• Entry type: Organisation
  • Entry ID: AWE0956

Cheer Up Society

(From – 1946)

Summary

The South Australian Cheer-Up Society was founded by Alexandrina Seager. Its object was to support the soldiers in the First and Second World Wars as well as to bring them into contact with the ‘highest type of womanhood’. During world war one they visited the soldiers at camp before they embarked for the trenches and provided them with supper, concerts and conversation. In the Second World War, they started a Cheer Up Hut near the Adelaide Railway Station that had a hostel and a canteen for every day use and social functions. The hut was financed by donations from several charitable organizations including the Country Women’s Association. The society was publicly acknowledged as indicative of women’s capacity, support and patriotism.

Published resources

  • Pamphlet
    • Official closing and good-bye at the Cheer-up Hut on Saturday, 27th April, 1946, Cheer-up Society (S. Aust.), 1946
    • Upon the termination of the activities of the Cheer Up Society, 1939-1946, Cheer-up Society (S. Aust.), [1946]
    • A home from home for all servicemen, Cheer-up Society (S. Aust.), [1944]
    • Grand sports carnival for Navy League, Red Cross, Cheer-Up Society, S.A. Fighting Forces Fund, official programme, Amateur Sports Associations of South Australia, [1940]
    • Souvenir programme of the Naval, Military and Red Cross Exhibition, October 1916, Naval, Military, and Red Cross Exhibition (1916 : Adelaide, S. Aust.), 1916
    • Cheer-up souvenir to our boys, Seager, A. (Alexandrine), 1870-1950, [1915]
    • Rules [of] the Cheer-up Society, Cheer-up Society (S. Aust.), [1914]
  • Resource
  • Book
    • Cheer up : a story of war work, Mills, Frederick J. (Frederick John), 1920
    • Cheer-up memories : a tribute to the cheer-up ladies (America Day souvenir), Mills, Frederick J. (Frederick John), [1918]
    • In her own name : women in South Australian history, Jones, Helen, 1926-, 1986
  • Music
    • My yesterday, Fewster, Jack (written and composed by ), [1919?]
    • Twenty thousand dollars, Fewster, Jack (written and composed by )
  • Periodical
    • R.S.A. magazine, [1916-1919]
  • Edited Book
    • Women in Australia : an annotated guide to records, Daniels, Kay, Murnane, Mary, Picot, Anne and National Research Program (Australia), 1977

Archival resources

  • State Library of South Australia
    • Cheer Up Society : SUMMARY RECORD

Related entries


  • Related Organisations
    • The South Australian Country Women's Association Inc. (1929 - )