BALLARAT EAST RED CROSS

Membership of the Ballarat East branch came from the Town of Ballarat East and some small towns to the east. The thriving commercial Bridge Street business houses supported the branch. Some 70 members are reported. These members and donors made 68,994 articles during the war. A total of £6200 was raised. £800 was sent to appeals.

The names of donors and a brief description of the donated goods or money was reported in The Courier. As with the Ballarat Red Cross Branch, in some instances the donor was identified as the contact person for a sub-branch.

The Ballarat Courier Tuesday 6 July 1915 Page 3
RED CROSS SOCIETY BALLARAT EAST BRANCH
The secretary (Miss Warmington) desires to acknowledge the following gifts – From an unknown donor, per the Mayoress (Mrs I Pearce), 58 yards of flannelette; 50 bandages, Mrs Corn, sen., Mount Pleasant; Miss Anna Gribble, scarf, cotton, and half dozen washers; the Misses Lily and Dorrie Messer, handkerchiefs and washers; Mrs H L Smith, 5 pillows; contents of money box, Mrs Paull, Grant Street, 15/3. A lady of 89 years of age – Mrs Corin sen. – made the above-mentioned 50 bandages, and was sorry she could not do more in the way of sewing or knitting for our brave men at the front. This is an example which younger people should try to emulate. The committee appreciate her noble work, and trust she will be spared with other enthusiastic workers to hear the proclamation of peace.

Sub-branches were:

Ballarat East Men's Section - this group met at the Ballarat East Public Library. In the Ballarat Courier, 17 June 1916, Mr J C Thomas reported that satisfactory progress was being made with the manufacture of 50 deck chairs and 25 tables destined for Red Cross Headquarters. A sum of £137 was passed for payment to the Ballarat East Branch of the Red Cross.

Brown Hill
Bungaree
Canadian - Mrs Watkins
Dunnstown
Eureka - Mrs Wye

Golden Point - It was reported in the Ballarat Courier, 22 July 1915, that a sub-branch of the Ballarat East Red Cross Society had been formed at Golden Point. Office bearers were President Mrs Smythe, Secretary Mrs Croughy and Treasurer Mrs Andrewartha. Workers were to meet in the Sunday School Hall every Monday from 7.30 to 9.30 pm.  

Leigh Creek
Mount Pleasant - Miss Patterson
Barkly Street, Methodist
Humffray Street Methodist Guild - Mrs Thomas
St Alipius
St Johns (Peel Street)
St Mark's, Brown Hill
St Paul's, Ballarat East
Victoria Street Baptist