influenza

FIAT car - but what model? Read All About It! ... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120847982 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15835398 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221450304 including...

THE FIGHT IN BALMA1N MANY SAD CASES Three Children Left Orphans To cope with the district embracing Balmain and Rozelle, with a densely packed population of over 30,000 people, presents a task which is both pathetic and glorious— pathetic because of the reluctance of volunteers, through fear of contagion, to render help in the stricken homes; glorious because of the unselfish sacrifice of the noble hand of women, known locally as the Balmain-Rozelle Citizens' Vigilance Committee, who do not hesitate to move and work amongst the sufferers, regardless of the risk entailed. NOBLE BAND OF HELPERS These women go right into the homes of the stricken and render aid which is of immense value in saving life. Where the whole of the family is laid helpless, the homes are cleaned, children and patients bathed and made as comfortable as possible. Food is prepared at the local town hall and supplied to the patients. Very often it has to be carried considerable distances, because of the lack of a suitable conveyance. "OH, "OH, FOR A MOTOR CAR!" "If we could only get someone to give us the use oi a motor car or cycle for a few hours dally." said Mrs. Harrod, hon. secretary to the Rozelle Red Cross, and a member of the committee, yesterday, "It would be a God-send indeed." ... ...

The Sun,Sydney, 6/4/1919, before this photo.

GoogleMapsStreetView - goo.gl/maps/MG6tV2HVCCQ2 Balmain Town Hall in the background - I think this is the alleyway.

Could be Fiat model 52B 1918 ?

Andy Brill Could well be! It reminds me of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ...

Is it just an illusion or do the two front tyres not match each other at all?

Ouch!!

SNAP! From State Library NSW, who say April 1919 - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=179268 (found via Google Image search)

This exact photo was used in an article in The Mirror Sunday 13/4/1919 p.8 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/136733822 - Read All About It! "S.O.S. MOTOR CYCLES READY TO START IN FIGHTING THE INFLUENZA PEST A number of motor cycles with side-cars, which are used for various work in the task of fighting the influenza epidemic, lined up outside the headquarters of the Administrative Committee, Education Department offices, ready to start on their errand of mercy. They all have the sign S.O.S. plainly marked on them. ... " Thank you again, Trove! National Library of Australia

I tell a lie! It's not quite the same photo - spot the differences!

Background info on the 1918 'flu pandemic en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic

GoogleMapsStreetView - goo.gl/maps/YTJBd - an excellent 'now'.