Winner Cannot Drive

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32344, 9 July 1970, Page 2

Winner Cannot Drive

Mrs Betty Parkin, of Ashburton, who was presented with a car yesterday for winning the “Golden Knitting Needles” contest, cannot drive.

"I am a bit nervous about driving but I hope to learn soon,” said Mrs Parkin. “I brought my husband along to drive it home. We exhibit dogs in shows so we will use our old car for that and keep the new one for ourselves. Mrs Parkin, who works in a chain store in Ashburton, said the contest was the first she had entered. She won both first and second place in the provincial section. Her prize-winning garment, chosen from 1800 entries, in the national contest, is a bueautifully knitted man’s Fan Aran sweater which she made for her blind nephew’s birthday. The sweater was modelled with other knitted garments at the Farmers’ in Christchurch yesterday where the car was presented to Mrs Parkin.

Mrs Parkin has no children and so she knits for her husband, nieces and nephews, and herself. “Knitting is my main hobby

and I just sit down at night and knit” she said.

She has knitted jumpers, dresses, suits and a coat which won the provincial contest.

Mr N. Stanton, of the “New Zealand Woman” magazine, a sponsor of the competition, presented the gold-plated trophy (needles crossed through a ball). He told the gathering

he had been a keen knitter himself for 30 years. The other sponsors were the Wool Board and United Stores.

The car was presented by Mr H. B. Bull, retail manager of the Farmers’. Mrs Parkin (below) is seen sitting at the wheel of her new car.