, the Secretary, and making him a kind of Superintendent of Works, although he will still have the responsibility of conducting the Welfare Work, Diningroom, etc. We are glad that the change will not affect him, and can understand that the firm must economise in every way open to them.

Frank Wilkinson is doing a good job with the Billiard Room. It is splendid to notice the revival of interest among the men and the way in which they are supporting Frank’s plans. He has taken hold of the job in an excellent way and has shown definite ability in promoting tournaments and increasing trade. He has a plan for monthly exhibition games by leading amateurs. We have had two of these demonstration evenings, and they have brought together a fine crowd of men, and the games have been of a high order.

"The members of the National
Committee will be visiting Bendigo
over the weekend, to see
 if they can find a way out of
Bendigo’s troubles, specially
in connection with the disposal
of the Association building."

I have not much news to pass on to you concerning the other Associations. All of them are having a rather hard run, with perhaps the exception of Ballerat, where they have been able to raise money sufficient to meet their immediate needs. The members of the National Committee will be visiting Bendigo over the weekend, to see if they can find a way out of Bendigo’s troubles, specially in connection with the disposal of the Association building. As you know, the Bendigo Association owes the National Committee about £2,000, an advance made to them years ago, and the National Committee holds a mortgage for that amount over the Bendigo building. The solvency of the National Committee is bound up in the Bendigo building, and some plan must be evolved to solve the problem both for Bendigo and the National work.

For more about Camp Manyung see the post: 

Camps Manyung and Buxton (Shoreham)

You will be pleased to hear that Miss Edith Shaw, sister of Mrs. Thomas Baker, recently sent Ivor Burge a cheque for £20 towards the completion of the second bunk house at Manyung Camp. The fellows are going down over the week end and on subsequent occasions, and hope to complete the structure within the next few weeks. This will be a great help, specially during the week end camps which Ivor is organising each month.

I had a letter the other day from Harry White. He mentioned that he had been in conversation with Dean Ames concerning yourself. Harry is going to Indianapolis as General Secretary, so that you will not have him available to visit at Chicago. Also another letter from John Cook, who is now at Bailey Island for the summer holidays.

May Glover also mentioned in a letter to the girls, that there would be a re-arrangement for married students employed at the College, in that they would be expected to live in at the College in future. This may save expense to the College and for the students.

You will receive this letter towards the end of August. By that time you will have spent about six weeks with Dean Ames. I can only express the hope that you have had a very happy time and have found the contacts you have made of very definite value to you. I know you will regard the arrangements you have made as an opportunity to demonstrate your appreciation, and I am sure you will show the Dean every gratitude for his kindly interest in you. No doubt you will also be working at your highschool subjects so as to enter school with all arrears made up, and in regular standing as a student.

"I sincerely hope you will
 be able to carry on despite
 your present difficulties. The tide
will turn a little later on,
 but one needs to be sure
of one’s ability to hang on
until that occurs. We are praying
 for you, and we believe our
Heavenly Father will help us
 to see daylight through
 the present problems."

I must close now. We all unite, my boy, in affectionate regards. I sincerely hope you will be able to carry on despite your present difficulties. The tide will turn a little later on, but one needs to be sure of one’s ability to hang on until that occurs. We are praying for you, and we believe our Heavenly Father will help us to see daylight through the present problems.

With warm love,
Yours affectionately,
Dad.

No. 14 -- 12 Sept 1931

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

I expect there will be a letter arriving on Monday from you, but in view of the fact that the mail closes in the early afternoon and I shall be engaged the whole of Monday morning  with the staff conference, I have decided to write to you this morning. It would have been nice if we could have answered any of the matters that may come to us in your letter, but I am afraid that will have to wait now until the next mail.

All the folk at home are well. Most of the colds that they had have gone. Ruth had a very heavy cold and it surprised me how she managed to keep going in her job, but she has managed to throw it off and seems to be in pretty good form just now. She is just as interested in her nursing as ever and I have no doubt in my own mind that she will be able to stand up to the exacting nature of her work.

Mother is also keeping very well, and the kiddies likewise. Keith expects to get a job again with the Wheat Commission and is hoping that he will be able to get into the forwarding and shipping end of the work as that lasts longer then the receiving section.

You will be surprised to hear that Keith received the Cup for the highest batting average in the cricket team for which he played last season. I think he was as much surprised as anybody else. It is a very neat little cup and now adorns the over-mantle in the drawing room.

By the way, I am enclosing the letter from Mr. Fred. Hartnell, Secretary of the Melbourne Rotary Club in Chicago. I am hoping that you will be able to deliver this letter in person and perhaps the folk there may be able to show you some little courtesy.

We also had a letter from May Glover in which she mentioned that they had made arrangements for a certain room for you at the college and that they hoped to be seeing you shortly. They seem to have had a particularly happy time at the Minneapolis Boys' Camp at Lake Independence, Loretto.

John Cook also wrote by this mail. He has had a particularly bad run of illness for some months past. He was hoping that you might keep in touch with him by an occasional letter.

We had a notice from the Lands Department advising us that noxious weeds were growing on the two sections at Burwood, and we were informed that unless the weeds were dealt with in the next three weeks, we would be fined. Keith went up yesterday to investigate the reason for the notice and discovered that there is a great deal of gorse on his section, but your section was fairly clear of it. A pal and he will be going up to the land next week with axes and slashers so as to destroy the gorse. A little later on it will be burned after it has had a chance to dry out. Talking of the lands reminds me that we have received a bill from Messrs. Maddock, Jamieson & Lonie for £3:19:0 being costs of the agreement and Caviat on you account and £2:5:0 on Keith's account. I suppose we did the right think in lodging the Caviat in case of any trouble that T.M. Burke's company may get into. I will pay the account a little later on.

Rex has been away for the past fortnight attending to some talkie installations in the country. We thought he would have returned before this. We have not heard any word from him and expect he will come back to the city this weekend.

You will be interested to hear that Harold Thompson who does the cinema work for the Vikings has been urging the Vikings Club to purchase your amplifier, so that talkie performances can be put on at the Association Building. Ern. Gollan is giving the matter some through and we will bring the machine in for them to try it out at a show they are having next weeks. I do not know whether they will be able to purchase it or not. In any case they will not be in a position  to pay spot cash for it. However, we will do our best with them if they feel to buy the machine. I am getting concerned at our inability to dispose of it as the winter is practically gone, and we may not get the same chance of selling it during the summer months. there is not likely to be the same measure of demand.

This afternoon we are to have a visit from the Ballarat YMCA and expect about 20 to 25 men in the party. We shall have tea together in the Lounge Dining Room, after which there will be matches in billiards, volleyball, basketball, etc. This is one of the attempts to bring about closer relationship between the country Associations and our own. In a week or two, a group of our boys will be visiting Ballarat Association for competition purposes.

By the way, the Queen Carnival is moving along quite nicely and is gathering momentum and interest. I have looked at the figures on the score board and notice that Kath. Lilford is leading with 3079 votes, Lil. Langham second with 2319, and Miss Davis of the juniors, third with 1990 votes. I must say that  we are very pleased with the way our members are responding to this Queen Carnival competition. the Interest has been splendid and a great number of functions has been arranged by each of the committees. We are closing the competition on October 8th, when we will have taken Wirth's Olympia for the crowning ceremony. We are planning a very big gathering with an excellent programme. If this is properly worked we should get a full hall, as the interest should be good. The first part of the programme is likely to be a demonstration of our work by a grand parade of practically all our clubs and classes. We expect to have the help of one or two choirs, brass band, etc. The crowning ceremony is staged on quite an elaborate plan, and I think we shall have an evening of considerable interest and enjoyment. Arrangements have already been made for costumes for each of the queens and we think the ceremony should have some beautiful effects.

The staff men who were ill, have all returned to their jobs. Alf. Hines' leg is still causing him to limp, but I think it will be quite well again within the next week or so. Bob Way still has some pain from his rheumatics, but he is on the job and getting steadily better. Matron has had a number of her teeth out  and she is not feeling too good as the result of the extractions.

The South Hawthorn Presbyterian Church decided to do without a sale of work this year, and on Tuesday last some of the members of the session, with the Minister, were in attendance at the Church building all day, to receive the gifts of the congregation. A sum of over £70 was subscribed by direct giving. This was an excellent result for such a small church.

Mr. Baird has enquired on several occasions concerning yourself, and we have passed on any information we have had regarding your movements.

We are still finding the financial position pretty difficult in the Association. I think we shall have to face further economies as we cannot hope to continue the losses we are making each month.

This letter should reach you just as you are getting into the collar of your studies. There will be many strange experiences come to you int he next few weeks and you may find it somewhat difficult to set your mind to the steady routine demanded by college life. So many new impressions will be crowding in upon you, all of which have a very disturbing effect. The newness of college life too, will mean that you will require to make a great deal of readjustment in your ordinary habits. I can only express the hope that you will take things as philosophically as possible, and determine to give your best thought to the work immediately in hand.

I am hoping too, that you may have had success in meeting all the requirements of college entrance examination. To start your work without arrears of studies, will mean a great deal to you, but even if you have to make up certain subjects, it is astonishing how quickly the can be disposed of if they are tackled resolutely and with a determination to win out.

I repeat what I have tried to say in other letters, that whatever success you may achieve in your studies, the important thing is that you should recognise that the work of the Association is primarily that of religious leadership. Cultivate a close relationship with Christ through your private study of His word and prayer and service.

We all unite in love to you,
Yours affectionately,
Dad

No. 12 -- 24 Aug 1931

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

I understand there is a mail leaving this afternoon, so I am taking a few minutes to drop you a few lines. There is not a great deal to pass on to you this mail, as it is only a week ago since we last wrote.

I had a letter from Merle Scott, who was formerly General Secretary at Honolulu, in which he stated that my letter to him advising him of you arrival there, had been forwarded to him at Eugene in Oregon, consequently he was not on hand to welcome you. That explains the reason why you were not met at the boat. The Association fellows at Honolulu did not know because there was not time for Mr. Scott to write to them between the receipt of my letter and your arrival.

We have had good word from Dr. Doggett, concerning the four Australians at Springfield. He writes in the highest terms of the four men -- Evans, McRae, Jones and Laing, and of course asks for more. I think you have got to do your share in building up a tradition in connection with the Chicago Y College. Now that Glover and yourself are in the student body, it is up to you to endeavor to secure the interest of other men so that the number at Chicago may be increased.

We had a visit from the Bendigo Y.M.C.A. Harriers on Saturday last. They ran from Bendigo to Melbourne, a distance of 100 miles in relays, and did the journey in 10 1/4 hours. It was an awful day with cold wind and heavy rain. The fellows had a very trying experience. That they put up such an excellent time is a really remarkable performance, for a club that has only been formed about two months.

We have a visit planned from the Ballarat fellows on September 12th when about 25 or 30 of them are coming down to a series of competitions in basketball, volleyball, billiards, swimming, etc. etc. This is helping to bring the provincial Associations into closer touch with our city work.

Ack Way seems to be doing a good job at Ballarat. I think I told you in my last letter that Alec. Spence had gone from our Leader Corps to the Ballarat Physical Directorship. By the way, I understand that Spence is likely to go to America for training later on.

You will remember David Unaipon, the aboriginal who has been living in the building. We have had a splendid lot of service from him in addressing groups of our members. Hundreds of them have been told the story of aboriginal life in the Northern part of South Australia.

You will be sorry to learn the Miss Ray lost her sister on the 19th August. She has been ill for a considerable time and passed away on that date. Matron and Mr. and Mrs. Pollock attended the funeral. A wreath was sent from the Association staff.

In the Suburban Auxiliaries Scheme, interest is intensifying, and it looks as if the Queen Carnival Competition will be a success. The Boys' Department held a function on Saturday night in which the Fathers' and Mothers' Clubs combined in a Games Night. There were about 130 present and a nett amount of between £3 and £4 was secured towards the Junior Department Queen. The Vikings have outlined a big list of functions, a copy of which I am enclosing. In connection with the Senior Queen (Kath. Lilford) organisation is getting under way and a number of social functions have been arranged. All this is creating considerable interest and I think will result in substantial help to the Association. It is probable that the Crowning Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 17th, but that date has yet to be confirmed by the Executive.

Mr. Hines returned to work today, after about ten days illness, as the result of the accident to his knee. Walter Muston returned from illness on Saturday, although he is still far from well. George Briggs is still laid up and it looks as it will be some little time before we shall see him about again. Probably it will be the end of the week before he will be available for duty. All of this has thrown an added burden upon the front office staff, as there have been fewer men to take on extra duties.

Ern. Gollan is away at Buffalo with the Buffalo party. There are 22 who made the trip this year. They will return on Friday next.

There is little to report in connection with home affairs beyond what I gave you in my last letter. Keith has been working for the Texaco during the past week, but it looks as if this will finish on Wednesday at the latest. There are other ships to come and I suppose he will handle the cargo as before, that is unless he secures another job in the meantime.

Rex. is still at work, but I think he is getting to the "fed up" stage and I should not be surprised if he turns the job in any day. He states he has another job to go to.

Mrs. Harrison is staying with us again, but I do not know how long she will be with us. The kiddies are well and so is Ruth. Ruth said she would drop you a line by this mail. I hope she was able to do so.

You will receive this a week or so ahead of the time you commence work at college. I hope, old chap, that you have been well received and that you enjoy the prospects ahead. I sincerely hope a job has been found for you on a part time basis. From all I hear, conditions are not too good in Chicago, but I trust that a way will open so that you may find something that will "keep the pot boiling". Let me know immediately if you are in monetary difficulties.

We all unite in sending our warmest love,
Affectionately yours,
Dad.