*The Australian Soldiers' Gift Book* (1915)

I knew that Ethel Turner was very involved in war work during World War One. I did not know she co-edited *The Australian Soldiers' Gift Book* (1915). Proceeds from the sales went to the Voluntary Workers, an organisation I had never heard of, which apparently bought land and built houses for disabled returned servicemen and their families in New South Wales at a place called French's Forest.

When I googled this organisation I got some hits for scanned in newspaper articles about people moving into houses so apparently it worked at least a few times.

The last paragraph reads: 'Let us realise that a generation will most surely arise which will turn a dull ear to the claims of those who bled and agonised that the Empire might live: let us strive now, when our hearts are filled with gratitude, to place those men to whom we owe so much in a position where penury and neglect will not embitter their later years.'

I don't know if I have a dull ear but I certainly don't understand World War One. No matter how many times I read about the network of alliances which pulled the various parties in one by one, I can never remember why it started or what any of them were trying to achieve. Nor can I fathom why anyone would fight that war. World War Two, yes, but World War One didn't have a selling point, a purpose.

The book contains works by Ethel Turner, Lilian Turner (her sister), Henry Lawson, Mary Gilmore, Dorothea Mackellar, and a whole heap of people I have never heard of. Also, illustrations by Norman Lindsay, May Gibbs, and, likewise, a heap of folks I have never heard of. The May Gibbs illustration is the only thing missing from the book, which is otherwise in good condition, so perhaps it was particularly good and was filched as a wall hanging?

My favourite of the otherwise frankly second rate and overtly jingoistic works is S Elliott Napier's sonnet to the great ally Russia. 'Implacable as are they arctic floes' Russia will not be moved. Except, you know, the way it was two years later with the Revolution.

3 Things

1, The Christmas break was great and I had time for lots of creative things. I made about 14 of match box Advent calendar things for Baby_Elvis. She has to wait til a, I get more match boxes and b, it is Christmas to get the present.

2, This ongoing burst of creativity has meant to learning to use IDVD and IMovie. It has only been five years since I got the computer and I have finally used the programs. I now have several slide shows and two fanmovies of Pearl and Ruby.

The next step is to make a songvid, as I have always intended. Anyone care to give me tips on how to start?

3, Also, with the burst of creativity I have uploaded virtually everything readable that I have written in the past decade to archiveofourown.

4, And, as a bonus, Ruby saw the paediatrician who thinks she is a lovely little girl who just has floppy muscles and the orthotics specialist who is making her new orthotics. She is to get boots this time as the orthotics alone were not good enough. They cost $350 which made me wince, since she will need new ones two or three times this year at least. But there is a $300 rebate so thank goodness for living in a country with a functioning health care system.

I am really looking forward to Ruby being able to walk properly. What a difference it will make to her life.