THIRTY YEARS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 4

THIRTY YEARS

Birthday Celebrations At The Pioneer Club MO MEMBERS AT DINNER In celebration of 30 years of their existence as a leading women’s club, the Pioneer Club, Wellington, marked this important year of their growth with a banquet dinner which was attended by more than 140 members and representatives of other women’s clubs throughout New Zealand. The dinner was preceded by a sherry party in the Repertory Theatre rooms in the same buildings. The two large reception rooms at the club were completely transformed into banquet rooms for the occasion, the long tables with .their snowy cloths, the softly shaded lights, and the floral decorations making a lovely setting. In spite of the prevalent shortage of flowers, the garden circle had rallied round and brought the choicest of rare blooms from their own gardens. Under the direction of Mrs. Du Pont and Mrs R. Arlow, these were charmingly arranged in floating and posy bowls on the tables. The effect, was very colourful, for the blooms were mostly in shades of pink, blue, and vivid crimson, of stock, luculia, iris, sweet peas, cyclamen, and exotic passion flowers. A feature of the table decorations ■was the exquisite souvenir menu cards, all delicately hand-painted by Misses D. Jourdain and M. Gledhill, and Mesdames H. B. Haines, H. J. Rule, and D. N. Isaacs.

On stands about the walls were vases of camellias, rhododendrons, and red gum, and the foot of the stage In the first reception room was massed with colourful foliage sent from Mrs E. J. Righton, York Bay. Considerable interest and amusement was aroused by photographs of foundation and early members of the club taken more than 30 years ago, which decorated the walls. Miss Amy Kane, the club’s president for the past 17 years, received the guests. She wore a handsome hostess gown of all-black embossed silk, A representative of the garden circle presented her with a charming posy, and she also received a beautiful spray of yellow freesias and violets.

The guests of honour were Mrs. R. J. McLaren, president of the Canterbury Women’s Club; Mrs. Gilkinson. vice-president of the Otago Women’s Club; and Mrs. Blennerhassett, president of the Wanganui Women’s Club. Many Toasts. Many toasts and speeches were made during the course of the dinner, and these were interspersed with duets by Mesdames Goodson and Kenneth Fowles, accompanied by Mrs. Fowles, who also supplied the incidental music. Mrs. A. Ginn, a foundation, member, was to have sung solos, but was unable to do so because of illness. “The King” was proposed by Miss Kane, and “the club” by Miss Kate Williams, another foundation member. Miss Ngaire Cooper responded to this. Mrs. G. A; King, a vice-president, and Mrs. W. A. Martin, an executive member, proposed the toast of the guests, who suitably responded. “The men” were not forgotten, and were the subject of Miss M. Shaw s toast, responded to by Miss A. M. Goulding. The club’s birthday cake was a work of art by Miss Isaacs, and was the object of much admiration. It was made to represent the building which is to house the new clubrooms before another year. This is the last occasion on which a birthday celebration will be held in the Lambton Quay rooms. The cake will not be cut till Wednesday, at the dinner for the foundation members. , After the dinner members relaxed to watch and enjoy an original parade •of frocks dating back over the Last. 30 years and representing fashions which had passed through the club since its inception, thus bringing back both amusing and interesting memories. In her speech. Miss Kane outlined the history of the club and recalled some of the principal events, which had gone to its making. Incidentally, it is interesting to recall that the Pioneer Olub really owes its inception to Miss K. E. Isitt, the first lady editor of ‘‘The Dominion,” who called together a meeting of leading women which lead to the founding of the club. Miss Mary Richmond was the first president, and Miss Kane, the present president, was the first honorary secretary. Telegrams of congratulation were received by the club all day yesterday. The celebrations will continue throughout the week.