FRESH FIELDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 17

FRESH FIELDS

CAREERS FOR WOMEN

The field of activities for women is increasing almost daily, and in the article below, suggestions are made for work in a new profession. Playgrounds for children are increasing, and, there is a need for playground supervisors, states the "Sydney Morning Herald.'

With Sydney's municipal authorities developing rapidly the work of establishing playgrounds for children in ths

Recently, a harassed-lookirig gentleman went into the Bent Street library and asked for a book containing plans for a hopscotch bed. He knew how to play the game, but just couldn't remember the statutory dimensions of the "field." It was Mr. Cunninghame. of the City Engineer's office, who has been at work on the city playgrounds. He had to peruse the files of many an English and American paper before he found ■ what he wanted.

The aim of the council is to establish one playground a year. This will be located within a quarter of a mile of each residential quarter of the city. Wherever possible, portions of park

iinore closely-packed metropolitan areas, ja new field of careers for women opens up. .It is that of playground supervision, and it promises to be a profession calling for high qualifications.

> The first two playgrounds established by the council are on a grand modern scale. One is at Australia Street, Camperdown, and the other at Miller's Point, in the shadow of the Harbour Bridge approach. The latter is known as the King- George V Memorial Playground, and was officially opened re"cently. -To this, Miss Helen Mann and Miss Ann Davies have been appointed supervisors, while, the ground at Camperdown is in* charge of Miss Dorothy Hudson and Miss Mary Stuckey.

The work of these women will be by no means as easy as might be thought after a first glance, and will call for knowledge born of long, study. They must be conversant with first-aid, social hygiene, child psychology,, and all the general lines of study which go to make up equipment for child-guid-ance. . . .' ■ "The work of children's playground supervisor- is a fascinating one," says Miss:Aileen Fitzpatrick, 8.A., Director of the Board of Social Study and Training. It is from her institution that the supervisors graduate. A PLAYGROUND AT WORK. The Miller's Point ground is in full "swing." The clubhouse, has many, departments, including a fully-equip-^ ped first-aid station a library attended weekly by a City. Municipal librarian, bath and toilet rooms for both sexes, and a large room which stores the equipment for many games. The playing grounds are divided oS for order's sake. In the large gymnasium area, with its deep bed of tan, there are giant strides, slippery dips, steel ladders mounting to slrther bars, and many other contrivances to delight the youthful heart.

It is among the happy frolicking crowd there that the woman supervisor works, instructing at games, settling children's disputes, treating cuts, bruises, and blisters. The casualties from the playground as a rule are slight Of course, occasionally, a more serious one comes from the street, the children of this neighbourhood having adopted the playground cas-ualty-room as their own particular friend in need. ' ■

On the Coronation Day holiday, r3O children played here. The average daily attendance has to date been over 160. Not only their physical but their moral welfare is watched by the supervisors, who instruct in manners as well- as in games.

areas will be used. In other cases, resumptions will be made.

This will mean that -this field for woman's endeavour will be continually widening. . . ■ ' ■ .■ •

All children want to come to the playgrounds. They are supposed to be for children of school age, but when a' little school boy or girl brinffis along smaller brothers or sisters for a game,] •■ To mend an enamd bow] mix some it is very hard to refuse them. One ordin]k bui i din g cem ent with cold