Semco child's sewing card : Australian Womens Services

Booklet made from four square card sheets stapled together at the top. The front page is titled 'Semco Sewing Cards. Specially prepared for use in Kindergarten Schools in the following series. Australian, Pantomine, Zoological, Fairies and Elves, Australian Womens Services, Service Men.' This example features 'Australian Womens Service'. All pages are illustrated in full lithographed colour. The cover features two uniformed women, labelled AANS (Australian Army Nursing Service) and AAMWS (Australian Army Medical Women's Service). The second page features a WRANS (Women's Royal Australian Navy Service) woman in front of a destroyer; the third, an member of the AWAS (Australian Women's Army Service) in front of a line of tents and the final page, a WAAAF(Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force) woman operating a sight on a tripod. Each image is outlined with a heavy black line interspersed with dots - these are intended to be punched through with a sewing needle as part of the child's activity.

Commercially printed child's sewing cards appear to have developed from about the mid Victorian period and remain a popular means of teaching children - mainly young girls - to sew. These cards were usually sewn using wool or embroidery thread and a large blunt needle. The Semco series appears to have been produced by Semco Pty Ltd in Victoria sometime after late 1942 - the depiction of a member of the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS), which was formed in December 1942, makes this the earliest date of manufacture. A companion military-themed card set depicting Australian Men's Services was produced, and a partial example appears under catalogue reference REL36847.