R.S.A. WOMEN’S SECTION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5944, 17 May 1944, Page 4

R.S.A. WOMEN’S SECTION

ANNUAL MEETING ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTED The annual meeting of the women’s section of the Returned Servicemen’s Association was held last week in the R.S.A. rooms, when the president, Mrs J. G. Wynyard, presented the annual report ai.d balance-sheet. The report read as follows:—This is the second report it has been our privilege to present. The war, which was the cause of our formation, still goes on, and the handicaps arising from it, notably of petrol restrictions for locomotion still hinder our activities. In spite of this we have had quite a useful year. Our membership has increased. Our luncheons have been well patronised and judging by the enthusiasm and mirth have been greatly enjoyed. Owing to infrequent mails from the Middle East, we have had few letters to read, and have missed this interest. We have changed our monthly meeting day from the fourth Thursday, to the second, and during the year we changed out time to 12.15 p.m. We regret having to report that Mrs Tolich found she had to resign the secretaryship owing to the increasing requirements of her business. Also we have lost two very useful committee members, Mesdames Lorimer and Steer. Mrs Lorimer has been with us from the beginning, always took an active interest, and helped us in many ways. Mrs Steer also took a keen interest. We shall miss her, too. Early in the year we distributed a circular setting forth our objects, and this brought in many members. We have gladly helped the R.S.A. whenever called on, to help with the supper at a function to help with the staffing of the Patriotic Hut. There have been other ways of helping members by a parcel of groceries to a family that was burnt out and lost everything. Through a member’s interest we made necessary inquiries to ensure the returned soldiers in a mental hospital receiving regular supplies of tobacco. Last spring we organised a card evening for town members at the Red Cross rooms kindly lent by Mrs Downes, the president of the Red Cross. This was quite a success, and we hope we may have more this coming winter. Once again we undertook the organisation of the sales of poppies on Poppy Day. Mrs Malone, who was chief organiser, got a willing and enthusiastic band whose sales resulted in a record sum of £lB6 being raised. Those poppies that were over were made into a wreath—a very handsome one—which was placed on behalf of the Returned Services on Anzac Day.

In conclusion our grateful thanks are expressed to one and all who have helped to make our Women’s Section the helpful, co-operative and keen organisation it is. The election of officers was as follows:—Patron, Mrs C. J. Pierce; president, Mrs J. G. Wynyard (re-elect-ed); vice-presidents, Mrs B. Malone and Mrs G. O. Jourdain; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mrs B. Malone; hon. auditor, Mrs G. O. Jourdain; committee, Mesdames Hinton, Mcßae, Scurrah, H. Kay, Neill, Owens, J. Ferguson, McGruther.