HIGH TRIBUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 9, 10 July 1943, Page 8

HIGH TRIBUTE

FAREWELL TO SECRETARY

After 19 years as organising secretary to the Wellington Free Kindergarten Association Mrs. R. M. Dowsett has retired, and yesterday- afterndcm the president, Mrs. J. A. Doctor, and council members held an "At home" in the English-speaking Union rooms to do her honour and bid her farewell! The size of the'gathering was in itself a high tribute to Mrs. Dpwsett, the spacious reception-room, which was bedecked with flowers, being crowded. Mrs. Doctor in her speech said that it had been a blue letter day for the association when Mrs. Dowsett's resignation was received. Three past-presi-dents of the Wellington association, Mrs. D. C. Peacock, Mrs. H.E. Gibbs, and Mrs. W. . R. ,Davidson, who had been in office during Mrs. Dowsett's secretaryship, were present, and Mrs. Doctor said they would agree with her that Mrs. Dowsett was the best secretary any president could have. She had been not only a secretary but a friend of the whole movement. A secretary's duties were multitudinous, and she bore nearly all the responsibility. Mrs. Dowsett had undertaken it all with all her heart and soul, and from it she had derived, as she often said, not only interest but compound interest. Her serene and inspiring spirit permeated the whole movement and the best tribute that the association could pay her was to see that this spirit was carried on. A number of others spoke in high praise of Mrs. Dowsett, these including Mrs. Dodson, who represented the local committees; Mrs. Milburn, representing the Mothers' Clubs and the United Mothers' Club; Miss Enid Wilson, principal of all the schools; and Mr. F. W. Mac Lean, chairman of the i financial advisory board. "COLOUR AND WARMTH." In the course of her speech, Miss Wilson referred to the part people played in a person's life. "The ones we remember with a warm glow in our hearts," she said, "are those who have added colour and warmth to our lives. We are here to do honour to one who has been most lavish in her splashing of colour and her kindling of warmth." One of the other speakers. Mr. Mac-, Lean, spoke, of the wonderful enthusiasm Mrs. Dowsett had brought to her work. "One can buy service," he said, "but not enthusiasm, and without enthusiasm one cannot get far in life." He said also that Mrs. Dowsett possessed the greatest quality in lifecourage. On behalf of the association, Mrs. Doctor presented Mrs. Dowsett with a box of flowers, a sealed envelope containing a substantial cheque, and an album of snapshots of the kindergarten children at work and at play. In the course of her reply, Mrs. Dowsett said that many of those present had been associated with the kindergartens as long as she, which, she said, spoke well for the work. The association had three characteristics which stood out —co-operation and friendship, a spirit of respect of one for another, and work with a purpose without self interest. She concluded by saying that after working for three months with her successor, Miss J. M. Kemp, she was convinced that Miss Kemp had a rich contribution to make to the association. Incidental music was played by Mrs. Vickery and Mrs. Dowsett moved about among the guests whilst tea was served.

"The Post's" London correspondent, writing on May 14, reports the engagement of Squadron Leader Geoffrey Flavell, F.R.C.S., M.R.C.P., R.A.F.V.R.. only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Flavell, of Montpellier, Dunedin, and Miss Joan Margaret Adams, only daughter of Mr. S. E. Adams, of Hawkwell, Essex, and the late Mi's. Adams.

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