National Archives of Australia
Series A431 Item CMS
Canberra Office
Church Missionary Society - Half-castes 1942 - 1947
NB The following are examples of the type of documents in this file.
Copyright P J Mackett 2005
1st June, 1942
The Rev H M Arrowsmith
Acting Secretary for Aborigines
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
109A Bathurst Street
Sydney NSW
Dear Mr Arrowsmith,
I forward herewith copy of a list of the
half-caste women and children who left Alice Springs on
the 25th May in the care of the Reverend B Smith.
To date we have not received from Mr Chinnery
any advice regarding the movements forward to Sydney of
any of the children, but no doubt Miss Dove has been in
touch with you in this regard.
Yours sincerely
H A Barrender
for Secretary
AMENDED LIST
Church of England Halfcastes from North and Alice Springs to Go to
Church of England Mission in Southern States
Train Leaving 04.00 on 25. 5.1942
Adults Females
Tilly Dempsey
Topsy Glynn
Priscilla Herbert
Alice Mills
Harriett Parker
Jessie White
Rhoda Russell
May Hill
Eileen Briscoe
Daisy Pearce
Sporty Pearce
Children Male
David Mills
Harold Quartermain
John Hogan
James Stirling
Duke Cassidy
Albert McNamee
Bably Renner
Harry Russell
Wally McAurthur (McArthur)
Henry Baker
Jerry Hill
Children Female
Milly Glen
Nora Carew
Nettie Pearce
Minnie Williams
Norma Nicker
Rona Glynn
Joyce Herbert
Barbara Mills
Ana McPherson
Heather McPherson
Children - Female under 4 years
Freda Glynn
Children - Male under 4 years
Joseph Russell
Gordon Briscoe
Babies in arms
David Russell, male
Annette White, female
Helen Dempsey, female
Children - Males - who arrived with Croker Island Party
(Not on previous list.)
Arnold, 13 years
Wilton, 13 years
Jim Foster, 10 years
Alfred, 10 years
John, 4 years
Tim, 4 years
Wilfred, 4 years
Frederick, 13 years
Welfare Officer
Rev B Smith
Number Travelling
1 Welfare Officer
11 Adult females
29 Children between 4 - 14 years
3 Children under 4 years
3 Babies in Arms
______________________________________________________________________________
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
CMS House
93 Bathurst Street
Sydney
New South Wales
4th May, 1944
The Secretary
Department of the Interior
Canberra
Dear Sir
Please find enclosed memorandum of names
of children at our Half Caste Institution at Mulgoa
for Sustenance Claim for the period 1. 1.1944 to 31. 3.1944.
I trust you will find this in order.
Yours faithfully
H M Arrowsmith
Acting Secretary for Aborigines
Northern territory Half Castes in the Care of the
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania.
Department of Interior Sustenance Claim for Three
Months Ended 31st March, 1944
Name From Where Admitted
Frederick McCaw Roper River
Ida Huddleston Roper River
Rose Foster Booraloola
Helen Wesley Mataranka
Jim Foster Booraloola
Cecily Huddleston Roper River
Carey Hall Roper River
Timothy Campbell Borraloola
Heather Wesley Mataranka
John Moriarty Booraloola
Wilfred Huddleston Roper River
Trevor Hall Roper River
Kenneth Wesley Mataranka
Laurel Burke Roper River
Glen Roberts Roper River
Wendy Burke Roper River
Billy Wesley Mataranka
Fay Hall Roper River
Robert Huddleston Groote Eylandt
(Janice Roberts) re-admitted Sydney
(Janice Roberts) re-admitted Sydney
Nora Carew Alice Springs
Milly Glen Glen Helen
Norma Nicker Alice Springs
Nettie Pearce Alice Springs
Harold Quartermain Alexandria, Queensland
Albert McNamee Central Australia
Jack Hogan Newcastle Waters
James Stirling Joy Creek
Duke Cassidy Wyndham
Bobby Renner Tennants Creek
Henry Baker Alexander, Queensland
Harry Russel Barrow Creek
Gordon Briscoe Alice Springs
Jerry Hill Alice Springs
Gerald Hampton Alice Springs
John Hampton Alice Springs
Cyril Hampton Alice Springs
Kenneth Hampton Alice Springs
Annette White Darwin
Helen Dempsey Darwin
Ross Pearce Sydney
Ross Pearce (re-admitted) Sydney
Wally Macarthur Macarthur River
____________________________________________________________________
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
CMS House
93 Bathurst Street
Sydney
New South Wales
14th April, 1944
The Secretary
Department of the Interior
Canberra
Dear Sir
Please find enclosed copy of Child Endowment
Claim for the period 11th January, 1944 to 3rd April 1944,
for your information.
Yours faithfully
H M Arrowsmith
Acting Secretary for Aborigines
Periodical Claim for Payment of Child Endowment
Church Missionary Society Home for Half Castes, Mulgoa
Period from 11 th January, 1944 to 3rd April, 1944
Name Born
Laurel Burke 21.12.1939
Wendy Burke 10. 1.1941
Timothy Campbell 1. 4.1936
Rose Foster 1.10.1931
Jim Foster 1. 4.1933
Carey Hall 27.12.1935
Trevor Hall 11. 2.1939
Fay Hall 10. 9.1941
Gerald Clifford Hampton .1930
John Leslie Hampton .1932
Kenneth Valentine Hampton .1934
Cyril Anderson Hampton .1937
Ida Huddlestone 1.10.1930
Cecily Huddlestone 1.10.1935
Wilfred Huddlestone 10. 1.1938
Frederick McCaw 1. 4.1928
John Moriarty 1. 4.1938
Glen Roberts 19. 6.1940
Janice Roberts 25. 5.1943
Janice Roberts 25. 5.1943
(Janice's mother became ill and Janice was sent back)
Helen Wesley 27. 4.1932
Heather Wesley 28.12.1936
Kenneth Wesley 17.10.1939
William James Wesley 1. 4.1941
Henry Baker 10. 5.1932
Gordon Briscoe 18.11.1939
Duke Cassidy .12.1930
Gerald Hill . 9.1936
John Hogan .12.1930
Walter McArthur .12.1933
(Absent in Penrith Hospital from January 10 - 25)
Albert McNamee .12.1930
Harold Quartermain 4. 4.1929
Bobby Renner .12.1930
Harry Russell .12.1932
James Stirling
(Was away 19 days on holidays paid for by CMS
went to private home January 31)
Milly Glen .12.1927
Norma Nicker .11.1936
Nettie Pearce 1.11.1929
Robert Huddlestone 5. 9.1941
Ross Pearce 27. 1.1943
(February 3 - 11 absent with mother, temporary job)
Annette White 10. 9.1941
Helen Dempsey 29.11.1941
___________________________________________________________________
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
CMS House
93 Bathurst Street
Sydney
New South Wales
18th January, 1944
The Secretary
Department of the Interior
Canberra
Dear Sir
The following are the members of staff at our Half Caste
Institution at Mulgoa for the period 1st October to 31st December, 1943,
namely : -
Miss E Anderson - October to December 1953 37/10/- (Pounds)
Mr and Mrs Miller - October to December 1953 63/-/- (Pounds)
I also enclose statement for sustenance from 1st October to
31st December, 1943.
Yours faithfully
J W Ferrier
per H M Arrow-Smith
Acting Secretary for Aborigines
Northern territory Half Castes in the Care of the
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania.
Department of Interior Sustenance Claim from 1st October
to 31st December, 1943
Name From Where Admitted Age Sex Notes
Frederick McCaw Roper River 15 M
Ida Huddleston Roper River 13 F
Rose Foster Booraloola 12 F
Helen Wesley Mataranka 11 F
Alfred Herbert Roper River 11 M
Jim Foster Booraloola 10 M
Joyce Herbert Roper River 8 F
Cecily Huddleston Roper River 8 F
Carey Hall Roper River 7 M
Timothy Campbell Borraloola 7 M
Heather Wesley Mataranka 7 F
John Moriarty Booraloola 5 M
Wilfred Huddleston Roper River 5 M
Trevor Hall Roper River 4 M
Kenneth Wesley Mataranka 4 M
Laurel Burke Roper River 3 F
Glen Roberts Roper River 3 M
Wendy Burke Roper River 2 F
Billy Wesley Mataranka 2 M
Robert Huddleston Groote Eylandt 2 M
Fay Hall Roper River 2 F
Janice Roberts Sydney F Born 25. 5.1943
Nora Carew Alice Springs 15 F
Milly Glen Ellen Helen C.A. 15 F
Norma Nicker Alice Springs F
Nettie Pearce Alice Springs 14 F
Harold Quartermain Alexandria, Queensland 14 M
Albert McNamee Central Australia 13 M
Jack Hogan Newcastle Waters 13 M
James Stirling Joy Creek 13 M
Duke Cassidy Wyndham 13 M
Bobby Renner Tennants Creek 13 M
Wally MacArthur McArthur River 10 M
Henry Baker Alexander, Queensland 10 M
Harry Russel Barrow Creek 11 M
Gordon Briscoe Alice Springs 4 M
Jerry Hill Alice Springs 6 M
Gerald Hampton Alice Springs M
John Hampton Alice Springs M
Cyril Hampton Alice Springs M
Kenneth Hampton Alice Springs M
___________________________________________________________________________
Kirkston
Rupert Street
Windsor
Brisbane
5th March, 1943
Dear Mr Barringer
Mulgoa I visited Mulgoa hostel and inspected children in the
State school and adults working in homes throughout the district
and in the Penrith hospital. Everyone looked well and appeared
to be happy and contented. There was greatest harmony between
the European children and our charges in the state school.
Harriet Parker This elderly woman inmate of Mulgoa wishes to
be transferred to Balaklava to be amongst her friends there. I
requested the CMS to make the necessary arrangements for her
escort and movement.
Mrs Hamilton After discussion with the CMS I visited Mrs
Hamilton at Hazelwood in the Blue Mountains. She assured me that
she was in a position to look after herself. This was confirmed
by the Rev Taylour and his son and daughter who were at one time,
missionaries on Groote Eylandt and know Mrs Hamilton well.
Mr Ferrier then told Mrs Hamilton that she
could call at Mulgoa at any time and collect her children and be-
longings. No further trouble is expected on this score between
the CMS and Mrs Hamilton herself.
Priscilla Herbert This woman is a leper. She requested the
NSW Aboriginal Board to remove her children from Mulgoa to
Cootamundra.
I visited her at the Lazarette and having
seen her children happily playing the school at Mulgoa induced
her to leave them there for the present, at the same time advising
her that we would take them in at Balaklava if she insisted that
they be removed from Mulgoa. Mr Ferrier is going to take the
children to see her occasionally and in this way allay her fears.
Both Herbert and Hamilton unrest have been
due to intervention by the Taylours who did not appear to be in har-
mony with the welfare plans of the CMS Committee.
I saw the Taylours and asked them to refrain from
actions likely to upset the half castes themselves, at the same time
assuring them that any suggestions would be closely examined by us.
Mrs Barbara Rofe I should be glad if you could advise Mrs Rofe
that no half caste labour is at present available.
Discussion of National Policy Aboriginals with National Missionary
Council I informed the Secretary of the NMC that as matters
stood at present, I was not in a position to discuss the position
from the Commonwealth point of view.
Methodist Mission Evacuees
I visited the Methodist Mission charges
at Otford. A number of them were laid up with whooping cough but
there was every evidence of contentment and progress.
Pt McLeay Mission I enclose for your information a copy of a
letter from Senator McLeay and my reply thereto.
Kindest regards to everyone, trusting you are well
E W P Chinnery
___________________________________________________________________________________
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
List of Adult Evacuees
(Enclosed in letter to Department Social Services 6. 1.1943)
Name Age From Status Children
Naomi Holmes 34 Mataranka Married
Marie Burke 30 Roper Unmarried 2
Dorcas Wesley 30 Mataranka Married 4
Marjorie Hamilton 28 Groote Married 7
Margaret Hall 28 Roper Married 3
Florence Huddlestone 23 Groote Married 1
Rita Lewis 22 Groote Single
Jessie Huddlestone 19 Roper Single
Alice Roberts 19 Roper Single
Eileen Briscoe 23 Alice Springs Single 1
Lilian Dempsey 21 Darwin Single 1
Topsy Glyn 23 Alice Springs Single 2
May Hill 23 Alice Springs Single 1
Alice Mills 35 Darwin Single 2
Harriet Parkers 44 Darwin Single
Jessie White 20 Darwin Single 1
Daisy Pearce 18 Alice Springs Single
Betty Pearce 19 Alice Springs Single
_________________________________________________________________________________
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
109A Bathurst Street
Sydney
New South Wales
16th October, 1942
The Director-General
Social Services Dept
Canberra
Dear Sir
Some time ago in response to a query of mine
concerning the maintenance of half caste women evacuees
from Northern Australia you asked me to furnish you with a
list of these people, and for certain particulars concerning
them. I now enclose this list.
The vital question is as to who is bearing the
cost of the maintenance. The Church Missionary Society is
actually conducting the work among the half caste children at
'Milleewa' and Mulgoa, as a part of an uplift scheme sponsered
by the Department of the Interior. The work was to have been
done at Groote Eylandt and on the evacuation we undertook the
immediate responsibility, the Department of Interior instructing
us to utilise certain funds available for building purposes under
the scheme. Our disinbursements so far on account of evacuees, not
only of the children but also of these adults have been met from
these funds.
As you will see some of these women have gone to
certain tasks, for which they receive remuneration. These are
mainly the more sophisticated adults from Alice Springs. The
group at Milleewa have in some cases such domestic responsibilities
with their families that they are unable to go out. Some have
positions that give them one or two days per week. In some cases
money is available from husbands, but others must continue to be
a charge on Government funds. Those who have obtained employment
have for short or long periods been cared for at either 'Milleewa' or
Mulgoa.
This is a preliminary report concerning which I shall
be glad to hear from you.
Yours faithfully
J W Ferrier
Secretary for Aborigines
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
Half Caste Women Connected with Mulgoa at September 1942
Name Age Children From By Who Evacuated Now at
Eileen Briscoe 23 1 Alice Springs Native Affairs Mr Higgin, Burwood Rd, Burwood
Lilian Dempsey 21 Darwin Native Affairs Penrith District Hospital
Topsy Glynn 23 2 Alice Springs Native Affairs 'Terlings' Station, Moree
May Hill 23 1 Alice Springs Native Affairs 'Cranbrook' Guest House, Lindfield
Alice Mills 35 2 Darwin Native Affairs Still at Rectory, Mulgoa
Harrier Parker 44 Darwin Native Affairs Penrith District Hospital
Jessie White 20 1 Darwin Native Affairs Penrith District Hospital
May Pearce 18 Single Alice Springs Native Affairs Penrith District Hospital
Betty Pearce 19 Single Alice Springs Native Affairs Rev E J Davidson, Trahlee Road, Bellevue Hill
Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania
Half Caste Women at 'Milleewa' Ashfield at September 1942
Name Age Married Children From By Who Evacuated Now at
Naomi Holmes 34 Married Mataranka Native Affairs Milleewa
Marie Burke 30 Single 2 Roper Native Affairs Milleewa
Dorcas Wesley 30 Married 2 Mataranka Native Affairs Milleewa
Margery Hamilton 28 Married 7 Groote Native Affairs Milleewa
Margaret Hall 28 Married 3 Roper Native Affairs Milleewa
Florence Huddlestone 23 Married 1 Groote Native Affairs Milleewa
Rita Lewis 22 Single Groote Native Affairs Milleewa
Jessie Huddlestone 19 Single Roper Native Affairs Milleewa
Alice Roberts 19 Single 1 Roper Native Affairs Milleewa
___________________________________________________________________________________
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