Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.
My dear Noel,
Your letter dated October 28th reached me this week. You then reported that school had been in session for about two weeks and that everything was going well. We were interested in hearing of the subjects that you are taking during your first term. I think you will find it somewhat difficult to carry 2 1/2 majors plus the four units that are required for your entrance status. However, no doubt you will be able to plan your work in a way that will carry this schedule.
We were delighted to hear that you had such a thoroughly happy time during Orientation week. I know it is necessary for you to become associated with one or more of the fraternities, but I would urge that you do not spend too large an amount of your time in that way.
I suppose the Initiation was the usual type of affair in which the Freshman perform all kinds of stunts for the benefit of the seniors.
I am sorry to hear that you have not been able to secure steady employment, but am encouraged by your expectation that something will turn up in the near future.
I have been thinking a good deal about the Amplifier and I do not feel that it would be wise to carry out your suggestion and pass it over to the Radio Club. At any rate I will not do that until I have exhausted every possibility of a sale.
We were all glad to hear from you, although you must remember we were kept waiting for a letter for nearly six weeks. I think you should endeavour to write at least every other week.
Keith was glad to get your message concerning his birthday. I passed your letter around for the members of the staff to read and they all join in regards to you. Kath. was disappointed that she did not get a letter this mail. In fact I think her last letter was dated the end of September.
By this mail also we received the Panoramic Picture of the Chicago skyline. It is a splendid picture, and we are grateful to you for sending it. We shall have it framed and put with the other panoramas we have.
The folk at home are all well. Edith was greatly excited yesterday. She paid a visit with her school to the Electricity Commission's place at Yallourn and had a great day. She characterised it as "gorgeous". We were rather amused in finding her last Will and Testament, which was dated 17th November and addressed "To the people I love". In this she left her clothes to the poor, £10:0:0 to her brothers in America, £7:15:0 to be divided between Mum and Dad; her pearls to one of her friends and her bangle to another and her desk at school to still another! She is a queer kid. At the bottom of the will which was witnessed by two her her friends she had a sentence to the effect that the above will had to be considered in the light of any subsequent wills found. You can imagine that we have had quite a lot of amusement over this find. Joy looks unutterable disgust and simply says "mad".
Keith has another ship coming in this week which will give him a further extension of his job. This is helping to give him some pocket money at any rate, although we will be very delighted when he is able to secure a constant job.
Rex. Baker has been away a great deal, and is away again this time for about 10 days.
Ruth was knocked down by a motorcar in town the other day, and was severely bruised, but apart from that no ill effects have shown themselves. She refused to proceed against the motorist, although he was obviously in the wrong, but I think the police are insisting upon action being taken in the matter. Just what will happen I do not know.
Uncle Will has had to leave his place in Swanston Street and he could not continue there on account of the difficulties he was experiencing. He has shifted out to the corner of Lennox Street and Bridge Road, Richmond. Poor Bill is having a very hard time.
Mother and I went along to the Sunday School picnic on Saturday, October 28th. The day was beautifully fine and the affair went off splendidly. Everybody was quite happy and of course the two kids were in their element.
The same day happened to be Henley Day. The Vikings had their Viking War ship on the river and got a great amount of publicity in the illustrated papers. They were also successful in securing a special prize of £3:0:0 for the best decorated boat.
This practically paid for the boat which they purchased for £5:0:0 a week or two before. They now have this boat available for picnic gatherings, etc., and I suppose it will be kept at the Canoe Club House at Studley Park.
We are commencing the usual round of Christmas socials and dinners at the Association building. This week we had the wind-up function at the highschool group and of the Workings Men's College group, and others will continue right up to Christmas. There is a big range of them this year.
Yesterday we had afternoon tea to say farewell to Reg. Gray, and made him a small presentation. Reg. finishes up today, although we expect we shall be able to make a good deal of use of him if he stays in Melbourne, in some forms of Honorary Service.
Arrangements for the camps are well in hand and we are expecting big enrollments of both seniors and juniors.
You will be surprised to learn that Alec. Moodie is not returning to Brisbane. I had a letter from him this week and also from Ralph Cole, in which they both ask me to see what I can do towards securing a permit from the American Consulate here for Moodie to return to Honolulu to undertake a job for the Honolulu Y. You can be sure I will do my best in this direction, but I am of the opinion that we will not be successful in securing any special arrangement without a great deal of pressure. Of course, if we cannot secure the necessary permit, Moodie will probably have to seek a job in business or elsewhere.
You will be glad to hear that the 12th National Convention went of splendidly. There was the usual long debate concerning the National Committee Finance, but in the end the matter had to be referred back to the Associations for further consideration. Personally I do not think that the Associations can hope to provide more than about £250 a year towards the support of the National work. Frank Trainor will finish up his part time arrangement at the end of the year and will continue to give some degree of supervision to National Work in an honorary capacity. Frank Woodcraft will be retained on the National Staff, but of course will be required to raise his own budget and more.
We had a splendid discussion on the questionnaire "Our purpose, our youth, our times." This was the bright spot in the convention proceedings.
Mr. Thomas Thomas has resigned the Chairmanship of the National Committee after 15 years' service, and Mr. R.W. Nevile, of our Board, has been appointed National Chairman. Mr. Thomas will still remain on the National Committee and will give service as Honorary Secretary of the Executive. A little later on, when the full report of the Convention is available, I will send a copy to you.
The Prefects had a splendid conference at Mr. Crosby's house at Tremont, and have made a fine lot of suggestions for the better working of the Boys' Department. The Fathers' Club also had a weekend Conference at Shoreham. The Leaders of the Viking Club are to have a conference next weekend. The Gym. leaders held theirs a little while back at Manyung. I was down at Manyung a week or two ago and was interested to see the developments that have taken place in the camp. Both properties at Shoreham and Manyung are in excellent condition, mainly through the fine service given by the work parties of members.
This letter should reach you just about the beginning of the New Year. All the folk in the Association and of course the folk at home, join in hearty good wishes to you, and hope that you will have a season of good times.
We would like you to let us know a little more about your college life, especially whether you are living in college or elsewhere. Please pass on my regards to Mr. and Mrs. Glover and of course to Dean Foss at the College.
Now, my boy, we earnestly hope that you will be able to carry your schedule of work in a way that will do credit to yourself, and honour to Australia. You of course must feel the sense of responsibility to worthily represent the country from whence you came.
With our united love,
Yours affectionately,
Dad.
Showing posts with label Henley Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Henley Day. Show all posts
06 June 2012
03 May 2012
George is feeling testy?
George doesn't usually express much emotion in his letters -- his language is always so civilized -- but in this letter (No. 20), a little testiness and frustration leaks through. It's subtle, even if George does come close to swearing at one point.
You could hardly blame him, though. The letter if full of examples of how the Depression is hitting the family. Keith and Rex are barely able to hold onto jobs. George is hoping that Joyce can stay in a free school, and is having to drop piano lessons for the girls. The YMCA's finances are a mess.
And here is George's youngest son, half a world away. He knows Noel is extremely low on funds and he hasn't heard from him in two months. George scrapes together $10 to send to Noel, and laments that he can't liquidate the amplifier, which is worth about $300.
But that's not the only example of testiness. When talking about Henley Day, George issues a rare complaint.
Of course, I had to look up Henley Day, and it turns out the Henley-on-the-Yarra was a huge regatta on the Yarra River, attracting up to 300,000 in 1925, according to a history site about the Yarra River. It was also a major social event.
So when you consider what an avid sportsman George was, it seems only natural that he would complain about missing a major sporting event.
Maybe I'm just getting better able to read George now that I'm 20 letters into this project, or maybe the stresses of the time are getting bad enough to bleed into the letters a little bit. I'll be interested to see what other frustrations leak out in future letters.
"I wish to goodness we could do something with that blessed amplifier, but seemingly it is impossible to dispose of it."
You could hardly blame him, though. The letter if full of examples of how the Depression is hitting the family. Keith and Rex are barely able to hold onto jobs. George is hoping that Joyce can stay in a free school, and is having to drop piano lessons for the girls. The YMCA's finances are a mess.
And here is George's youngest son, half a world away. He knows Noel is extremely low on funds and he hasn't heard from him in two months. George scrapes together $10 to send to Noel, and laments that he can't liquidate the amplifier, which is worth about $300.
 |
| The Argus (Melbourne), Tuesday 17 November 1931, page 7 |
"I personally would rather have gone to Henley-on-the-Yarra, but mother has determined to go with the kiddies so I suppose I will have to do likewise."
Of course, I had to look up Henley Day, and it turns out the Henley-on-the-Yarra was a huge regatta on the Yarra River, attracting up to 300,000 in 1925, according to a history site about the Yarra River. It was also a major social event.
So when you consider what an avid sportsman George was, it seems only natural that he would complain about missing a major sporting event.
Maybe I'm just getting better able to read George now that I'm 20 letters into this project, or maybe the stresses of the time are getting bad enough to bleed into the letters a little bit. I'll be interested to see what other frustrations leak out in future letters.
No. 20 -- 24 Nov 1931
Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.
My dear Noel,
We were disappointed again this mail because we did not get a letter from you. The last letter we received was dated 16th September and we are naturally concerned to find out how you have been getting along in the interval. Kath. Also was without a letter and your last letter to her was dated 29th September. I suppose you have been up to your eyes in your new experiences and finding it perhaps difficult to earn your way and at the same time carry your schedule of studies. I can only hope that everything is O.K. with you.
We had the 12th National Convention in the building on Saturday November 21 to Monday November 23. The convention was much better than we anticipated it would be and we were particularly gratified with the large number of our own members who put in an appearance at the meetings. The convention had some excellent discussions based upon questionnaires circulated among the Association on the subjects of "Our purpose, our youth, our times". These created splendid discussions and I am confident it clarified the thinking of quite a number of the delegates who were present.
The National Committee finance was the major problem we had to face. In view of the difficulties being experienced b y the Associations in making regular allocations to National support, it looked as if it would be almost impossible for the National Committee to carry on. However, there was a very fine spirit of loyalty expressed toward the National Committee and I have no doubt that the necessary money to run a modified programme will be available if not from the Associations, it will be secured from interested friends. Frank Trainor will be finishing up as an employed man I think about the end of the year. It is doubtful whether we will be able to carry Woodcraft unless he practically raises his own salary by personal solicitation.
The support of the Indian work will also be diminished to some extent, although we will make strenuous efforts to keep our contribution as high as possible.
Mr. Thomas Thomas, after 15 years of service, has resigned the Chairmanship of the National Committee, and Mr. R.W. Nevile, of our Board, has been appointed Chairman. Mr. Thomas will be Honorary Secretary to the Committee. This will introduce a little new blood and it may be all to the good in the future of the work. I shall send on to you some of the figures in connection with the Australian Movement, and some reports which give the salient features of the programmes of the Association. This will be interesting reading and material which you can pass on to your friends or to the College Library.
We also held a short Employed Officers' Conference at the close of the convention, and appointed Charlie Jutsum, President of the Employed Officers Association and George Briggs, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. This should help to revive interest in the Employed Officers' Association which it sadly needed. During the past 18 months or so there has been practically nothing done in its interests.
I have not a great deal of home news to pass on to you as conditions are much the same at home as when I last wrote. The boil on Mother's chin has gone and she is O.K. again. The kiddies are all well. Joyce has written a letter to you which has gone under separate cover. Mother has also written to you under separate cover.
Ruth has been home each Tuesday (her day off from the hospital). She is just as keen as ever about her work. Keith has another ship in just now and this will keep him busy for this week. We are glad that he is managing to get these odd jobs to help keep him going. Rex. Baker is away again in the country and has been for some days past. He seems to hang on to he present job, although he growls a lot about it.
Joy is to have her examinations this week, and I am hoping that she will do well, and will continue her free schooling at another school. If not, I will probably send her to Fintona or the Presbyterian ladies College. Edith seems to be quite sure of having done well in her examination and I have not any doubt that she will go to Gardiner or one of the other elementary high schools.
In view of the fact that they do not seem over anxious to continue their practice at the piano, we have practically decided to give them a rest for the next year from tuition in pianoforte and I believe that the effect of it will be that they will be more keenly interested to take it up again. In any case it will not do them much harm as we will see that they continue their practice at reasonably regular intervals. My own judgment is that they have not displayed any particular ability and it is hardly worth while continuing the tuition. Then again we must consider curtailment in some of these expenditures in view of the reduced income.
They Sunday School will have its picnic next Saturday which happens to be Henley Day and I suppose the whole family will be at Sandringham Picnic Grounds. I personally would rather have gone to Henley-on-the-Yarra, but mother has determined to go with the kiddies so I suppose I will have to do likewise.
We have not seen or heard anything of the Harrisons for some weeks, although I understand that Mrs. Harrison is still away in a position in the country.
Ivor Burge is back again from his honeymoon.
Jim. Swain arrived a little over a week ago from Perth, Western Australia. His job over there has finished up and he is now looking for a position in Melbourne. I understand there will be other adjustments on the Perth staff and it is likely that Parsons, the Physical Director, may be dispensed with and Ern. Saunders is likely to get the job. You will recall that Saunders went to Montreal and if this information is correct he is returning again to the Perth job. He was on the staff of the Perth Association some years ago and was also located there as Migration Secretary representing the British National Council of Y.M.C.A.s.
You will be interested in hearing that Holmesdale Nitschke has been selected to represent Australia in the first test match against the South African Cricket team now touring Australia. Mr. Dick Nitschke called in last June and left his card; and called in to see me the other day. He reports that the Nitschkes in South Australia are all well.
I think I told you in my last letter that I was to be inducted into the Eldership of the South Hawthorn Presbyterian Church. That induction ceremony was postponed, but it will take place next Sunday morning. three of us, Jack Roberts, Jack Gray and I are to be inducted.
I had a letter the other day from A.W. Alley, membership Service of National Council of Y.M.C.A.s of New York, in which he reported having met you at the conferences. I have not heard a great deal from America during these recent weeks, but I suppose that is largely because of the busy period an the opening of the Associations' programmes, September, October, etc.
I have not heard anything from Clive Glover for months past.
In this mail I am sending you a Money Order for Ten Dollars, which I hope will be of some little service to you. I wish I could make it five times the amount.
Please let me know how you have been getting along. We are all anxious to hear. I wish to goodness we could do something with that blessed amplifier, but seemingly it is impossible to dispose of it. When Rex. returns I am going to have a good talk with him and see if we cannot dispose of it piecemeal.
Well, I must finish now. This letter should reach you somewhere about the 20th December, and I hope, boy, you will have a Happy Christmas, although we shall miss you from the home circle.
We hope that you are enjoying your work, despite the difficulties you are facing.
I have forwarded a few newspapers to you which I hope you received safely. I shall also send you one or two others by the next mail.
With warm love from us all,
Yours affectionately,
Dad
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.
My dear Noel,
We were disappointed again this mail because we did not get a letter from you. The last letter we received was dated 16th September and we are naturally concerned to find out how you have been getting along in the interval. Kath. Also was without a letter and your last letter to her was dated 29th September. I suppose you have been up to your eyes in your new experiences and finding it perhaps difficult to earn your way and at the same time carry your schedule of studies. I can only hope that everything is O.K. with you.
 |
| The Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 19 November 1931, page 5 |
The National Committee finance was the major problem we had to face. In view of the difficulties being experienced b y the Associations in making regular allocations to National support, it looked as if it would be almost impossible for the National Committee to carry on. However, there was a very fine spirit of loyalty expressed toward the National Committee and I have no doubt that the necessary money to run a modified programme will be available if not from the Associations, it will be secured from interested friends. Frank Trainor will be finishing up as an employed man I think about the end of the year. It is doubtful whether we will be able to carry Woodcraft unless he practically raises his own salary by personal solicitation.
 |
| The Argus (Melbourne), Tuesday 24 November 1931, page 8 |
Mr. Thomas Thomas, after 15 years of service, has resigned the Chairmanship of the National Committee, and Mr. R.W. Nevile, of our Board, has been appointed Chairman. Mr. Thomas will be Honorary Secretary to the Committee. This will introduce a little new blood and it may be all to the good in the future of the work. I shall send on to you some of the figures in connection with the Australian Movement, and some reports which give the salient features of the programmes of the Association. This will be interesting reading and material which you can pass on to your friends or to the College Library.
We also held a short Employed Officers' Conference at the close of the convention, and appointed Charlie Jutsum, President of the Employed Officers Association and George Briggs, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. This should help to revive interest in the Employed Officers' Association which it sadly needed. During the past 18 months or so there has been practically nothing done in its interests.
I have not a great deal of home news to pass on to you as conditions are much the same at home as when I last wrote. The boil on Mother's chin has gone and she is O.K. again. The kiddies are all well. Joyce has written a letter to you which has gone under separate cover. Mother has also written to you under separate cover.
Ruth has been home each Tuesday (her day off from the hospital). She is just as keen as ever about her work. Keith has another ship in just now and this will keep him busy for this week. We are glad that he is managing to get these odd jobs to help keep him going. Rex. Baker is away again in the country and has been for some days past. He seems to hang on to he present job, although he growls a lot about it.
Joy is to have her examinations this week, and I am hoping that she will do well, and will continue her free schooling at another school. If not, I will probably send her to Fintona or the Presbyterian ladies College. Edith seems to be quite sure of having done well in her examination and I have not any doubt that she will go to Gardiner or one of the other elementary high schools.
In view of the fact that they do not seem over anxious to continue their practice at the piano, we have practically decided to give them a rest for the next year from tuition in pianoforte and I believe that the effect of it will be that they will be more keenly interested to take it up again. In any case it will not do them much harm as we will see that they continue their practice at reasonably regular intervals. My own judgment is that they have not displayed any particular ability and it is hardly worth while continuing the tuition. Then again we must consider curtailment in some of these expenditures in view of the reduced income.
They Sunday School will have its picnic next Saturday which happens to be Henley Day and I suppose the whole family will be at Sandringham Picnic Grounds. I personally would rather have gone to Henley-on-the-Yarra, but mother has determined to go with the kiddies so I suppose I will have to do likewise.
We have not seen or heard anything of the Harrisons for some weeks, although I understand that Mrs. Harrison is still away in a position in the country.
Ivor Burge is back again from his honeymoon.
Jim. Swain arrived a little over a week ago from Perth, Western Australia. His job over there has finished up and he is now looking for a position in Melbourne. I understand there will be other adjustments on the Perth staff and it is likely that Parsons, the Physical Director, may be dispensed with and Ern. Saunders is likely to get the job. You will recall that Saunders went to Montreal and if this information is correct he is returning again to the Perth job. He was on the staff of the Perth Association some years ago and was also located there as Migration Secretary representing the British National Council of Y.M.C.A.s.
You will be interested in hearing that Holmesdale Nitschke has been selected to represent Australia in the first test match against the South African Cricket team now touring Australia. Mr. Dick Nitschke called in last June and left his card; and called in to see me the other day. He reports that the Nitschkes in South Australia are all well.
I think I told you in my last letter that I was to be inducted into the Eldership of the South Hawthorn Presbyterian Church. That induction ceremony was postponed, but it will take place next Sunday morning. three of us, Jack Roberts, Jack Gray and I are to be inducted.
I had a letter the other day from A.W. Alley, membership Service of National Council of Y.M.C.A.s of New York, in which he reported having met you at the conferences. I have not heard a great deal from America during these recent weeks, but I suppose that is largely because of the busy period an the opening of the Associations' programmes, September, October, etc.
I have not heard anything from Clive Glover for months past.
In this mail I am sending you a Money Order for Ten Dollars, which I hope will be of some little service to you. I wish I could make it five times the amount.
Please let me know how you have been getting along. We are all anxious to hear. I wish to goodness we could do something with that blessed amplifier, but seemingly it is impossible to dispose of it. When Rex. returns I am going to have a good talk with him and see if we cannot dispose of it piecemeal.
Well, I must finish now. This letter should reach you somewhere about the 20th December, and I hope, boy, you will have a Happy Christmas, although we shall miss you from the home circle.
We hope that you are enjoying your work, despite the difficulties you are facing.
I have forwarded a few newspapers to you which I hope you received safely. I shall also send you one or two others by the next mail.
With warm love from us all,
Yours affectionately,
Dad
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