Sunshine Clubs once raised the ire of the Japanese army who suspected sensitive information was being passed to the allied troops.
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Far from being a spy operation, the clubs started in the Hunter Valley during World War II to help keep the morale of troops high – with knitted socks and scarves.
The Dungog group broke away from the others in 1967 and is now the only Sunshine Club still operating.
These days the members raise money for local community groups – Guides, Camp Quality, Lara Aged Care, Heart Foundation and Westpac Rescue Helicopter to name a few. The group holds two street stalls a year as well as a games morning an an annual winter luncheon. Students from Dungog High School help with the luncheon by waiting on the tables and helping with the set up and clean up.