Woman's World

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 274, 19 November 1943, Page 2

Woman's World

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL Mrs. A. Bayly, Grey Street., is visiting Rotorua. Mrs. P. Greager left Wanganui yesterday for a visit to Christchurch. Mrs. T. Parker, of Napier, is the guest of Mrs. M. Martin, Bell Street. Mrs. Melville Waters, of Christchurch, with her small son, is visiting her mother, Mrs. Ralph Brown, Gonville, for a few weeks.

Visitors to Wanganui for the Nicholson—Moss wedding, which takes place to-morrow, include Mrs. J. Bradley and Mrs. P. Miller, Te Papa, Auckland; Mrs. A. Craft and Mrs. G. Webber, Otahuhu; Mrs. H. McDell, Onehunga; Mrs. D. Thomson, Rotorua. Miss Gytha Owen, daughter of Mrs. S. C. Owen, of Christchurch, has been appointed to a position on the subeditors’ staff of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Miss Owen was from Shanghai several months ago, and has since been working at the Ministry of Information, London. Miss N. W. Astbury, social welfare officer for the Wanganui Hospital Board, has been appointed matron of the Victoria Jubilee Home, Oamaru. Her resignation was received with regret at the boards monthly meeting yesterday, when tne chairman, Mr. W. E. BrodericK (Maxwell) said she had been a very zealous worker and had given the board good service. Miss Pam Barton, whose death in an aircraft accident has been reported from London, was British golf champion at the age of 19 years. She visited New Zealand with the British women’s golf team a year or two before the outbreak of war with three other prominent British women players. During her visit to Wanganui she played an exhibition round on the Belmont course. She began playing golf at the age of 12, and her progress was so rapid that before long she began playing in county matches, having to obtain leave from school to do so. Miss Barton twice reached the final of the British women’s championship before winning the title for the first time against a formidable array of opponents in 1936. She won the American championship in the same year. Her age at the time of her death was 26.

News has been received of the safety at Sumatra camp of Mrs. John Powell, formerly Miss Joan Hagen, daughter of Mrs. and the late Dr. L. K. Hagen, of Deyonport. Mrs. Powell spent ner childhood in Westport and received her nurse’s training at the Whangarei Hospital, where she was the gold medallist for her year. Nine years ago she went to England and then to Mauritius. She was appo f.ted sister-in-charge of Nuar, Malaya, and at the time of the Japanese invasion was at Johore Behru. Until last week her mother had no news of her. In Malaya she was married to Mr. Powell, an English journalist who joined up with the Australian force. There is still uncertainty as to his fate.

HITHER AND THITHER

Forthcoming Garden Party. The annual garden party of St. John’s Hill Women’s Association will be held on Saturday, December 4, in the grounds surrounding the home of Mrs. A. Hatrick, senr., Oakland Avenue. Stalls will include novelties and useful articles suitable for Christmas gifts, dainty dresses for children, sugar bag articles, and a well-stocked cake stall which will feature holiday cakes.

Gift Party. Mrs. C. Johnston was hostess at a pre-wedding party at her home Cumbrae Place, Upper Aramoho, on Monday afternoon, for Miss D. Moss, whose marriage takes place to-mor-row. Musical .items and competitions were enjoyed and a dainty afternoon tea served. Miss Moss was the recipient of numerous beautiful and useful gifts. Among those present were Mesdames Bradley, Craft, and G. Webbe’r, of Auckland, McDell, Onehunga, and D. Thomson, Rotorua. Castlecliff Townswomen’s Guild.

The monthly meeting was held recently, when Mrs. Rountree presided and welcomed those present. After the New Zealand Antnem and silent prayer, the aspirations were read for the first time. Letters of thanks for parcels received were read from Private A. Lee, Middle East, Private E. E. Holly, with the Pacific forces, and L.A.C. Mervin Gibbs, Canada. Calendars for 1944 were on sale. The roll call, “Sing, say, whistle or pay,” caused much amusement; the many preferred to pay. Mrs. Norman opened the programme with a harp solo, followed by a reading from “White Cliffs” by Mrs. Martin. A competition entitled “Short and long,” was won. by Mrs. R. Cate, with Mrs. Martin second. The sugar bag apron competition was won by Mrs. Rountree, with Mrs. Anthony second, and 1 the oven cloth competition was won by Mrs. Anthony, with Mrs. Taylor second. These articles are being retained for the “bring-and-buy” stall next month. Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. R. Cate have birthdays this month and were accorded musical honours and received bouquets. Afternoon tea was served and the meeting closed with the National Anthem.

Aramoho Institute. The Aramoho Women’s Institute was presided over by the president, Mrs. K. Wells, who extended a welcome to all. Correspondence was dealt with and the motto for the month was read. The roll call, “Hints on Tomatoes,” brought forth many suggestions. Miss Cole gave a report of the federation meeting which was held last month and was presented with a spray of flowers. Being “Grandmothers’ Day,” each grandmother was presented with a posy, and a posy was also sent to those who were unable to be present. The competition for a jar of marmalade resulted as follows: Mrs. Pye 1, Mrs. Flyger 2. The mystery parcel was won by Mrs. Armstrong' Miss Sampson gave a very interesting talk on “Women of the Future,” and was presented with a posy It was decided that instead of exchanging gifts at the Christmas Datry, that the members bring something for the “bring-and-buy” stall. A flower show will be held in December by the gardening circle and the competition will be for three spikes delphinium, four gladioli, six carnations, bunch of sweet peas, a bowl of roses, and a bowl of dahlias (charm). An apron made from a print remnaat will be the general competition. Afternoon tea was served.

LADY FREIBERG’S PRAISE W.A.A.C.’S IN MIDDLE EAST According to a letter dated August 20 received from Lady Frey berg by Chief Commander v. E. Joweti, W.A.A.C. commandant, the New Zealand girls staving in the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo are very much excited at the prospective gilt oi the big birthday cake, made to celebrate the first anniversary of the formation of the W.A.A.C. in New Zealand, and sent by its members to the girls in the Middle East.

“Our present plan, which I hope you will approve, is to keep it lor the second anniversary of the girls’ arrival in Egynt. that is, the first group of N.Z.W.A.A.C.'s to come to work here,” writes Lady rreyberg. “The general desire this year is for an entirely unit party, no outside friends at all and I am suggesting that wo hold this in my flat, when all agree that the birthday cake from New Zealand will be the highlight of Ihe evening. We will write you our account of the party, which will be on October 20.”

A high tribute was paid by Lady Freyberg to the New Zealand girls sevring in the Middle East. “I regard them as my 40 daughters and my links with them have given me my happiest times in Egypt,” continues Lady Freyberg. “They are doing a grand job of work and I can never feel sufficiently thankful that it was arranged in New Zealand to send them here. They have enabled us to run the club on the lines that the men like and appreciate, and I am sure that their presence has made a more far-reacning difference both to the atmosphere or the club and to the men themselves than it is possible to estimate. 1 always feel that nothing can be more valuable than this reminder in a foreign country of their own girls at home.”