Fundraising

After war broke out in August 1914 New Zealanders and Australians were prompt to respond with the establishment of committees devoted to fundraising for the war effort.

Annette Lady Liverpool (wife of the New Zealand Governor) made an appeal to the women of New Zealand to “assist me in trying to provide any necessaries which may be required for … the citizen army …. My suggestion would be to start a fund in every centre under a small committee of ladies.” In response, in towns and cities all over New Zealand ladies established fundraising committees to help the war effort, particularly to raise funds to send ‘care packages’ to ‘our boys’ at the front. By the end of the war over 900 women’s patriotic organisations had been established in New Zealand and some £5 million raised.

In Australia women were also actively encouraged to support the war effort by joining voluntary organisations to raise money for the war and to provide comforts for the troops – the Australian Red Cross, Citizens' War Chest, Voluntary Aid Detachments, Australian Comforts Fund and the Cheer-up Society were all active fundraising for the war.

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