THE CHEER-UP SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2415, 22 March 1915, Page 7

THE CHEER-UP SOCIETY.

(Sir,—On behalf of the committee of the "Cheer-up Society," wo beg to bring under your notice the objects and work of our society, and trust that you will bo kind enough to place the matter before the public through the medium of your influential columns so that ' 'cheerup" societies might bo 'established in various centres. Briefly stated, the "Choor-up Society" was formed owing to the conditions which existed in military encampments. It was found that after the first excite-' ment of the war, and tho enthusiasm consequent upon the dispatch of the Bret section of the Australian Expeditionary Forces to the theatre of war, active public interest in the camp life of the 6oldiers being recruited waned somewhat, or, rather, any interest that existed was not shown to the same encouraging extent.' Men willing to sacrifice themselves for .the sake of the Empire isimpiy went into camp and assumed the monotonous rounds of drill, - and very ordinary fare, .amid dust and the generally unpleasant conditions which must necessarily appertain to military encampments, and hardly any further notice of them was taken.

A letter appeared in. "The Register" pointing out the somewhat comparatively unfair public treatment being meted out to the soldiers in this connection, and suggested that something should be done to make their camp life brighter. "The Register"' immediately took the matter up and suggested that a "Cheer-up Our Boys Society" should be formed, and invited the public to take necessary action. Certain publicspirited women of the community at once formed a society, and in a few days over one hundred ladies had banded together to collect money, cake, fruit, needlework, delicacies for the camp hospitals, etc., the whole to be utilised wider the heading of camp comforts. There are now several hundred members enthusiastically engaged in the work. (The only qualification of membership is to work for, or give to, the society.) After several months' work, the "Cheer-up Society" is acknowledged by military authorities in this State and, by the soldiers themselves -to have achieved a material and moral triumph in the direction desired. At the encampments near Adelaide, a concert is given on each Thursday evening 'and Sunday afternoon, after which iigUt refreshments are dispensed to the soldiers by the members of the "Cheer-up Society." The result in concrete is that the camp life is brightened up, the men are more contented with their lot, and the fine moral influence of the girls, who are, of course, of the very best type, is manifest. Letters of appreciation from the leaders of the men. have been received by the hon. secretary. Some few critics have objected to what they term "coddling" of the soldiers, but these have been effectively silenced by the overwhelming stated public opinion that the soldiers deserve all the appreciation they can get in view of the splendid servioes which they will render to their country.

It was unanimously deoided at' the first quarterly meeting of the "Cheer-up Society," held in the Mayor's Parlour, Adelaide, on February 8, that the influential Press in the Commonwealth, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain, and the Continent, should be communicated with with the view of placing our work before the publio, and to request that public-spirited people, particularly ladies, would take the matter up (in connection, with any of the Allied troops), as it has been aone here, with such success. At any point where there are military camps of some degree of permanency, cheor-up work can be done. The cheer-up wojk is distinct and different from other forms of patriotic operation. The public in this State are contributing generously to the "Cheer-up" Fund, and 'branches of, the society are being formed in the country towns. Musical and elocutionary artistes readily lend their services to the cheer-up cause. It might be added that a bronze_ medal has been struck, and is worn by the members Of the "Cheer-up Society" when attending camp, or any function in connection with their work. Any further information required in the matter can be obtained from the hon. secretary, Mrs. A. Seager, 47-48 Royal Exchange, Adelaide, or from the President, Mr. \Y. J. Sowden, Editor, "The Register," Adelaide. We trust that you mil be good enough to give this matter every publicity, and we feel that wherever possible in the British Empire and Allied countries the splendid work of "cbeering-up" the soldiers will readily be taken up.— We are, etc., F. J. MILLS (Chairman), Mesdames A. SEAGER (Hon. Secretary), C. F. TEMPLE, R, F. WALLINGTON, GEORGE ALDRIDGE, A. G. MILLER ("Cheer-up Socie- ■ ty's" Extension 1 Committee). Adelaide, February'2s, 1915.