Royal Far West: Manly-based charity celebrates century of care for bush kids

A charity based in a beachside Sydney suburb has been looking after the health of tens of thousands of youngsters from the bush for 100 years – and it’s still going strong. See the retro images.

The Royal Far West children's charity at Manly, celebrates its 100th anniversary on Friday.

One of the state’s — and the northern beaches’ — most beloved charities is celebrating 100 years of looking after the health and wellbeing of country children.

Royal Far West, with its headquarters on the Manly beachfront, has provided developmental, mental health and disability support to more than 190,000 children from rural and remote areas since it opened its doors on December 6, 1924.

Founded originally as the Far West Children’s Health Scheme, RFW still prides itself on filling the health services gaps for children aged up to 12, across rural NSW as well as parts of Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.

The Royal Far West children's charity at Manly, celebrated its 100th anniversary on December 6.

Thanks to the charity, children in these areas, who could otherwise face long waiting times to see a rural healthcare professional, have access to a wide range of assessment and therapy services.

Either through visits to its Centre for Country Kids in Manly, or via telehealth on the internet, children have access to the expertise of 130 clinicians, including paediatricians, psychologists, speech pathologists, pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, nurses, dietitians and orthoptists.

Country children who attended the early days of what was then called the Far West Children's Scheme, have fun at Manly Beach during a respite holiday camp.

It also supports parents and carers as well as linking with schools and early childhood centres in the bush to help improve outcomes for children who use RFW.

The Reverend Stanley Drummond, the founder, at the opening of the Far West Children’s Health Scheme in 1924.

An early sign for the Far West Children’s Health Scheme.

The charity was formed when Reverend Stanley Drummond, a Cobar Methodist minister, was recuperating on Manly Beach and had an idea to bring children from remote areas to the beach for respite at holiday camps.

Children were nominated by local doctors, teachers, nurses, clergy and police to come to the beach for respite.

Royal Far West now helps children from across four states.

Rev Drummond called it the Far West Children’s Health Scheme.

During one of the camps in 1926, Dr George Moncrieff Barron offered free medical support for the children, beginning the evolution of the holiday camps into the healthcare services that are still the foundation of RFW.

Royal Far West kids, with the centre in the background, entering the surf at Manly in February, 1977. Picture: Manly Daily

Queen Elizabeth visiting the Royal Far West children's home at Manly in May 1970. She received a bouquet of flowers from Christine Healey, from Balladoran.

Kids in remote areas signing in with speech therapist Lydia Ling at Royal Far West. Picture: Annika Enderborg

Its chief executive, Jacqueline Emery, who celebrated with hundreds of staff, volunteers and supports at a special ceremony on Manly Beach on Thursday, said RFW had always been a “beacon of hope in the bush”.

“We go where the gaps are to ensure that every child has access to high-quality healthcare and support, regardless of where they live,’’ she said.

A nurse with Batemans Bay boy Owen, who had Perthes Disease, and was the first Royal Far West child to wear a newly developed "Toronto" splint.

“From our humble beginnings, we’ve transformed into a specialist child development service, utilising innovative services and technology, to bridge the gap and bring essential health services to children in remote areas.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park praised RFW for its 100 years of work for children and families in regional communities.

The Royal Far West children's charity at Manly, celebrates its 100th anniversary with countless fine memories.

Disability services manager Fiona Phipps with Darcy Nunan, the first child in Royal Far West's "Windmill" Disability Program in 2015. He is using sign language for the first time and he is saying "I hear". Picture: Michael Mannington

A girl receives treatment.

“Their unwavering commitment and impact are nothing short of extraordinary,” Mr Park said. “Reaching this milestone is a remarkable achievement and I offer my sincere congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this incredible journey.”

Staff and volunteers from the Royal Far West children's charity at Manly celebrate its 100th anniversary – December 6, 2024 – on Manly Beach

A section of the crowd of hundreds of people who were at Manly Beach on Thursday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Royal Far West children's charity.

Royal Far West, Manly in 2005.

Key achievements include:

● Recruiting ‘the Angel of the Outback’, aviator Nancy Bird Walton to fly RFW’s clinic sisters to remote outstations in 1935.

● Setting up a polio hospital in Manly in 1945.

● Pioneering a telehealth service in 2013 to offer speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychology services to country children’s homes and schools.

● Converting its guesthouse, Drummond House, for visiting children and families to a safe house for women and children escaping domestic violence.

● Partnering with UNICEF Australia to set up the Community Recovery Service to support children, families and communities affected by large natural disasters like the “Black Summer” bushfires.

To help support, and learn more about, Royal Far West, click here.