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Access
Access to this item was restricted for 75 years in order to protect personal privacy. In 2022 the SROWA listing still states that this item is restricted, however given its age it should have been given open access status in 2011. Please contact the State Records Office of Western Australia for access to this item.
Records
This file is an old, bound volume with a paper cover and titled 'Minutes of the Perth and District Boarding Out Committee'. The file is in poor condition but the entries are legible. It is arranged in chronological order, with many pages either blank or glued together. The early entries are handwritten, mostly in ink. The first entry refers to a meeting on 7 July 1908.
Entries generally note who was present or absent, the number of applications for boarding out received or the number of children boarded out, and arrangements for visiting homes prior to boarding out and inspections afterwards. The Committee also noted the reports of the inspectors from the State Children's Department. Comments on, and suggested 'rules' for service children are included in the Minutes.
Children are often named, particularly in relation to certain incidents or practices. Comments about visits to Children's Homes are included, and efforts to obtain toys and other 'comforts' for children is an ongoing theme.
Later entries in the file include detailed information about arrangements for annual Boarded Out Children's Christmas parties (including entertainment items by children), donors and sponsors and correspondence from the Child Welfare Department.
An example of the type of cases referred to in the Minutes of the Boarding Out Committee is the following (names of the child and her foster mother have been removed):
'A discussion took place in regard to the ward AW, boarded out with Miss H [address given]. Reports from Mrs. Finch and Mrs. Bolton were read. Mrs. Kent said she thought as the child was so happy in this home she should remain there. Mrs. Sparks' reports were also read. It was noted that Miss H had not carried out the Inspector's instructions in relation to taking AW to the Children's Hospital. Mrs. Bolton stated that the child was very sick and she should have had the necessary treatment. The Vice-President thought we should have had a report from the Chief Clerk [of the Child Welfare Department] who was present when the Committee met at Miss H's house. Mrs. Kent suggested Miss H should receive some help from the Department. She was aware that there should be sufficient income in a home where a ward was placed, but there was an exception to every rule. She understood the Department was helping people from a fund received from the Lotteries Commission and she thought Miss H could be given some necessities for her home as well as these people. (Minutes of the Boarding Out Committee, 30 April 1934)'
Care for Children - Committees (Boarding Out Committee (Perth and District)) - Agendas, Minutes and Working Papers
