In 1918 World War 1 veterans were returning home injured and unable to work. There were no welfare payments at the time for these injuries, so families struggled with poverty, sickness, disability and unemployment with no formal support from government. This was one of the reasons why the Returned and Servicemen's League (RSL) was formed to provide support to returned veterans.
Daily Swim for Serviceman at the 103rd Aust General Hospital 1944 The Argus State Library of Victoria image