Making if happen Townswomen’s Federation celebrates jubilee

Press, 3 June 1982, Page 12

Making if happen Townswomen’s Federation celebrates jubilee

Guilds’ Jubilee The Dominion Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds of New Zealand is celebrating its fiftieth jubilee this month. Some eight thousand members in seventy-three guilds will be celebrating the event in various ways. ■Started in 1932 by Miss Jerome Spencer, 0.8,E., a teacher and former suffragette from England, the Townswomen's Guilds were patterned on similar organisations in England. The guild, formed by Miss Spencer in Napier immediately following the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, was the first established outside Britain. '' Townswomen’s Guilds have been established only in Britain and New Zealand.

Miss Spencer, who later became principal of Napier Girls’ High School, had, also started the Country Women’s Institute in New Zealand. She saw the Townswomen’s Guild as providing a similar way in which urban women could meet for mutual help, selfeducation, and involvement in the betterment of society. Thus the guilds can be seen as directly descended from the women’s movement that began in England in the latter half of the nineteenth century. For in spite of fifty years of effort by thousands of dedicated women, it was not till 1928 that British women were fully enfranchished. There then remained the problem of educating women to citizenship and a few Townswomen’s Guilds were formed for this purpose. By the end of 1932, more than 146 guilds had been formed all with the aim of educating women as citizens. The National Union of Townswomen’s Guilds now co-ordinates the activities of about 2600 British guilds. Reflecting . New Zealand attitudes of the time, our local Townswomen’s Guild movement was oriented more towards crafts, fellowship, . and fundraising., The emphasis on traditional women’s skills has been the secret of the guilds’ success in fundraising... Since 1962, for instance,’ nearly $90,000 has been donated to medical research and various welfare schemes. A. hearty sum in itself, it is the dedication and sheer hard work involved in making and selling many thousands of articles — cakes,, preserves, knitted and sewn garments, all types of arts and crafts — that makes the financial achievement particularly impressive. With 18 guilds and 1500

members in Ghristchurch, Canterbury members have played a prominent part in the national affairs of the federation.

Mrs Joyce Wallis, of the Beckenham Guild, is at present the dominion treasurer, while Mrs Clare Crawford, M.B.E. of Christchurch Central Guild was national president from 1969 to 1973, editor of the Townswomen magazine for many years, and is still on the national executive. Through the Townswomen’s Guilds, Mrs Crawford has given sterling service to National Council ol Women activities at both national and local levels. Clare Crawford says that she has much for which to thank the Townswomen’s Guild. “I joined the guild way back in 1954. I needed an interest, and it really changed my life,” she says. -Speaking as a person who knows the movement as well as almost anyone in the country, Mrs Crawford hopes that the jubilee celebrations

will encourage the federation to reassess its aim for the next fifty years. “I hope the jubilee will be a catalyst for action for the Townswomen’s Guild, and that ,it 'will lead to the formation of new policies, in line with the changing times and the needs of women." Mrs Crawford echoes the sentiments of the national president, Mrs Audrey Searle, who said in a recent message to members: "Those things that entitle a woman to legal, industrial, and social equality as a person in her own right are allied to being a Townswoman, as also is education." Nevertheless, Mrs Crawford believes that the guilds are inclined to be underestimated by the general public, and often misrepresented by the news media. "We have had so many conferences at which very good social remits have been put forward," she says. “These are all evidence ol research, discussion and hard work. In spite of this, it is

always the silly little remits which get reported." Women who have attended the Women's Conventions of the seventies will be in sympathy with Mrs Crawford's comments. Edinburgh Festival preview Those attending the recent English Teachers’ Association Conference in Christchurch had a preview performance of “No Coward Soul,” a dramatic blend of poetry and dance, which will be performed at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. A Dunedin production, this moving insight into the Jives of nineteenth century women in this country, the United States and England, was devised, produced and performed by Terry McTavisb and Jan Bolwell. Piano accompaniment was by Jane Faulkner, who also composed the music. The title was taken from a poem by Emily Bronte. The theme of women’s struggles with the harsh realities of Victorian domesticity, made an overwhelmingly powerful message which was told through music, movement, and verse. The final episode, “Let Her Be.” danced to the words of Gertrude Stein, emphasised that the lives of women have for too long been dictated by those of men. “Let her be. Let her be free. Let her not be what he said." Though there’s need for tightening and trimming in a few spots, the show as a whole is exciting and innovative. It should be as thoughtprovoking in Edinburgh as it was in Christchurch. We hope that it will encourage other groups to bring women’s history to life. • • • Feminist bookshop The Kate Sheppard Women’s. Bookshop, Ltd opens on June 14, at 202 High Street (opposite Butterfields). Established by four Christchurch, women, Noreen Penney, Anne Rowlands, Joy Lloyd, and Erin McGifford, it mill a wirio ran or* nf

feminist literature, magazines, posters, records and sone arts and crafts. The second-hand book and record department plans to provide a low-cost way for women to build up feminist libraries, while also providing a service for those wishing to sell books. Books will be ordered from a wide range of specialist publishers, and special orders can also be made. • • • Forum for Women Christchurch women will have the opportunity to meet three South Island representatives on the national, Government-appointed Committee on Women at a Forum for Women being run by the Regional Women’s Decade Committee, on June 11. The topic is "What is the Government-appointed Committee on Women achieving, and how are we progressing?” The speakers will be Colleen Dewe, chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Women’s Affairs; Anne Maclean, National Advisory Committee on Women and Employment; and Stella Casey, National Advisory Committee on Women in Education. During a brief period at the beginning of the evening the Regional Women’s Decade Committee’s Annual Report will be presented by its chairwoman, Mrs Judith Hay. Previously . elected officers will be announced/ A light supper will be served following the meeting which will be held in the Girl' Guide Hall, 217 Armagh Street, at 7.45 p.m. All are welcome. Women walks A new service,- designed to encourage women out into the countryside on properly led walks, has just been established in Christchurch. Called “Women Walks," it is being run by two former teachers, Alison Neale and Pauline Penny. ? Both have had wide experience tramping and camping with their families and other groups. The service includes

leadership, transport, food and hot drinks. Both Alison and Pauline insist that they will get women where they want to go — no matter how unfit they might be. Indeed, if the tale we hear is true of a certain person being hoisted up the underground waterfall at Broken River, then even the most timid would-be walker should have no fear. Walks planned for June include a three-day Arthur’s Pass trip at Queen’s Birthday week-end; a Summit Road trip to Mt Sinclair on June 13; and Craigieburn Forest Park, June 18. For all information, phone Alison or Pauline at 791-480. • • • Seminar on rape A seminar on rape will be held on the evening of Wednesday, June 16. It is expected to be of real assistance to women’s groups wishing to make submissions to the Department of Justice’s working party set up to recommend changes to the law. Organised by the National Organisation for Women, it will examine the experiences of rape victims, discuss legal aspects of rape, and hear about police policies oh' the subject. Speakers will bb Linda Mitchell, of the Rape Crisis Group; Joan Rotherham, a Christchurch lawyer;' and Detective Inspector . James Dwight. Place: Lower Common Room, Old Student Union Building, Arts Centre. Time: 8 p.m. Keep it a rumour It’s important that the'rumoured childcare subsidy cuts remain just that: a rumour. Should they occur, they will affect those families least able to afford child ’ care. Write to the Minister of Social Welfare, Mr G. W. Young, if this matter is of importance to you. Items for consideration in “Making It Happen” should be forwarded to Mrs J. Steincamp, P.O. Box 237, Christchurch '