No. 42 -- 3 August 1932

As the financial burden at the Melbourne YMCA worsens, the filter drops a bit in this letter and we get some strong emotion from George about the board, calling them "a lot of whipped puppies". We also learn that George has placed his job on the line, telling the board that he would be willing to “drop out”.  This letter is different because he hand-wrote it instead of dictating it to a YMCA typist. I’ve done my best to do an accurate transcription, but part of the writing is lost in the book’s binding, so I’ve had to make a few minor guesses in places. The letter is short and sweet and full of love and longing for his son.


My dear Noel,

This is just a brief line to say Hello! There is a mail leaving today. I feel I must drop you a line even if it is very short. Dorrie Yates is away this week (rationed) and so I am writing by hand.

All at home are well — Mother’s cold is much better but it has left her very weak. My own cold has affected me similarly and I am feeling pretty punk. Still we must “carry on” with the job.

We haven’t much to add to last letter. Keith is still unemployed and so is Ruth. It’s questionable if she will return to the Homeopathic — the work is far too strenuous. We must seek another opening for her. At the association we are still faltering along. How long we can last with our bank position steadily rising is a moot point. It is probable that Charlie Jutsum will receive the appointment of General Secretary to Broken Hill. The National Committee has recommended him for the job and he is willing to accept it. We may be compelled to make other changes in the staff before long. We cannot go on losing £200 a month.

"I suggested to the Board that
I drop out but so far they
have not agreed to the proposal.
It looks to me as if it will
have to be faced soon. I am
getting really fed up with the
Board’s inertia in the direction
of raising revenue. They are
like a lot of whipped puppies —
without any strength to do
financial work."

I suggested to the Board that I drop out but so far they have not agreed to the proposal. It looks to me as if it will have to be faced soon. I am getting really fed up with the Board’s inertia in the direction of raising revenue. They are like a lot of whipped puppies — without any strength to do financial work.

In the long run I guess I will have to let programme matters go and give almost my entire time to financial solicitation.

I have had you much in my thoughts these days. No letter came again this mail and we are naturally wondering why. Your last letter was dated June 5 nearly two months ago! Let’s hear soon!

We are full of curiosity to hear about your work with Dean Ames and your doings since leaving college. Did he tell you about my letter to him?

The kiddies are both well and as usual, full of beans! We are all having a pretty anxious time but we still manage to keep smiling! We are praying for you, my boy, and expect big things for you in your college work.

With our united love,
Yours affectionately,
Dad

No. 40 -- 18 July 1932

This letter contains another example of how frustrating it is to have only one side of the conversation, as we hear second-hand about Noel almost being involved in an apparent auto hold up, and other motor-car incidents. The Great Depression is ever-present in this letter. George is still worried about Noel's ability to get a job and make money during his summer break from college. And he continues to worry about the YMCA's finances, saying they are "hard up against it". George's young daughters Joyce and Edith seem to be the bright spots, surrounded by his concern for his older children and his own health.

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

My dear Noel,

"It looks as if there was some
attempt possible in the
direction of a “hold up”.
In any case you were
wise to consider “Discretion
the better part of valor”. "

Your letter of June 5th came to hand on Saturday, written just prior to the closing of your school year, and did not give us any information concerning your examination results. We were rather interested in the events you described, especially that relating to the college dance and your experience on the road. I think you were wise in turning your car and going in the opposite direction. It looks as if there was some attempt possible in the direction of a “hold up”. In any case you were wise to consider “Discretion the better part of valor”. Evidently it doesn't pay to hand over a motor-car to your care, as you seem to be everlastingly in difficulties. The three incidents referred to in your letter all had to do with a car. If I were you I would be careful whose car I borrowed in the future.

I am continuing your old address as you suggest, and until I hear to the contrary, letters will be sent care of the College as heretofore.

I am glad that you were able to meet all your obligations at the college and that you are not in any debt in that direction. Before this you will have received the small amount I sent on to you, and I hope that also helped to liquidate some of your indebtedness.

Dean Ames was Dr. John Q. Ames, who was
dean of the Chicago YMCA College,
aka George Williams College, from 1919-32.
According to his obituary, he retired to a farm in
Brooklyn, Wisc., near the city of Madison.
This may have been where Noel would have
helped Dean Ames.

I sincerely hope it will be possible for you to get some odd jobs during the time you are with Dean Ames, and thus help to meet your immediate needs. We were hoping that your letter would have been a little fuller that it was, but perhaps another will reach us shortly giving us additional information.

At the Association, things are going on much the same as before. We have had several board meetings to consider any changes in our programme and policy that the times may demand. Suggestions that were made at a conference we held with representatives of the various committees have been under discussion, and certain changes are likely to be made possibly in the direction of an inclusive tariff for residents, but that has not yet been definitely decided.

We have a membership campaign on at present, but it doesn't seem to have much “kick” in it, and I am wondering what the result is likely to be. We are trying to raise the membership by 300 by the 27th July. It will be hard going and the indications at present are not too hopeful. The Y’s Men’s Club is doing quite well and so are the Vikings.

Hubert Opperman was a famous Australia
bicyclist, competing in the Tour de France
in 1928 and 1931.
See Wikipedia: Hubert Opperman

His home trainer may have looked like the
one featured in this photo.

The Boys’ Department held a “Get Together” social for the Suburban Clubs on Saturday night and we had about 400 present. Hubert Opperman, the racing cyclist, gave an excellent talk and a demonstration on “A home trainer” for cyclists. It was a good show and went off with fine enthusiasm.

Frank Wilkinson is doing very well in the Billiard Room. He has trebled the takings inside a month. We have the Victorian Amateur Billiard Championships taking place in the Social Hall just now. This is bringing a considerable number of the prominent billiardists into the building.

The Viking Discussion on Wednesdays and also on Sundays are going quite well, and so are the meetings of the Fellowship Club. Most of the activities in the building are shaping up quite well, and our educational groups on the whole are in a very healthy condition.

We are still having serious difficulties with finance and I cannot see much change for the better for some time to come. Frankly, we are really getting to the position where we are hard up against it. It looks as if we shall have to get further accommodation from our Bank to enable us to carry on.

"Both the kiddies are well and
as full of beans as ever. Joyce has
been particularly elated because she
has been leading the line in some
of the work of the senior girls
at the Guild. Edith also has
been quite pleased with herself
because, as Prefect of her class,
she has the chance of
“bossing the kids” occasionally!
This suits her down to the ground."

Conditions at home are, on the whole, O.K. Mother has had a very bad cold and I also have been feeling out of sorts. This intensely cold weather does not suit me after my illness of two years ago. Both the kiddies are well and as full of beans as ever. Joyce has been particularly elated because she has been leading the line in some of the work of the senior girls at the Guild. Edith also has been quite pleased with herself because, as Prefect of her class, she has the chance of “bossing the kids” occasionally! This suits her down to the ground.

We are expecting Ruth home this week for a spell. She has now completed a year of her hospital work. No doubt she will be writing you herself before long.

Keith has not found anything in the direction of steady work though he is answering quite a lot of advertisements and interviewing firms in the hope of getting something to do. The occasional jobs with the Texas company help to keep the pot boiling but they do little more than give him sufficient money to meet his incidental needs and pay for his land. His school Accountancy fees, insurances and so on all come out of the balance of his small savings account which is now down to a pretty low ebb.

You mention in your letter that you expected to be with Dean Ames about the 15th June. You will have been with him for over a month if that plan carried out. I suppose by this time you will have a clearer perception of the possibilities of work before your school year commences. All our overtures in connection with the sale of the amplifier have, so far, come to naught. I wish to goodness we could find some means of disposing of it. We seem to draw a blank every time.

We have not heard from Rex. Baker for the past two or three weeks. When last he wrote he suggested the possibility of returning to Melbourne at a comparatively early date.

Most of the old brigade on the Board are still going strong, although some of them are beginning to show signs of age. Mr. Hooke is not quite as mentally alert as he was a year or two ago.

We get many enquiries concerning yourself. Gus Froelich and a number of others have made enquiry just recently. They all seem anxious to hear how you are getting on.

"In your letters, we hope you will not
think any piece of information too
trivial, or that it has no news value to it.
We naturally want to know how
things are going in every way."

In your letters, we hope you will not think any piece of information too trivial, or that it has no news value to it. We naturally want to know how things are going in every way. It will do us a good deal to help us appreciate your position. Tell us something about the closing up of the school year. What took place at the various functions?

Your last letter was written just before commencement — perhaps your next letter will tell us something about that event. The quarterly examinations were to be held on June 9 and 10 according to the calendar. If it is possible to send me another copy of the handbook for next year, I shall be delighted, as it gives me details concerning the school which I find exceedingly interesting and help met to know when the various quarters ended, and something about the school life generally.

I must close now. We shall look forward with keen pleasure to your subsequent letters. You know we all unite in warm love.

Yours affectionately,
Dad

No. 39 -- 6 July 1932

It's been a year since Noel left to pursue his college adventure in the United States. George and the family miss him and are hungry for information. He wishes he could do more to help him. The solvency of the Melbourne YMCA is weighing heavily on George in this letter. He describes their financial position as "sick" and is desperately trying new measures to bring in more revenue to meet the Y's bank obligation. The concern at his job plus concern about his adult children's welfare are weighing heavily on him. His own health is taking a hard toll.

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

My dear Noel,

We did not get a letter from you by this week’s mail and I imagine it must have been because it left just at the time of your College closing exercises, consequently you would not have much time to give to letters.

In the absence of any word, we cannot answer any queries which you may have raised. At the time when your next letter arrives we will hear the latest concerning your school results and your arrangements for the summer vacation.

All the folk at home are well. Keith has had three or four days’ work with the Texas Co. and I think he still has a day or two to complete ship. He is keeping in good health but he feels his position without working for so long.

This is the most detail I have seen so far
of George describing his health history.
I was stumped on the meaning of a
"plastine poultice" as George describes.
Google revealed no clues. However,
"plaster poultice" turns up a traditional
remedy using mustard applied in poultice
form. It might be what George meant.
See: Wikipedia: Mustard plaster
and Mustard Poultice

We have not heard anything further from Rex. Baker. Joyce and Edith are both well. There is nothing new to pass on to you regarding them. Mother is also well. As you know, I have to be careful each winter since my illness two years ago. Last week I felt a good deal of pain in my chest and I stood it until Friday night, when I took to bed and stayed there until Monday morning. I feel the long rest did me good, and with the help of plastine poultices I was able to remove the pain and to get a great deal of ease as the result. By Monday I was feeling fairly well, and I am glad to say the improvement has continued; apart from fuzziness about the chest I feel quite well. My temperature went up again and I did not like the signs, but it seems as if I have beaten it this time. Naturally I must be exceedingly careful for the next couple of months. I cannot afford to have illness just now.

"Crook" appears to be an
Australian/New Zealand usage meaning
irritable or ill and unwell.

We are expecting Ruth home for her holidays in about a fortnight’s time. She has been crook again and the rest will do her a lot of good.

I saw Johnny McRae in the street this morning but did not have a chance to stop and yarn with him. He looked well. I have not seen Margaret Park for some time. Millie Harris we see frequently at Church. She seems to be in excellent fettle.

Mr. Nichol has not been able to get any additional information so far concerning the Australian Exhibit at the Chicago Fair. He has promised to follow the matter up and to let me have any information as soon as it is available.

"...unless our membership effort 

this month is successful, we will 

have hard work to find the needed 

money to meet our immediate needs.

 I am enclosing a statement which 

I prepared for Mr. Crosby which 

gives details concerning the last 

three years, and which may help 

you to understand how “sick” 

our financial position is."

At the Association we are having a Membership Campaign this month and are hoping by this means to secure a lift both in members and in finance. Last night we had a conference between our principal committeemen and the Board. There were nearly 40 present and we had quite a long discussion on our financial position and how it might be relieved. I am afraid that very few of the proposals submitted will be of immediate value to us, but some of them can be ultimately worked out and they may prove of use. We have reached the position at the Commercial Band which is full of difficulty, and unless our membership effort this month is successful, we will have hard work to find the needed money to meet our immediate needs.

I am enclosing a statement which I prepared for Mr. Crosby which gives details concerning the last three years, and which may help you to understand how “sick” our financial position is.

The new diningroom service is showing some improvement in patronage, and we are hoping this will continue. General satisfaction has been expressed by our residents and ordinary members with this change in the food service. Of course, the ordinary Cafeteria service runs as well. We have partitioned off the diningroom to make special provision for those who desire a three course meal.

The Boys’ Department figures are still mounting up. Memberships are coming in very freely. The Montague Boys’ Club is continuing to do good work; the Mothers’ Club at Montague is doing wonderful work. Out at Wardrop they have been reduced to 24 residents. This is a losing proposition and is showing a substantial deficit just now, and of course adding to the general burden.

We get many disquieting cables showing the intensity of the depression in America. We are hoping that some of these are exaggerated and that the conditions are better than they are reported to be.

If I judge the position correctly, you are likely to get this letter about the end of July. I hope you are having as good a time as can be expected under the special circumstances. We cannot help feeling that despite the difficulties, a way out may have been found for you to earn something during you vacation. It is a long spell for you to contemplate without monetary assistance.

We have nothing further to add concerning the amplifier. Keith went down to a Skating Rink at Glenferrie the other day and gave particulars to the owner, who promised to call in, but we have not seen him so far. I really do not know what to do about it. It worries me a great deal.

We are looking forward with eager anticipation to your letter. I must close now.

We all unite in our warmest love
Yours affectionately,
Dad