ANZAC WIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1945, Page 8

ANZAC WIVES

CLUB IN WINNIPEG MINISTER OF DEFENCE'S IDEA When he was in Canada in 1943 and visited Winnipeg, the New Zealand Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) heard about the Canadian girls who had married New Zealand airmen and expressed a desire to meet them. The meeting was,so happy that Mr. Jones suggested that the girls should form a New Zealand Club. They did, and subsequently the wives of Australian Air Force personnel were invited to join. The Minister recently received through the High Commissioner for Canada in New Zeaalnd (Dr. Riddell) particulars of the club and the success of its activities. The club is called the Anzac Wives' Club, and so successful has,it been that similar clubs have been opened in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. Through letters they receive from their husbands and correspondence they exchange with in-laws and Anzac friends to be, the members of the club are going to be less homesick when they arrive in Australia or New Zealand. Some of the girls have already gone to Australia or New Zealand, and they have written back to Winnipeg telling of kindliness ■ and a warm reception. In addition to keeping in touch with the fathers and mothers of their husbands from the very first, members of ' the club have made phonograph records of- their voices and have sent them across the Pacific by mail with , cheery messages. The name of the president of the Winnipeg Club is given as Mrs. R. E. G. Vincent, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law are stated to live in New Plymouth. The associate secretary, Mrs. Pat Otter, is going to New Zealand. Her husband is a prisoner of war. Some of the girls v/ill take babies with them. Each baby that arrives is presented by the club with an engraved spoon to mark the event. A short time ago, the friendly circle was enlarged to' include the fiancees of Australian and New Zealand airmen. The club takes part in any activity that can bring members into friendly and helpful meetings with those from Australia and New Zealand. They visit hospitals where Australian and New Zealand boys are patients, and distribute candy and cigarettes, books, and magazines to them. They also do darning and sew on buttons for Australian and New Zealand personnel at air stations, a service which is greatly appreciated, and have' given concerts at Christmas and on other festive occasions. "The Winnipeg Anzac Wives' Club," states a Canadian Wartime Informations Board release, "started with a friendly idea, and is continuing as an adventure in friendship and hopefulness—an adventure which is paying rich dividends." The Minister of Defence has written to Dr. Riddell stating that he well recalls the afternoon in Winnipeg when he put forward the suggestion for the establishment of the club. "It is gratifying to me to know that the organisation has prospered and expanded," he added. .