During the war era, YMCA played an important role in caring for the troops - both prior to departure, and on the battlefields. YMCA staff serviced the digger's needs for recreation, postal services, and small comforts from home.
YMCA‘s social and recreational presence has been recorded in history books as one of great significance. In April 1914, at Blackboy Hill in West Australia, YMCA opened the first of many YMCA social centres for soldiers.
This was just prior to the declaration of World War 1 in August 1914. Upon declaration, YMCA then set up social centres at military camps within Australia. Eventually, these were present at every camp in every country where servicemen and women were stationed.
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