SEBASTOPOL RED CROSS
In the Ballarat Star 25 Jun 1915, it was reported that the Sebastopol Borough Council granted £10 for the newly formed branch to purchase material for some 50 ladies who were making up necessary articles to send to the Front. The secretary, Miss Clare J Alroe, held that position for the duration of the war. Funds were raised by holding regular euchre tournaments and dances, raffles of donated goods, such as an embroided tray cloth, carnivals for which trophies were donated, collections for special days such as Australia Day.
During the working period of this branch from 1 July 1915 to 30 August 1919, a period of four years and one month, the following was forwarded to the head branch in the City Hall, Ballarat: 6486 pairs of sock, 2705 shirts, 259 scarves, 220 washers, 25 soldiers' bags, 10 knitted quilts, 8 Balaclava caps, mittens, knee-caps, bed socks, 500 gifts, cigarettes, magazines, papers, old linen, tobacco value of £22/10/0, and money amounting to £900, as well as furnishing a room in the Soldiers' Rest Home.
In October 1919 at a complimentary social function for the Red Cross workers the Mayor of the Borough of Sebastopol, Cr J Hopkins, presented Miss C Alroe with a gold wristlet watch and remarked that she was 'the energetic secretary of the society, who, with her sister (Catherine P), have devoted a considerable portion of their time to its interests, and it is principally due to their organisation and work that the activities of the society were so successful." Other stalwart workers thanked for their generosity.