Nine days after war was declared in 1914, the Australian Branch of the British Red Cross was formed by Lady Helen Munro Ferguson, wife of the Australian Governor-General.
During the first World War Australian Red Cross despatched 396,000 food parcels and 36,000 clothing parcels to troops overseas and provided nursing and domestic services in hospitals and convalescent homes in Australia and Britain. The Australian branch also shared information with overseas Red Cross agencies about wounded and missing soldiers to help families receive news of their loved ones.
Much of their work was done by volunteers keen to support the war effort.
Sir Arthur Robinson, founder of Allens antecedent firm Arthur Robinson & Co, and his wife, Annie, became involved with Australian Red Cross soon after its formation. In the organisation's first year, Sir Arthur sat on the Victorian Divisional Committee and, in 1916, he became chairman of the Amelioration Committee, responsible for providing support to returned service personnel. When Australian Red Cross sought to become an independent national organisation in 1939, Arthur Robinson & Co prepared the organisation's new charter. In January 1940, Australian Red Cross chairman, Victor Hurley, wrote to the firm to express his appreciation for the pro bono support – however as the 'work on the charter was above and beyond' he instructed Arthur Robinson & Co to 'send the bill!'
On 9 July 1941 Sir Arthur was pleased to advise Australian Red Cross that 'the grant of a Charter of Incorporation has been approved by His Majesty the King'.
The firm continues to support Australian Red Cross. It has advised on a range of matters including the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s, when several patients were infected by HIV and hepatitis C through blood transfusions, despite the Australian Red Cross blood donation system being at the forefront of world safety standards. Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks represented Australian Red Cross in legal proceedings brought by infected patients.
Recently the firm has been helping Australian Red Cross aid workers understand the various legal systems in the countries where they provide assistance. Where property ownership operates on informal arrangements, assisting the aid workers to identify property rights facilitates the rebuilding process and hastens the recovery.
Voluntary Aid Detachments, Sydney and Randwick Military Hospital. Collection of Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.
Nurse accepting a donation from a swaggy, 1915. Collection of Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.
Australian Red Cross delivery. Collection of Australian Red Cross.
Australian Red Cross cakes, 1918. Collection of Australian Red Cross.