‘Muscle’ women needed for Pan-Pacific Assn

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 16

‘Muscle’ women needed for Pan-Pacific Assn

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TUI THOMAS

Wanted urgently: Youthful middle-aged women, mature in outlook and experienced in organising to supply the “muscle” for ageing members of a dedicated voluntary association founded 50 years ago. Prospects for advancement excellent. The call comes from Mrs Violet Fairweather of Christchurch, the national president of the NewZealand branch of the Pan-Pacific and South-East Asia Women’s Association, who returned recently from the organisation’s golden jubilee conference in Apia, Western Samoa. P.P.S.E.A.W.A. in New Zealand has been overtaken by the women’s movement, which appeals to younger women who have a wide varietv of interests today, she "said. It is not the only older association that is suffering from a lack of young members needed to prepare for taking over leadership to give long-stand-ing officers a well-earned rest from responsibility. Mrs Fairweather has been a tower of strength to the organisation, which promotes understanding through knowledge of member countries’ cultures and needs, during the 36 years she has been a member. Now 80, she led the New Zealand delegation of 28 to the Apia conference, which was attended by about 250 women from 11 countries round the Pacific rim. She was heartened to see a good sprinkling of younger mature women at the conference in many of the delegations, particularly from Pacific Island groups. And she sees no reason why the New Zea-

land branch, made up of area groups, should not attract more new members who are interested in promoting co-operation, better living conditions, improved communications, and a reduction of pollution in neighbouring countries. Mrs Fairweather believes that the association, which has consultative status with the United Nations, could be a most effective liason between U.N. agencies and the public. “P.P.S.E.A.W.A. is definitely not dying out in New Zealand,” she emphasised, “but it is certainly at the cross-

roads. The area groups within our branch have been doing fine work in small ways, such as providing hospitality and sponsoring visitors from the Pacific region, giving scholarships, clothing or books — whatever is needed in a specific locality. But we need more physically fit women to carry on.” The organisation has now launched its first national project which will more than likely concentrate on the welfare of women and children in the Pacific. The national president sees P.P.S.E.A.W.A. as a down-to-earth organisation that reaches out to people. “This is where our strength lies and where it should be extended.” But, she added, all efforts to help Pacific countries should be made

“more obvious,” though care had to be taken on how help was given so that the dignity of receivers was not offended. The conference at Apia was notable for its success at the people-‘> people level. “Though there is strong nationalism among Pacific Islanders. I am convinced that all the women at the conference came closer to each other,” she said. “There was a wonderful atmosphere of communal warmth and of welcome that was quite outstanding at the Apia meeting.” Communication was good in conference sessions, but it broke down

at social gatherings among delegates from such a wide variety of nations, including the United States, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and many Pacific Islands, Mrs Fairweather said. “We had to use words in their exact meaning when talking to delegates not familiar with idiomatic English,” she said. A Western Samoan woman, for instance, was completely puzzled when someone mentioned the term “nuclear family.” It had to be explained to her that the nuclear family was opposite in sense to the extended family, comprising only the father, mother and children.

Women from the Pacific Islands have a sisterly understanding between themselves and adapt to each other’s customs very quickly: Australian and New Zealand women also have a good rapport with them. Delegates always study a host country before attending an international P.P.S.E.A.W.A. conference to try to understand the culture there and how the people think, she said. “And we do our best to conform with local customs.” In Apia they noticed that people sat on the floor with their feet tucked under them at ceremonial occasions. The visitors who were not comfortable in this position had to sit with the legs outstretched. Their feet were quietly covered with mats by local women. Mrs Fairweather does not know why this custom was observed so rigidly but it emphasised she said, the need for getting to know each other’s ways however small when trying to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Pacific and SouthEast Asian women.