Scattered Legacy

Nature of Treasure: Document (Chinese organisation)
Keywords: war, Donations, women
Region: Sydney
Place: Sydney
Year: 1937

The New South Wales Chinese Women’s Relief fund was formed in 1937 and was, according to its President Mrs J. A. Chuey, the first time ‘Chinese ladies have emerged from the privacy of their homes’ into the public.

Cover Chinese Women's Relief Fund file

Image Courtesy of: NSW State Library MLMSS 10277

In the 1930s war waged in China as the then Japanese Empire deployed its armies in an effort to control its neighbour. The government of China under the Nationalist or Kuomintang Party led by Chiang Kai Shek sent out appeals to those China-born or Chinese descended people around the world for help. Many of these people living overseas had long supported the Kuomintang and had early on been anxious about the threat Japan posed to China.

By 1937 however, this threat was ramping up into a full-scale war that was even beginning to worry non-Chinese people in places such as Australia. One among the many organisations that began to be formed to support China was the New South Wales Chinese Women’s Relief fund. Formed in 1937 it signalled, according to its President Mrs J. A. Chuey, the first time ‘Chinese ladies have emerged from the privacy of their homes’ into the public.

"Rose Chuey emerged as a key figure in this effort. Upon learning of pleas for assistance from Archbishop Howard Mowll and Madame Soong Mei-ling, wife of China’s President Chiang Kai-shek, (Sun, 05/09/1937: 10; State Library of New South Wales, MLMSS 10277/Box 1), Chuey and other women from the CVAs organized a pivotal meeting at her home. This gathering marked the birth of the NSW Chinese Women's Relief Fund and the Young Chinese Relief Movement (DT, 20/11/1937: 11). Through private parties and subscriptions, these organizations raised nearly AUD$1,000 (equivalent to roughly AUD$54,475 today).

Collaboration among the female members of Chinese and non-Chinese proved highly successful. Driven by a strong sense of community that extended beyond their immediate circles, around eighty women joined Chuey's network within the first month of the Chinese Women's Relief Fund's operation (AWW, 13/11/1937: 23; DT, 11/10/1937: 1; LD, 29/10/1937: 13; CRN, 9/10/1937: 4). Starting in October 1937, the NSW Chinese Women's Relief Fund began sending crucial medical supplies and clothing packages to the National Women's Relief Association in Hong Kong." (Kuo, 2024:np)

The file has details of funding raising efforts that include musical recitals at the Sydney Town Hall (Concertina Selections & Maori Poi Songs) and cocktail parties (whisky, gin, vermouth & ‘Sparkling Hock’). The money raised was used to purchase medical supplies such as ‘bone files’ and ‘mouth gags’. As well, donations of clothes were solicited directly from people around NSW, and it is here that the networking of the Chinese Women reached into the wider community, with many of the donors also women, but not always Chinese Australians.

These letters, invoices and receipts speak for themselves as evidence of ordinary people struggling to do what they could in the face of the horrors of war.

NSW State Library MLMSS 10277