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Queensland Soldiers' Comforts Fund, a working subdivision of the Australian Comforts Fund, was established during World War I. The purpose of the Fund was to provide comforts to soldiers on active service. This was achieved via appeals for donations, public subscriptions, and organising fundraising activities. Numerous branches of the Queensland Soldiers' Comforts Fund were spread throughout Queensland, Australia during this period. One of the committee's first activities was to appeal for public donations of various items that could be dispatched to soldiers overseas in time for Christmas. Accepted items included shirts, undershirts with short sleeves, mufflers, balaclava caps, handkerchiefs, writing pads, envelopes, pencils, pipes, tobacco, cigarettes, bootlaces, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, Vaseline, sweets, coffee, games, books and magazines.[2][3] By the end of World War I, the Queensland Soldiers' Comfort Fund declared that since October 1915 they had packed and shipped 5,010 cases to soldiers overseas, which included 17,324 shirts and 37,983 pairs of socks. Queensland Soldiers' Comfort Fund oversaw several fundraising operations: The Coo-ee Cafe was a volunteer-run cafe, War-time Kitchen operated by volunteers, Jam Shop, Refreshment stall at the Brisbane Exhibition selling sandwiches, fruit and soft drinks with proceeds going toward the Fund. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Soldiers%27_Comforts_Fund

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Some interesting facts: Tennis arrived in Australia in the 1870’s and soon became a popular social game. Courts began springing up across the country from the big cities to the countryside. Originally partaken by women in Europe it was immediately popular with both sexes in Australia. And since 1900 Australian players have been ranked as some of the best on the world scene. From the early days tennis was instantly popular with women although there was no financial support to help with overseas travel to attend tournaments. However, with the aid of fundraising, Daphne Akhurst made the finals of Wimbledon in 1928. Ten years later, Nancy Bolton was the first Australian woman to play in a USA Championship final. In 1963 and 1964, Lesley Bowery won the French Open Singles titles being the first Australian woman to do so. And in 1961 and 1967 she also won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon. Source: www.chatswoodtennis.com.au/the-history-of-australian-tennis/