’Hobbies bring health and happiness’

Press, 18 August 1977, Page 12

’Hobbies bring health and happiness’

The thriving state of all major crafts must be encouraged and made available to as wide a circle as possible, the Mayoress (Mrs Judith Hay) said when officially opening the Canterbury Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition on Tuesday evening.

“It is noteworthy that i those citizens who develop interest and skills in what can also be called hobbies, are happier, healthier and more balanced people,” she said. Mrs Hay said that she noted with gratitude the guild’s efforts in extending opportunities for people to learn embroidery. It was giving a service to the community by teaching patient, at Burwood Hospital, working at the Canterbury Sheltered Workshop and by making the altar cloth for the frigate, H.M.N.Z.S. Canterbury. She also commended the guild for mounting a “Try Your Hand” demonstration at the last Canterbury Arts Festival, where members of the public were given the opportunity to begin to learn embroidery. “For a group which grew out of a need for more church embroidery, you have

certainly widened your boundaries.” Mrs Hay said she wondered, if in the years ahead, the guild would develop further into suburban groups by working in community centres where members could become a nucleus of inspiration to an ever widening circle. The guild’s practice of inviting experienced tutors (from overseas countries as well as New Zealand) to teach had obviously opened up new vistas for members. And the guild’s association with the World Craft Council, which will include dollmaking this year in the embroiderers’ exhibition in Japan, opened up further possibilities for members. “You have a strong and vigorous guild. May you continue to progress and become a force in the cultural life of our city,” Mrs Hay said.