1920s

Children from remote and rural NSW were given seaside holidays at Bondi in the 1920s to experience the joys of the surf. The trips were arranged by the Far West Children's Scheme. Later, a permanent home was built at Manly. The scheme brought country children to beach camps so they could enjoy the health benefits of a seaside holiday. Now known as Royal Far West, the scheme moved to Manly in 1924 to enable children from far western NSW to escape the conditions of the outback and holiday by the sea. It has evolved to take children for convalescence and respite care. The scheme was founded by the superintendent of the Methodist Far West Mission at Cobar, Reverend Sydney Drummond, and his wife Lucy.

“You look after their souls and I will look after their bodies.” That’s what Dr George Moncrieff Barron told our Cobar-based founder, the Rev. Stanley Drummond, when he learned of his great plans for the children of the Outback.

Established in 1924, Royal Far West has a rich history of innovation, dedication, and determination to improve the health and wellbeing of children who live in rural and remote communities, connecting them to the care they need but cannot otherwise access because of where they live. It was a popular charity, and in 1933 aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith donated money to build the new centre on Wentworth Street, Manly, in 1935.

It opened as the Drummond Far West Children's Home in 1935 and developed medical, dental and eye services and sent specialist doctors and dentists to remote towns. The Aborigines Protection Board and Aborigines Welfare Board also sent Aboriginal children to the home.

By the 1930s the Education Department had appointed a teacher to the home, as some children stayed up to 12 months at a time. In the 1950s the home had its own school, with many of its children victims of the polio epidemic. In 1953 a children's party at Royal Far West formed part of the broadcast of the Queen's speech. The scheme became 'Royal Far West' in 1970, when Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne visited.

Royal Far West still provides a range of health care services, including telehealth clinics, at Manly. In 2012, Royal Far West provides specialist medical, paediatric, telehealth, allied health, psychological and behavioural care and advice to children aged from birth to 12 years of age, from rural, regional and remote New South Wales. It runs respite care for children with special needs, including a retreat called Eagles' Nest.

Courtesy the State Library of New South Wales.