List compiled by Lenore Frost

The State Library of Victoria holds a copy of the Seventh Annual Report of the Melbourne Ladies' Benevolent Society, for the year ending 14th August 1852.

The report states that the Society was established in Melbourne in August 1845.  The objects of the Society were to relieve the wants of the poor, particularly female, by supplying them with clothes, food and necessaries, and primary attention was to be given to the sick and to poor women in their confinements.

The following persons were the principal persons in receipt of assistance, and in addition there were twelve others, unnamed, who received assistance:

Mrs THOMPSON, an aged widow, mentioned in former reports, has received throughout the year 7s 0d per week, amounting to £18 4s.

Mrs WEEKLY, a widow with five children, left perfectly destitute by the sudden death of her husband, has received 5s per week during the year, besides special relief, amounting in all to £13. 10s.

Mrs SHEPHERD, a widow with two infant children endeavours to maintain herself by washing when her health permits. Up to the 30th march she received 3s 6d a week; but since that period, in consequence of her rent being raised, has received 4s 6d per week, with special aid for medicines, etc, amounting to £11.14.10d.

Mrs HAIMES, whose case is noticed in last year's report, received 5s a week up to the month of March, amounting to £9.2.6d.  When, her husband having partially recovered from his infirmity, obtained employment, further aid was withdrawn.

Mrs STEVENS, an elderly person, in very delicate health, has received 3s a week, in all £8.8s, until relieved by her son, who has undertaken her further support.

Mrs WILLIS, a widow, a great sufferer from rheumatism, earns a little money by needlework, and has received 6s a week towards the payment of her rent.  She is still upon the funds of the Society and has received during the year £7.10s.

George BLENHEIM [rendered as BETHEL in the accounts], an old soldier, aged sixty-eight, who lost his arm by a gunshot wound at a station in the interior, and who being completely destitute and friendless, had been sleeping on the wharf, or under any shelter, was allowed groceries and money to the amount of £4.14s until he was admitted in December last, at the instance of the Society, unto the Benevolent Asylum.

Mrs MCLEOD, in consequence of her husband and two sons having gone to the Ballarat Diggings, had been found in a very destitute and distracted state, for several months received an allowance of 5s a week, but her husband returning, the Society has since been relieved of her maintenance.

Mrs GOOD, the widow of a man who accidentally shot himself on his way to the Gold Fields, was left with an infant and destitute, received 5s a week for thirteen and a half weeks, amounting to £3.7.6d.  Her infant having died, and her health being re-established, the aid was discontinued.