Display Of Work At Girls’ Training Centre

Press, Volume C, Issue 29674, 18 November 1961, Page 2

Display Of Work At Girls’ Training Centre

Homecraft and handcraft are only part of the “prescription” in helping emotionally disturbed girls settle down to a more secure pattern of living at the Girls’ Training Centre, Burwood. But a display of handwork, such as the clothes the girls have made for themselves and the gifts they have made for others, is one of the visible indications of what is done under the guidance of a team of women with the welfare of their trainees at heart.

More important, handcraft Ist a practical way of preparing the girls to take their place in the community again, with confidence in their own ability, when they return home from the centre. Last evening the girls showed the handwork they had done, in classes and in leisure time round winter fires, to their relatives and friends. They entertained their guests at a concert and acted as hostesses later at supper in their various houses. This evening their guests will be church and welfare groups and other friends of the centre. In the display of sewing were beautifully made frocks, housecoats, underwear, scuffs and toilet bags a teen-age girl takes pleasure in making. Many had been made wirti the fine arttention to detail given to a trousseau. Home Wardrobe The materials are supplied by the centre and given to the girls to make up for themselves. The clothes form the nucleus of a wardrobe to take home when the trainees leave the centre. Some of the girls had made children’s garments—Christmas gifts for a niece, a nephew or a godchild. In the display of all kinds of •oft toys many bad been fashioned with a special child in vierw.

The toys were also made from toe centre's own materials and will be bought back by the girls, who made them, for a small charge. Proceeds from sales will go to a fund for buying more fabrics for use next year. Pottery miss bowls, ashtrays. troughs and wall vases as well as many types of em-r-oidery were also shown. Gaily painted posters done in art classes decorated the walls. One wbich caught the eve reed: •’This Christmas We Will Help Others.”

The exhibition was competKive and was judged in sections. Points were awarded to individual entries and the house which won most points was awarded a picture. This year Keller House won. Individual awards were made In the art section. and to the girl with the highest aggregate o£ points in handwork. Members of the girls’ council conducted guesrs round the display. Others helped prepare supper and serve it. Colourful Maori action songs in traditional dress were a feature of this year’s concert prograffn-me. Other

items included numbers by a guitar band, songs, two plays, ballets and singing by the combined choirs. Miss I. Pedder. actingprincipal of the centre, welcomed toe visitors and the chairman of the girls' council thanked the guests for attending. All staff members were given floral sprays made by the girls and presented with short speeches of appreciation.