Townswomen Had An Active Year

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 2

Townswomen Had An Active Year

The year had been a busy one, both in cultural activities for members, and in the assistance given to many welfare projects, the retiring president of the Christchurch Area Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds (Mrs A. Thomson) said in her address to the federation’s annual meeting yesterday.

It had been a privilege to be president of the area federation fer the last two years, Mrs Thomson said. "As I retire, may I express my sincere gratitude to those with whom I have had .the pleasure of working.” She commended guilds for their enthusiastic support of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign. Christchurch area guilds had contributed £6OO to the £1450 given by guilds throughout the Dominion, she said. The project to be supported this year is medical research.

A variety of welfare work was carried out both by guilds, and the federation, during the year, according to the annual report. Fifty-three toys had been made and given to Glenelg

Health Camp; goods were donated for a stall at Langford House, and sewing and knitting done for the Friends of Hospital: Templeton and Sunnyside patients were “adopted” and visited; afternoon teas and entertainments

given for aged people. Donations were made to the Leper Trust, and for medical research. Assistance was also given in selling Health stamps; for street day appeals, collecting donations for Braille week, and packing clothes for C.0.R.5.0. Two stalls were manned at a fete for the Templeton Hospital Chapel appeal, and mannequin parade tickets sold, resulting in £75 being given to the appeal. Big Festival

The Christchurch area federation was contributing a small but active part in the life of the city, said the retiring secretary (Mrs S. Shellock) in the report Highlight of the year had been the Arts and Crafts Festival in April. With ahnost 1000 entries, it was the largest ever staged in the area, she said. Twenty-two guilds, with a total membership of 2111, are at present affiliated to the Christchurch federation. The Thomson silver vase trophy was presented to the Somerfield guild by Mrs Thomson. Donated by Mrs Thomson last year for Interguild competitions, the trophy was awarded this year for the best cotton apron. Phillipstown guild was second, St. Martins third. It was decided the Thomson trophy would be awarded for a driftwood arrangement next year. Gifts and flowers were presented to Mesdames Thomson and Shellock, on their retirement.

The following officers were elected:—President, Mrs P. ’ Allison (Beckenham guild): secretary, Mrs J. Russell (Christchurch North guild); treasurer, Mrs K. Steinmetz (Beckenham guild); executive, Mesdames D. Blick, D.l Guest, J. Johnston, H. Me-1 Dowall, E. Meers, C. Osborne. ■ S. Shellock, A. Terras, A. Wilde.