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Alexandrina Seager
Alexandra Seager, (; 10 November 1870 – 12 March 1950), generally known as Mrs. A. Seager, was a businesswoman and philanthropist in South Australia, remembered as the founder of the Cheer-Up Society which provided comforts for servicemen in World War I. History Seager, whose birthname may have been Alexandrine or Alexandrina, was born in Ballarat, Victoria, the eldest daughter of William Laidlaw ( – ) and his wife Helen Mickel Laidlaw, née Dickson ( – ) who married in 1869. Laidlaw had a previous marriage on 2 March 1864 to Alexandrina Marjory Fraser, who died shortly after giving birth to a son. She married Clarendon James Seager (c. 1857 – 1941) on 16 June 1891 and settled in Adelaide in 1908. She opened a governess and domestic servant placement business "Scholastic Agency, Royal Exchange" on King William Street, Adelaide in 1911 or earlier. The South Australian 1st AIF#Recruitment, first contingent of the 1st AIF was the subject of a great deal of public excitement ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cheer-Up Society
The Cheer-Up Society was a South Australian patriotic organisation founded during The Great War, whose aims were provision of creature comforts for soldiers in South Australia. Much of their activity was centred on the Cheer-up Hut, which they built behind the Adelaide railway station, and almost entirely staffed and organised by volunteers. The organization was revived on a professional basis during the Second World War. History Following an editorial in ''The Register'' lamenting the lack of public support for the SA members of the AIF 2nd Contingent who were about to be posted overseas, Mrs A. Seager organised a "Cheer Up Our Boys" luncheon at Montefiore Hill, staffed by women volunteers, for the 1,100 soldiers who were completing their training at the Morphettville camp. This was followed by a Christmas dinner at the new Oaklands camp, and Sunday teas every week through January. The "Cheer-Up Society" emerged a few weeks later. It initially consisted of Stella M. Baker ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
