The Australian Women's Register

One of the most interesting experiments in Australia of recent years, in meeting the wide need for organized recreation of the younger girls in Industry, has been the overwhelming response to the City Girls’ Amateur Sports Association in Sydney,’ wrote Margaret Thorp, co-founder and president of the association.

A self governing body of working young women, the idea of the CGASA was conceived of in 1918, when the female employees of six city businesses attempted to hold an Inter Firm Sports Meeting. A short time later, several of the local physical culture clubs joined to entertain a visiting American Physical Culturalist. ‘From these enthusiastic gatherings, representing so many groups of city girls,’ continued Margaret Thorp, ‘ it was borne in upon the committee, that the girls of Sydney were only waiting for a Sports Association to be formed.’

So Margaret Thorp and Eleanor Hinder drew upon their experience and resources as welfare officers employed by Anthony Horden and Farmer’s department stores (respectively) to establish the CGASA. ‘Through the formation of an independent organization for girls working in any factory, store, office or in domestic employment,’ wrote Thorp, ‘all could participate in team games and competition matches, and a community code of health and comradeship be realized, with a high standard of sport and service, enriching and re-creating the life of the City girl.’

The CGASA began with twelve affiliated business house clubs. Year by year it doubled its affiliations. In 1923 there were fifty-three affiliated clubs, touching large and small business and manufacturing houses where hundreds of girls were employed.

Each affiliated club paid an annual affiliation fee of 10/-, each member paid 2/- for her yearly membership badge. The cost of running the competitions was kept to a minimum as dances and fetes were organised throughout the year to raise funds.