We need their friendship: 80 million Indonesians (Tribune, 12 Mei 1954)

=== [PDF page 1] === Tribune (Sydney, NSW: 1939 - 1991), Wednesday 12 May 1954, page 11 Indonesians: 80 million Women'sMovement. I thought in I was-going just to the country a women'sconference, but once I felt I had been invited by the whole Indonesian people." iirRS. the league ALLISON DICKTE, wife Of of women "more Gerwis, the from awake," arose politically Rev. A. Dickie, Melbourne. the for this luncheon struggle and said national war independence. had done much 100 gathered hear where women help hundreds of thousands last the literate. her Sydney Wednesday become women Trade Union Club. From Gerwis has developed Gerwani the delegate sent (Indonesian Mrs Dickiewas Women's Movement) the lead the Union AustralianWomen helps to which the into struggle. Gerwani National Congress women action and For an Australianrepresentative co-operates with the other women's the Indonesian issues, people have organisations on many special warmth, Mrs. Dickie said. particularly on questions the arriving at the airport concerning and children. women thing the first for she saw among sat six big days The Congress the for struggle crowd her banner discussing meet was women's the Inscribed rights "Sydney and defence of Strike, Wharfies* the the findings Indonesian-Australian the symbol solidarity and peace." meetings and gatherings and travelled stations, forward through the mentake the crowded and me. them The many of women hand children pressed or embrace and the smaller. Holland and also attended. War roused the all Delegates SovietUnion women and peace. women heroism Japanese The Congress,Mrs. Dickie delegates was composed the from from relation railway been battle for the and 'Australia'." Java, needs the countryside, only English word had was Sumatra, of Women World Congress Indonesian the explained, some and jailed struggle for Indonesia's against national the independence. President had Gerwani's for seven months by for Japanese "crime" committed not by herself but by her sister. Many others had been and out of prison. losses "Their have she said, "Millions for were the taken been terrible," of young women the Japanese the army. use of They not heard were the loss, various Women's organisations felt "Another severe acutely that the lack trained have developed during today young Indonesia's said, history, she National Library of Australia 'again. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212474303 === [PDF page 2] === Tribune (Sydney, NSW: 1939 - 1991), Wednesday 12 May 1954, page 11 (2) people, is due thousands butchery of the Japanese students. work for students Patriotic the "And students sacrificing literally their country. are lives and there schools what than work more the run students oig city they are shift. one for the one school, and being put into be held next first the hard elections June when time every citizen over Indonesian 18 will vote and Parliament and Government be properly elected. unceasinglyMrs, Dickie others, message I have Theyto work teach learn today their interest "Tremendous Congress people friendship and give the and one "The concluded: their from the Indonesian the deep warmest desire for withoutpay, for 230 children who peace. would otherwise have no education "They are our nearest neighbors at all." there are 80 millionof them. —and Illiteracy reduced and our friendship already They deserve has been theirs." from over 90 per cent we need between 45 and 50 per cent, Mrs. Dickiesaid. She visited many factories, Mrs. later told Dickie Tribune reporter two only were at all modern. Indonesia peasant mainly a industry country and what little there almost factories, "The all semihandicraft. some with 50 or terrible places, w workers, were they fires with open where were the needed for work, dim, no shockingly amenities, ventilated that even in oppressive climate. the But even worst factories the took workers few moments off to give us a warm welcome, the girls to give us flowr®-, .The representative union lake short they aow are speech fighting say for better for wagesand tofortellequal pay women and ask Australian But struggles." spite the the mass of the from tremendously are since they own affairs, be better. the people their the conditions, bad situation, housing poverty of the Indonesian people, the the that, "There support acute extreme people their for workers their confident now things real feeling air. It's have manage will rapidly dropped freedom though load shoulders. National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212474303 === [PDF page 3] === Tribune (Sydney, NSW: 1939 - 1991), Wednesday 12 May 1954, page 11 (3) INDONESIAN PEOPLE carrying a banner Indonesian-Australian inscribed Wharfies' strike symbol and peace" greet Mrs. Allison Dickie (left Sourabaya National Library of Australia "Sydney solidarity background) at airport. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212474303