Enthusiasm Gauge Of Groups’ Success

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 2

Enthusiasm Gauge Of Groups’ Success

The enthusiasm of Young Wives to take part in both Group and Diocesan programmes showed that the movement was fulfilling a need in society today, said the Diocesan chairman of Young Wives Groups (Mrs H. J. Eaton) at the annual meeting on Thursday evening. The 150 members who attended the meeting, held in St Barnabas’ Church hall, Fendritou, included representatives from most Christchurch groups, and from Ashburton, Banks Peninsula, Hororata, Timaru and Waikari. A shoulder spray was presented to Mrs A. K. Warren, who was also welcomed.

There were now 60 groups, with a total membership of 2365, said Mrs Eaton in her annual report There had been 523 new members during the year. Numbers were slightly down on last year’s figures, as one group had decided to become an evening Mother’s Union, and two others had become women’s fellowships, which had seemed to cater better for their small country parishes.

For the first time for many years there was a Young Wives’ Group in South Westland, at Whataroa.

Report forms had showed that groups' programmes had had a wider range of topics, ineluding many current social issues: many groups had given assistance to the aged, lonely persons, and to children in hospitals and homes, said Mrs Eaton.

Mrs W. A. Pierre, the Diocesan president of the Mothers’ Union, spoke on Mothers Union work overseas.

She described conditions in which many Melanesian and Polynesian families were living, and told the meeting of steps being taken by the Mothers’ Union to help these people who had so little except a real and vital faith in God.

Two plays were presented during the evening, by the Shirley and Avonhead Young Wives’ drama groups. The following officers were elected:—Chairman, Mrs Barbara Eaton: secretary, Mrs Beverley Evens; vice-chair-men, Mesdames Margaret Ferner, Joyce Manning; committee, Mesdames May Carrell, Shirley Close, Gwen Harris, Margaret Stott, Joan Whale, Joyce Blaikie, Judith Hughes, Elizabeth Tipping, Margaret Wyatt