S.G.H.S.O.G.A.

Southland Times, Issue 22008, 6 May 1933, Page 17

S.G.H.S.O.G.A.

ANNUAL DINNER. Schoolday friendships were revived in an atmosphere of goodfellowship at the Federal on Thursday evening, when the Old Girls’ Association of the Southland Girls’ High School held their fourteenth annual dinner. The banquet hall and the tables were beautifully decorated with bowls of bronze and white chrysanthemums. Mrs A. J. Deaker (president), who was presented by the secretary, Miss Grace Basstian, with a bouquet of lemon chrysanthemums, presided over a gathering of eighty members, including representatives of Archerfield, Gore, Columba and technical Ex-pupils Associations, Miss Eastwood (Lady Principal), Mrs J. N. Armour (Patroness), Mrs Dale, Mrs Stanley Brown, members of the staff, and representatives of the school. After the loyal toast, Mrs Deaker extended a welcome to all the visitors and to the new members. She dealt briefly with the affairs of the Association and the plans for new circles this year. In addition to the three circles already in existence it had been suggested, she said, that a Sewing Circle be formed, and this might possibly form the nucleus of an Arts and Crafts Circle. Other suggestions were a church service at the beginning of the activities, and an ex-pupils’ day at the school. Mrs Deaker concluded by mentioning old girls who had been honoured for their achievements during the past year, and quoted from Kipling’s “School Song”: “Praise we therefore gracious women, Women of little showing. For their work continueth, Broad and deep continueth, Greater than all knowing.”

Miss E. B. Pay, in proposing “The School and Staff,” said that such occasions were times for reminiscences, and always there was a sense of indebtedness to the school. She thanked Miss Eastwood for the interest she had taken in the affairs of the Old Girls’ Association, and at her suggestion, the School Song was sung. In replying to the toast, Miss Eastwood said that it was just about a year since she first attended such a function, and she felt much more at home this time, in seeing many more familial- faces. She thanked Miss Pay for the kindly way she had spoken of the staff, who were meeting the call to harder work in the more difficult times just as loyally as the staff would have done in the past. “Absent Friends,” was proposed by Miss C. L. Cumming, and the reply to this was read by Miss Grace Basstian from Miss Eileen Service of Dunedin. Other absentees who sent messages of good wishes were: Mrs Carnegy Gardner; Misses Houlston, Shalcrass. Brown, R. A. White, Gladys McKenzie and I. Mitchell.

Miss Jean Bisset, who proposed the toast of “Kindred Associations,” spoke of the pleasant relations existing between the associations, which all had similar aims, and quoted an old Quaker health:

“Here’s to thee and thy Folks, From me and my Folks, Sure there never were Folks, Since Folks were Folks, Ever loved any Folks, Half as much as me and my Folks Love thee and thy Folks.” The response to this toast was in the hands of Miss Phyllis Shand (Archerfield 0.G.A.); Miss Gordon (Gore ExPupils’ Association); Miss Dorothy Strang (Colomba 0.G.A.); and Miss Small (Technical Ex-Students’ Association). Other toasts honoured were “Married Members,” proposed by Miss Beth Manson, and responded to by Mrs R. A, Keast; and Mrs Deaker proposed a special toast to Mr Charles Gray, a distinguished and much-loved friend of the school, who was accorded musical honours. During the evening Mrs Stanley Brown gave an interesting and sympathetic address on “Health Camps,” and at the conclusion of her address suggested that if a Sewing Circle were formed, it might do useful work in making clothes suitable for the children when they attended camp, as the Dunedin girls had done for the Otago camp. Items were given by Misses L. Allison and K. Beattie (pianoforte duet); Mrs A. G. McClymont (instrumental solo); Miss M. Patton (song); Miss Crofts (recitation); Miss Mary Gilbert (pianoforte solo); and Miss M. Mcßae (song). Mrs L. E. Dailey acted as accompanist Among those present were: Mesdames A. J. Deaker, J. N. Armour, J. B. Dale, Stanley Brown, A. Derbie, J. N. Armour, J. S. Robbie (Gore), C. C. Munnings, E. K. Mills, R. W. Hawke, L. E. Dailey, J. A. Fraser, Harvey, Miller, Flopkirk, and A. G. McClymont; Misses A. Eastwood, G. Basstian, M. T. Crofts, G. B. Pay, A. M, Budd, C. L. Cumming, M. Manson, F. C. Stead, R. Davis, D. Williamson, F. and M. Basstian, J. Scandrett, R. Todd, M. and V. Roscow, G. Bath, D. Washer, J. Bisset, J. Pritchards, M. McKenzie, A. Tocker, I Topping, F. Hobson, L. Reed, B. Thomson, S. Reed, M. Wesney, I. Smyth, V. Hughes, E. Junker, L. McDonald, A. Roberts, T. Pennington, M. Crawford, G. Bamford, M. Cahill, M. Stokes, M. McCallum, K. Cutt, C. Smith, M. Fraser, Gilbert (2), M. Patton, G. Matthews, K. Beatty, L. Allison. R. Winning, M. Anderson, R. Bell, M. Boyce, R. Roscow, P. Drewe, P. Shand, E Small, L. Keane, F. Brass, B. Manson, D. Strang, C. R. Jopp, P. Gordon, F. Hinchey, L. Stuckey, J. Tapper, M. Mcßae and Fraser.