Aid for Children

Australia & the Spanish Civil War: Activism & Reaction

The plight of children displaced by the war was drew a great deal of Australian sympathy. Estimates ranged from 800,000 to 1,500,000 child refugees. Esme Odgers was born in 1911 in Cessnock, and was 26 years old when she arrived in Spain. She became one of the driving forces of the “Foster Parents Plan,” arranging for Australians, and others across the world, to sponsor Spanish children, whether orphans, or those displaced by the war. The “foster parents” would receive letters from the child they sponsored. Many parents in cities like Madrid, under constant threat of bombing, sent their children away to children's colonies, charitable organisations that would house children orphaned or displaced by the war. Esme Odgers cared for more than 200 children at a time in a children’s colony in Catalonia, safe in the Pyrenees Mountains, away from the front lines and the bombings in the cities, while helping to establish further colonies farther away from the front lines. When Catalonia fell to pro-Franco forces in 1939, she moved more than 350 children across the border to establish another children’s colony in Biarritz, France.

Spanish refugee children were cared for in foster homes and in children's colonies

Spanish refugee children were cared for in foster homes and in children's colonies

A children’s colony circa 1937

A children’s colony circa 1937

A letter from a Spanish refugee child to Australian sponsors

A letter from a Spanish refugee child to Australian sponsors

Esme Odgers and Spanish refugee children

Esme Odgers and Spanish refugee children

Destroyed apartment buildings circa 1937. Many children were sent away from cities to children’s colonies to escape bombings.

Destroyed apartment buildings circa 1937. Many children were sent away from cities to children’s colonies to escape bombings.

Yes, I’ll give a gift to save a Spanish child, donation form from the Spanish Relief Committee, Melbourne

Yes, I’ll give a gift to save a Spanish child, donation form from the Spanish Relief Committee, Melbourne

To enable children who lived in their own homes to benefit from milk and other foods sent into Spain by International Aid, meals were organized in schools and special "children's restaurants."

To enable children who lived in their own homes to benefit from milk and other foods sent into Spain by International Aid, meals were organized in schools and special "children's restaurants."

Spanish refugee children, south of France, circa 1937

Spanish refugee children, south of France, circa 1937

Invitation to a reception hosted by the Spanish Children’s Aid Council and the Spanish Relief Committee to benefit refugee children in Spain

Invitation to a reception hosted by the Spanish Children’s Aid Council and the Spanish Relief Committee to benefit refugee children in Spain

Bilbao following German bombing of the city during the Spanish Civil War.

Bilbao following German bombing of the city during the Spanish Civil War.

Ashes of Franco’s Victory

Ashes of Franco’s Victory