New Mayoress is undaunted

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32734, 11 October 1971, Page 6

New Mayoress is undaunted

(By the women's editor)

“I have never found my partially paralysed legs a disadvantage in leading a full and rewarding life—and this disability is not going to prevent me from fulfilling my duties as Mayoress. In fact, I hope it will encourage other physically handicapped persons to participate in community affairs,” Mrs Neville Pickering said yesterday.

Alexia Pickering has learnt to accept her disability and to adjust A woman who runs a home with help only two mornings a week, does all the cooking, washing, and ironing for a husband and four children, and helps tend a beautiful garden from a low, mobile trolley, will cope confidently with the office of Mayoress. She is quick, fit, and extremely agile on her crutches—and she has a deep understanding and love of people. “I’ve been very fortunate,” she said. “My parents encouraged me in every way to be as fully independent as the rest of the family, and to equip me to accept my disability so that I could lead as normal a life as possible in the community. “It was only through my parents* determination that I should be educated that I went to school at all—not many teachers wanted handicapped children in their classes in those days. My husband has given me wonderful support, and we have had a very satisfying family life with our children.” “NEW LOOK"

Mrs Pickering, one feels, will bring a “new look” to the office of Mayoress. She wants to be involved extensively with the people and problems of Christchurch. As the city’s “first lady” she sefes beyond her duties as her husband’s hostess. She would like, during the next three years—“momentous years,” she calls them—to be an unofficial liaison officer between the Christ-

church City Council and women citizens who wish to be better informed about local government and community affairs. "I would like to invite representatives of organisations to the Maypress’s office at regular intervals to help them get to know one another and to explain to them more about decisions the council has made,” she said. “This would be one way of keeping women, who seldom have time to read all the details of council work, in touch with what is happening in their city.” Mrs Pickering hopes that women’s organisations, which are in the habit of inviting

the Mayoress to their functions, will not feel diffident about inviting her because of any architectural barriers at their meeting-places. "I shall be happy to attend and attempt any steps or stairs up to the platform,” she said with a smile. CITY’S CHARACTER Bom in Wellington, and brought up mainly in Taranaki, Mrs Pickering feels that Christchurch has a special character. “I shall do my best to see that thisHdentity is retained, and is a credit to the citizens of Christchurch when we receive overseas visitors. And there will be a great many visitors for the Commonwealth Games,” she said. As convener of the architectural barriers committee of the Co-ordinating Council for the Handicapped, the new Mayoress has been largely responsible for bringing out a guide book for the disabled which shows easy access to

200 buildings in Christchurch. When working on this book, the lack of access facilities became all too clear to her. “I shall do my best to see that Christchurch becomes as free as possible from any of these barriers for the aged, the handicapped, and women with prams,” she said. Though much is done now to help handicapped persons to do what they want to do, it was not easy to find a career of her choice when “Lexie” Pickering was a girl. She wanted to train as an architect or a commercial artist, but was firmly discouraged. CREATIVE FLAIR But her artistic talents

have not been allowed to lie dormant, which is obvious to anyone who has seen her flower arrangements done without any tuition. Her creative flair has also come out in dress designing and sewing. She makes all her own clothes, but now feels she may only have time to buy them. A physical disability did not prevent the petite, pretty woman with the warm smile from learning to sing. She broadcast regular recitals in Wellington, and later gave two in Christchurch. During the years of bringing up her children, Mrs Pickering has been actively involved in the Plunket Society, the Free Kindergarten movement, the Girls’ Brigade, and in the family’s music and dancing lessons. Mrs Alexia Pickering, as the Mayoress and a woman, will give new hope and courage to the physically handicapped of Christchurch, and to all its citizens.