FARMER'S WIFE HOLDS EXECUTIVE POST

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 18

FARMER'S WIFE HOLDS EXECUTIVE POST

The Timaru Ploughing Match Association, which is running tomorrow's national ploughing final in conjunction with the New Zealand Ploughing Association, is unique in having a woman, Mrs J. D. McPhedran, as its secretary. Mrs McPhedran does not know of any other woman ploughing association secretary in the country.

Her interest in ploughing is readily understandable. Her husband, who farms 560 acres of dowrjlands at Taiko, was a successful match ploughman and is now a judge. He is also a committeeman of the Timaru Ploughing Match Association. One of her two sons, 24-year-old Barry, also has ploughing in his blood and has ploughed in all the national finals except that at Lincoln in 1957. He will be ploughing again tomorrow having qualified this year at Papakaio. After the war when ploughing matches were at a low ebb Mrs McPhedran could see that the local association was in need Of a helping hand and she offered her services. She is now in her fourth year as secretary and has found the experience interesting and enjoyable, and has been appreciative of the understanding way in which her male colleagues have accepted her and worked with her.

This may, however, be Mrs McPhedran’s last year in office. She has other interests and finds that her ploughing work restricts other activities in the winter. Her main interest outside her home is in drama. Seven or eight years ago she was in the winning team in a country drama festival held

under Women’s Institute auspices at Pleasant Point. She is now a member of a drama group in Timaru, the Phoenix Players. Mrs McPhedran is also interested in floral work and for four years she was president of the South Canterbury federation of Country Women’s Institutes.

A few years ago another woman played a leading role in Timaru ploughing matches. She was the wife of a former secretary, the late Mr E. Cartwright Mrs Cartwright used to take entries, compile the programme and officiate in the official tent on ploughing match day.