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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: iwccc on Monday 02 January 23 23:48 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone remember being part of the Junior Red Cross at School. We all wore white dresses with red cape and a veil. My question is what did we do? Did we have weekly, monthly etc. meetings - were they at lunch time or part of the school curriculum? Did we have stalls to sell items or make items? Was there a set written programme for a meeting? Any information would be greatly appreciated to help with my memory. I was a member but cannot remember meeting. thank you
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I was a member too, though we didn't wear a particular uniform, but had a metal badge (a red cross) that I think we wore on our school uniform.
I don't really remember exactly what we did either, but I do recall making things to sell at community stalls on weekends, or maybe at a particular stand at the school fete - like crochet coat hangers etc. I think this was done at lunch times as I don't recall staying after school. We might have had talks about first aid, I seem to recall wrapping each other in bandages, and probably about the work of Red Cross around the world.
It's a long time ago! :D
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May be of interest https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32048594
https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/category/newspapers?keyword=“Junior%20Red%20Cross%20at%20School”&sortBy=dateAsc&startPos=0
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There are numerous mentions of the Junior Red Cross in the newspapers.
It was started during WW1. They did fund raising and learned first aide - anything that could be helpful during wartime.
Later on, I think they raised funds to help sick children of ex-servicemen.
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I don't remember ever having meetings or any set agenda. My only recollection is that my parents paid a membership fee every year and we marched as a group in the Anzac march in our local country town, wearing a red cardigan and a white nurses-like head dress and probably a white dress.
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Maddys52, Thank you for your input. I suspect we would have made or provided goods for sale to support Red Cross work. Perhaps at meetings we discussed first aid or how to help others but I just don't remember - only things I have is a photo of me dressed in my uniform and my Junior Red Cross Badge. Thanks for the memory
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Dear Neale61, I must try and track down the newspaper articles you mention. Thanks for your help
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Thanks bkr188, I only went to the Anzac Parade in Sydney to watch relatives march past so did not participate as a Junior Red Cross member. I guess I may have to consider that we paid an annual fee to belong to the group. Thanks for your help
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I was a junior member and then a cadet of the British Red Cross during the late 60s/early 70s. It was an evening activity and I did it in preference to Brownies/Girl Guides, Girls Brigade or St John Ambulance.
We wore our white school blouses, a black tie with an enamel badge pinned to it, an armband with an embroidered badge on it and our school skirts. Boys also belonged but as I remember it there were mainly girls.
We learnt 'The Kiss of Life and Resuscitation' before it was called CPR on 'ResusciAnne', a dummy. Learnt how what to do in case of an accident, electrocution or drowning and wrapped each other in bandages and learnt how to fit a sling.
One evening after the session my friends and I were waiting for our lift home when a motorcyclist came off his bike and skidded along the road in front of us!😮 Some of us made sure the lad stayed still and stopped the traffic while others ran back to the hall to fetch adults to help him. Luckily he wasn't badly hurt. It was all rather exciting but proved we'd been listening to all the talks we'd been to 😊
I've also just recalled we did a course on Mothercraft and I still have the booklet somewhere 🙂, it certainly helped when I had my own babies years later.
Heather
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Hi HeatherLynne, Thank you for your contribution about the Junior Red Cross in Britain. We probably did some of the same things in our programme - just wanting confirmation for our programme in Sydney. I cannot remember any boys but they may have belonged. I imagine that it was for children to learn basic first aid and charity for after the 2nd World War. Thank you - much appreciated
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Thank you cupoflife. Very interesting articles. Still interested to find out what was done at Junior Red Cross Meetings. At least (from your contribution)Know what the principles of Junior Red Cross was. Thank you I appreciate your help
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I was a member of the British junior Red Cross in the late 50s. Our uniform was the same as HeatherLynne`s.
I don`t remember any boys , although there could have been !!
I remember going to a Butlins at Skegness for some competitions. My friend Pat and I had practiced bed making for weeks beforehand; we came 3rd!
My Mum had been a member during WW2, I think this is why I joined.
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I received a Certificate verifying I attended a course of lectures and demonstrations in Primary School Health for The New Zealand Red Cross Society (Inc) Junior Red Cross and a Junior Red Cross Membership Card with the Pledge inside. This would be mid 1960's.
From memory this was just a normal lesson in class, demonstrating on a dummy for mouth to mouth, which I think was called the Kiss of Life, bandaging etc.
So it would have been our normal school day wear.
Cheers
KHP
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I remember being in the Junior Red Cross at school in North Queensland. My Dad was the Head Teacher and keenly supported the introduction. I do not know how it all came about. My mother, like the other mothers, made my red cape. We had a veil and we wore a white dress. I remember marching in theAnzac Parade and our photo was published in the local newspaper. We were given first aid instruction and I remember bandaging and arm slings. I think my Dad took these classes as he had first aid qualifications.
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May be of interest
https://www.ipswichlibraries.com.au/junior-red-cross/
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ARTV05274
https://victoriancollections.net.au/collections?q=junior%20red%20cross
https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/585045
https://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/items/ff418b27-e922-5419-8a7d-9b7cf0334576
https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=Australian+Junior+Red+Cross&_sacat=0
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My memories of the UK organisation ~
Like Heather, I was a member of Junior Red Cross in the UK in the late 1950s and 1960s. This covered the 12-16 age group.
As far as I can remember we wore pale blue cotton dresses. We met once a week for 2 hours. The first part was very formal, covering instruction in First Aid, Nursing and Midwifery. We were tested in each aspect and awarded badges if successful. I think I still have my badges somewhere.
After the formal session, we were taught various country dances!! Afterwards, we all went to the Fish and Chip shop and on to the Youth club!
It was an all female group. The male equivalent was St John's (Ambulance) cadets. I think the St John's group was mixed gender and they did wear the white shirt and black tie that has been mentioned. We didn't have a junior St John's in our village.
Gadget
Add - it was not school based.
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Dear Gadget, Thank you for your input into my research. Much appreciated
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Kiwihalfpint. Thank you for your contribution to my research. Much appreciated
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Dear Cupoflife, Thank you for all those great resources. I appreciate your help in this search.