“QUEEN OF THE AIR RACE”

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27151, 22 September 1953, Page 10

“QUEEN OF THE AIR RACE”

FIVE CANTERBURY FINALISTS MISS P. LIVINGSTON SELECTED Excited nurses from Burwood Hospitai clapped and cheered last evening t when they learned that the girl whom v they had sponsored will represent Can- r terbury in the national final of v the “Queen of the Air Race” contest f organised by the Canterbury International Air” Race Council. The pro- c vincial finalist is Miss Patricia Living- f ston, who was sponsored by 21 of her < nursing colleagues. She is a nurse ' in the plastic surgery unit at the hos- : pital. Five girls appeared on the stage of the Majestic Theatre last evening to I hear the decision of the judges, who J were Mrs M. Chambers, lady superintendent at the Christchurch Public j Hospital, Miss C. E. Robinson, of the < Christchurch Vocational Guidance 1 Centre, and Mr E. Mullane, cabin ser- ‘ vices manager for Tasman Empire Air- ] ways, which has offered the winner of the contest a position as an air hostess, i Each girl was in evening dress and 1 carried a card in the shape of an aero- j plane, which had printed on it her j title for the evening. < Miss Livingston won the title of 1 “Miss Christchurch” last week. “Miss Ashburton” was Miss June Crafts, a ] 23-year-old nurse sponsored by the , Ashburton Rotary Club. A school den- ] tai nurse, Miss Diana Newton, aged ! 22, who was sponsored by the Akaroa Sports Queen Carnival Committee, was “Miss Akaroa,” and the Waimate Borough Council’s candidate, Miss j Hazel Rapley, aged 22, who was the ] fourth nurse, was “Miss Waimate,” and 1 Miss Helen Thyne, a milk bar manageress, aged 21, was “Miss Kaiapoi.” She was sponsored by the Kaiapoi Borough Council, the Kaiapoi Brass Band, and the Kaiapoi Rugby Football Club. Each girl was introduced to the theatre audience by Mr C. H. Cook, of ' 3ZB, who presented them with cosmetic sets after they had spoken about themselves and their interests. The audience learned that Miss Crafts had appeared before the judges only one and a half hours before as she had completed her training and graduated yesterday afternoon at the Ashburton Hospital. Mr H. D. Christie, president of the Air Race Council, announced the judges’ decision. He explained the purpose of the contest, and said that the council was very grateful for the support Christchurch had given tite project. After the air race, which would finish on October 10, Christchurch would be remembered for many years to come as one of the greatest aviation centres in the world. “The standard of the entrants in the provincial final is very high,” said Mr Christie. “I think that Miss Canterbury will take a lot of beating.” Miss Livingstoft was then presented to the audience. She thanked the girls * who had sponsored her, some of whom ! were in the theatre. “It was quite a ; gruelling effort facing the judges, but ’ it has been well worth while,” she ’ said.

From her nursing friends both on and off duty Miss Livingston received a gift of flowers. She was also presented with a bouquet from the Air Race Council.

Seven provincial candidates have now been selected for the final judging in Christchurch on October 8. They are Miss Livingston (Canterbury), Miss Merle Miller (Wellington), Miss Rosemary Dempsey (Taranaki), Miss Anne Loughnan (Hawke’s Bay), Miss Audrey Marris (Nelson), Miss Barbara Hinton (Waikato), and Miss Shirley Cutler (Marlborough). Auckland’s metropolitan candidate was selected yesterday. She is Miss Patricia Boswell, a 23-year-old hospital theatre sister, and will represent Auckland in the provincial judging on September 29. The Otago and Southland provincial finalists will be selected later this month.