CARTOON - SANTA CLAUSE AND THE SILVER LINK

The Silver Chain was a private organisation who employed nurses to provided medical care and education primarily for pregnant women and new mothers. In the late 1890s and early 1900s Western Australia had one of the worst infant mortality rates in the Commonwealth. The Western Mail played an important role in raising the funds to start the Silver Chain in 1905.
For many years a Christmas fete was held by the Western Mail to raise funds for the organisation. Ben Strange for a number of years produced a special cartoon to promote the fête. One year he even agreed to play Father Christmas at the fête.
The Silver Chain still operates today, providing in home medical care for many members of the community.
Money was raised as part of the Christmas Tree Fête through the Western Mail's Children's Corner where children subscribed and sent in donations for the Christmas Tree. This included a number of children from the local area including Miriam Hardy of Jandakot Road in Armadale who donated 2 shillings and 6 pence to the 1909 Christmas Tree (Western Mail 1 Jan 1919 p42). The money raised was used to provide toys for children who would not otherwise get any and for the Silver Chain nursing service.