PIONEER WOMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23829, 8 June 1939, Page 5

PIONEER WOMEN

THE MEMORIAL PROJECT ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED DONATIONS AND PROMISES A meeting of the Otago Pioneer Womens’ Association was held on Friday last, at which a resolution adopting the rules of the association was passed unanimously, and also a resolution making application for the Incorporation of the association in accordance with the “Incorporated Societies Act, 1908.” The following are set down as the objects of the association:—

1. To erect and maintain a memorial to the pioneer women settlers of Otago in recognition of the worthy part played by them in the settleraent of this province during the first century of its existence. 2. As a worthy form for such memorial, to-provide in Dunedin a building as a permanent community centre to be used in the interests of all women in town and country for social and general community purposes. Among the subsidiary objects and the uses to which the building may be put are the following:For use by societies and organisations as a meeting place and social lounge, for photographic or art exhibitions, musical recitals, dramatic performances and other social purposes, for use by individual members of the community for purooses approved by the association, also for national conferences.

The building may be made available for use by men’s organisations and by members of the general public. It is intended to set aside ohe room in the building as a rest room for women.

Certain privileges, such as the dedication of a room within the building to the memory of a pioneer settler may be granted under certain conditions. The inner shrine will contain the names of all the female early settlers up to 1869 that can be obtained. Provision is made for patrons and life-members, and for the election of an advisory committee consisting of men with business and organising experience to assist in the business aspect of the association’s affairs and in the investment of funds, etc. Provision is also made to enable co-operation to be effected with the Early Settlers’ Association if so desired.

Attention is particularly drawn to the fact that this Is not an association akin to that of the Early Settlers’, which stands alone and has an unrivalled place in the community. The members and supporters of this Memorial Association are citizens who wish to honour and pay tribute to the fine spirit of the pioneers, and to the qualities of courage, endurance, and self-sacrifice with which these women faced the difficulties and the stress of life in uncultivated forest land, and endowed their children with sterling qualities’ of character. It is reported that warm and interested support is forthcoming from members of the public who have no forbears among the early settlers, but who can recognise fine character wherever it is met with, and who desire to take the opportunity which this year offers, when the whole Dominion is celebrating its centenary, of placing on record in the form of a memorial building its appreciation of these pioneer women. What finer memorial, it is asked, could be erected than one which will be of daily service to this and future generations of the men and women of Otago in the various activities in which they are engaged, in trying to serve the interests of their district and of the Dominion?

The need is felt in every modern city for facilities such as are proposed in this memorial building, and it is already evident that this centennial year will see many such buildings erected in different centres to serve the needs of various districts.

A number of the collectors; who postponed their efforts during the harassing month of May, have started on their rounds again, and are meeting with sympathetic interest and support. As it is recognised that business firms are beset with many anxieties at present, collectors so far have concentrated their attentions on private citizens, and firms will be approached later. The following donations have been received or are promised:—

£ s. d. Dunedin Savings Bank 1000 0 0 Lady Sidey .. • • 50 0 0 Miss Flora Allan . • 50 0 0 E. J, M 50 0 0 A. A. G 50 0 0 Dr E. H. McKinnon 50 0 0 Mr J. A. McKinnon 25 0 0 Dr Marion Whyte .. K. 10 10 0 Misses Colins and Falconer .. .. 10 0 0 Mr and Mrs S. M. Park 10 0 0 “ Descendant ” 10 0 0 H. G. Siedeberg .. 10 0 0 Mrs H. C. Campbell 5 5 0 Mrs F. Foster 5 5 0 Miss M. R. Sheriff 5 5 0 Miss C. Little .. .. 5 5 0 Mr James D. Gray 5 0 0 Mrs P. McLaurin .. 5 0 0 Dr and Mrs Lyth .. 5 0 0 Mrs M. B. Kyle .. 5 0 0 Miss C. M. Cutten .. 5 0 0 Misses Gellatly 5 0 0 Mr A. L. Currie . • 5 0 0 “ Old Identity ” .. 5 0 0 Bruce Early Settlers Association .. .. 4 0 0 Mrs H. A. Hamer .. 3 3 0 Miss Jessie Mill .. 3 3 0 Mrs A. Morrison . • 2 2 0 Dr Win Bathgate .. 2 2 0 Mrs Ida White .. 2 2 0 Mr R, H. Daniels .. 2 2 0 Mrs Jessie Thomson 2 2 0 Miss Brenda Bell .. 2 2 0 R. J 2 2 0 Rev. G. B. King .. 2 0 0 Mr D. C. Cameron 1 1 0 Mrs R. S. Black •. 1 1 0 Mr P. Mirams '1 1 0 Love Construction Co. 1 1 0 Mrs H. L. Gibson 1 1 0 Mrs A. Finlayson • • 1 1 0 Miss L. Griffith 1 1 0 Mrs T. G. McKellar 1 1 0 Mrs J. Cooke .. 1 1 0 Mrs J. S. Thompson 1 1 0 Macraes Moonlight Branch Women’s Institute 1 1 0 Miss J. Cunningham 1 0 0 Mrs Hinkley • ■ .. 1 0 0 Miss McCallum 1 0 0 Miss March banks .. 1 0 0 J. and E. C • 1 0 0 Mrs O’Callaghan .. 1 0 0 Friend 1 0 0 Mrs E. K. Woods .. 1 0 0 Miss Gunn 1 0 0 Miss K. W. Currie 1 0 0 Miss E. Park .. 1 0 0 Mr and Mrs R. S. Watson 1 0 0 A. M. Douglas 1 0 0 Mrs R. L 0 10 6 Mr Charles Hunt .. 0 10 0 Miss A. Reid .. 0 10 0 Mrs Ayson .. .. 0 10 0

Mrs D. McNutt .. . • 0 10 0 Mrs Stewart 0 10 0 MrsC. B. . 0 10 0 E. B. 0 10 0 Mrs Beattie .. • • • • 0 10 0 Bridge parties (Mrs J. Cooke) •. • • • • Mrs Bryant’s Collections (Musselburgh) 16 10 0 10 3 10 Small donations • • ■ - 9 1 0