Women's Auxiliary

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 42, 1 June 1945, Page 3

Women's Auxiliary

ANNUAL MEETING HELD

With an attendance of eighteen members, the Ellesmere R.S A Wo" U_,™_i Auxi"ary he^ its seventh annual meeting at Leeston, „ Mrs W. H. Cartwright (president) being m the chair. Sympathy was expressed with several families who had • suffered bereavements. A comprehensive report presented by _ the secretary, Mrs Pilkington, reviewed the activities of the past year. It referred in particular to an enjoyable and interesting afternoon held at Mrs Barnett's home Riverstones"; to the loss of two members, Mesdames T. A. Kimber f nd ™H". _• Hi&hVwho had removed to Christchurch; to the outstanding success of Poppy Day, when £100 los. .&_. had been raised; to the sending of a donation of £5 ss. to the Christchurch Auxiliary for its Christmas fair for needy children Two competitions had .brought in £9 2s. and £10 Is. Leeston, Killinchy, Doyleston, and Irwell members had decorated the tables for the annual R.S.A. re-union held at Doyleston^ while Leeston Hall had been decorated for the Anzac Day service, following which a wreath of poppies had been placed on the county memorial. Mrs J. Coe was doing splendid work on the Ellesmere Rehabilitation, Committee, and Mesdames Barnett and T. C. McLachlan had - represented - the auxiliary on the War Loan Committee] The membership stood at 119, an increase of twenty-six for the year; While sympathising with those who had lost loyed ones during the war, the auxiliary rejoiced with those whose relatives had -returned safely. The report concluded with an expression of thanks to ■■. all help-* ers and to the principal officers. After a letter outlining a the objects of the Heritage movementhad been read it was decided to ■join by -paying a subscription ofj £1 Is., and Mrs Pilkington was! appointed ? representative.

A letter from the Ellesmere1 R.S.A. thanked; the t auxiliary for it_ ■very -valuable help in many ways' throughout the year. Christchurch tR.S.A. tsiso thanked the -ladies for ■their help with Poppy Day. '-jj Acknowledging a letter of sympa-i' thyiwith^him in his illness, Mr W. HJ Cartwright, president of Ellesmere1 R^S.A., gave several instances of the kindness shown by Christchurch! Auxiliary members during his peri-; od -in hospital. A similar letter! came from Mrs W. S. McLaughlin,! who had been in hospital. 'Reporting on the work of the Rehabilitation Committee, Mrs J. Coe stated that not many appll-; cations for assistance had been _c-! ceived, but no doubt the number would increase as more men mere discharged from military service. Mrs A. O. Love, treasurer, pre-' sehted the financial statement, which showed a credit of £80 2s. 10d., of which £40 had been invested in the War Loan.

Officers elected were: Patroness, Mrs -L. -R. Barnett; president, Mrs J. Goss; vice-president, Mrs J. Anderson; secretary, Mrs R.F. Pilkington ; treasurer, Mrs Love; representatives, Mesdames J. Taylor, J. Ballagh (Southbridge), F. Chambers, J. Lambie (Lakeside), W. H. Cartwright, S. Bongard (Leeston), H. G. Smith, J. R. Goodsell (Doyleston), W. B. Cunningham, R. G. McLachlan (Brookside), T. G. McLachlan, J. E. Millar (Killinchy), J. Coe, W. S. McLaughlin (Irwell); auditor, Rev. H. F. Ault.

It was decided to entertain returned servicemen at a social function on July 12, at Southbridge. Mrs Cunningham's offer to make a cake for a competition was accepted with thanks. Other gifts: from Mesdames J. -Taylor and J. Anderson were also gratefully accepted. Mesdames F. H. Mcllraith, Dugan, Cordy, Taylor, Lilley, Beamsley, Love, and Pilkington were appointed a committee to assist in arranging entertainment for the evening.

After the business had been dealt with, afternoon tea was served.