THE WRITERS' CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 238, 9 October 1933, Page 11

THE WRITERS' CLUB.

At the lust meeting of the Writers' Club, the guest of honour, Dr. Buckley Turkington, gave an interesting address on women's work in Australia. After a brief review of the work of such women as Katherine Chisholm and Mary Scott, who had done so much for women in early times, the speaker passed on to a discussion of present-day women. In this sphere, she made particular mention of tho excellent work which women nurses and medical missionaries were doing in tho back country. Many of these women drive tremendous distances over desert country to attend to their patients, and 1 even fly some hundreds of miles in cases of great necessity. In this connection, the speaker also paid tribute to the women who lived in these outlying districts, and along the transcontinental railway, and in spite of almost intolerable conditions, made- life amazingly comfortable for those who depended on them. The speaker next referred to the excellent work which Australian women writers were doing. In this connection, "Singing Gold," "A House is Built," and G. B. Lancaster's "Pageant" were cited as providing an excellent picture of Australia, as well as a historical record of no small value. Mary Gilmore's poetry was considered to come nearer to the indefinable spirit of Australia, which young as it was, had its- own atmosphere, than the works of any other writer. At the conclusion of the. address, an animated discussion took place. A number of Australian women, including the president of the Australian Women's Club, were present, and helped to give a picture of life in the different parts of Australia. The president, Mrs. Cluett, presented the speaker with a bouquet of stocks and ixias, on behalf of the club membern, who accorded her a hearty vote of thanks for her interesting address.