LETTER OF APPRECIATION

At the unveiling of the Soldiers’ memorial in Warragul last week, everyone looked forward to the pleasure of seeing Lady Forster - wife of his Excellency the Governor General - whose many and varied charitable activities in and around Melbourne are well known. Sometimes zeal and self sacrifice prove too much for human endurance and unfortunately this was the case last week, when her Ladyship was unable to participate in the motor journey to Warragul and Sale with her husband.

A beautiful bouquet had been fashioned from autumn flowers by Mrs J. Cromie, for presentation to her Excellency, and at the instance of Mr. John Clayton (President of the Fathers’ Association), that gentlemen undertook to see that this token of addiction and admiration of her womanly qualities, by the people of Warragul and district, was conveyed to Lady Forster at Government House. Mr G.K. Prime, secretary to the committee, has now received the following autograph letter from her Excellency expressing her appreciation for the gift:Government House,

Melbourne,

April 10, 1922

“Dear Sir.I must send a few lines of very grateful respect for your kind thoughtfulness in sending on to me the beautiful bouquet of flowers which you so kindly prepared for me on Monday afternoon.

I cannot say how sorry I was at not being able to come with his Excellency the Governor-General at the unveiling of the Warragul war memorial; but unfortunately I had rather a bad headache and did not feel equal to the long drive in a motor on the two days - having had a very tiring time lately for different reasons, with many engagements here.

I only hope my not coming at the last minute did not upset your arrangements in any way.

Please convey to all your committee my warmest thanks and appreciation of their kind thought and sympathy, and my sincere regret that I could not take part in your interesting and touching ceremony.

Yours faithfully,

RACHEL C FORSTER.