ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections
HMSS 0407 Canberra Relief Society Letter
Scope and Content Notes
| Call Number | HMSS 0407 |
|---|---|
| Collection | Canberra Relief Society Letter |
| Date Range | 28 May 1930 |
| Quantity | 0.01m (1 folder) |
| Access Conditions | open |
| Copying Conditions | with attribution |
| Related Collections |
The Canberra Relief Society was formed at a public meeting on 25 March 1930, to collect and distribute funds for the relief of those needing assistance in the Federal Capital Territory during the Depression. It subsequently provided a wide range of welfare services to the Canberra community until It was finally disbanded on 4 June 1958, with many of its community support services being taken over by the Department of the Interior, in line with changes in welfare assistance in New South Wales and other states.John Thomas Hill Goodwin (1865-1950) was a founding member of the Society. He trained and worked as a private surveyor in Victoria from 1891, with two periods working for the Western Australian and Victorian governments, before being appointed officer in charge of the administration of the Federal Capital Territory from 1916 to 1924. He was a member of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee 1921-1925, and after the formation of the Federal Capital Commission he was seconded to it as lands officer for a few months. He retired from the Public Service in December 1925, held a grazing lease for a few years, then returned to private surveying. He was appointed MBE in 1927.
Goodwin became deeply involved in the community life of Canberra. He helped to form the Horticultural Society of Canberra (1929), assisted in organising several sporting activities, and was a Scout commissioner and an active member of the Red Cross Society. He was an elected member of the Advisory Council 1931-1943 and chairman 1936-1941, and served on the Canberra Community Hospital Board (1938-1948) and the National Capital Planning and Development Committee (1939-1941). He was a special magistrate from 1930 and for many years was also coroner.
The collection contains two letters, the original and a distribution copy, dated 28 May 1930, just two months after the formation of the Canberra Relief Society. This indicates how quickly the work of the Society expanded from collection and distribution of funds to wider welfare work.