KINDERGARTENS’ NEW PRESIDENT

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 6

KINDERGARTENS’ NEW PRESIDENT

Eighteen years ago Mrs Joan Whale went to a meeting to consider establishing a kindergarten in the Hornby district.

Events at that meeting led to her present position as the newly elected president of the Christchurch Free Kindergarten. It also provided her with the title of a book she plans to write when she decides to step down from committee work. It will be called, "You Are on the Committee,” she said with a laugh. Mrs Whale was elected president of the Christchurch association at the monthly council meeting. The kindergarten movement has been one of her chief interests since that first meeting 18 years ago. Then, to her surprise, she found herself on the committee, a committee which worked solidly for eight years to raise $l2OO towards the Homby kindergarten.

FAMILY MOVED None of her five children—four boys and a girl—went to that kindergarten. Before it was built the family moved to Riccarton. For two years Mrs Whale continued work on the Homby committee, while also serving as president of the Riccarton Mothers’ Club.

Her children went to the Riccarton kindergarten, and Mrs Whale served on the Riccarton local committee for eight years. Although the family has moved again to Fendalton, Mrs Whale is still a member of the Riccarton committee.

Since her early days with the movement, Mrs Whale has become a veteran committee woman. For nine years she has been a council member, serving as chairman of the buildings sub-committee and of the parent education committee. She has been a vice-president of the council

for the last four years. For the last two years Mrs Whale has also been a member of the board of studies for the Kindergarten College. An active woman interested in her community. Mrs Whale trained as a Marriage Guidance Council tutor for schools, and is well known as a public speaker. “Working for children has its own reward,” Mrs Whale said.

She succeeds Mrs A. J. D. Dearsley, who has been the president of the association for the last five years, served on the council for 11 years, and initially worked on the Waimairi kindergarten committee.

At the council meeting Mrs Whale paid tribute to “the wonderful way in which Mrs Dearsley served the movement, and the special grace and dignity which she brought to the office of president.”