TWENTY-ONE YEARS OLD

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 July 1947, Page 9

TWENTY-ONE YEARS OLD

WANGANUI BRANCH W.D.F.F. CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY Birthdays are always interesting, especially when they mark so auspicious an occasion as the 21st. anniversary of the Wanganui branch of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, which was celebrated in Dustin’s Reception Room yesterday afternoon. Bowls of japonica, Iceland poppies and spring bulbs decorated the room and tables, and baskets of posies and shoulder sprays, which were later presentea to me noncurea guests, added to the colourful effect ol the decorations on the official table. The celebration was made more pleasurable by the presence of the Dominion president, Mrs. W. Elliott, of Otago, who is to leave very shortly tor overseas to attend the conference of the Associated Countrywomen of the World to be held at Amsterdam. Mrs. Elliott was warmly welcomed by Mrs. A. McPnail (provincial and branch president), also by the gathering witn hearty acclamation.

i’here was a large attendance of members, representatives of the various branches in the provinca and also other women’s organisations and representatives of i-ederatedd F armers. Alter extending a welcome to all, Mrs. McPhail gave a brief history of the founding of the Women’s Division and paid a tribute to the sterling work oi the foundation members. She said that in July, 21 years ago, the late

Mrs. W. J. Polson callea a meeting ior the purpose of forming a women’s division. At that meeting were Mrs. R. Lilburn, Mrs. C. J. Melville, the late Mrs. D. C-. Polson, Mrs. J. Glasgow (Turakina) and her daughter, Mrs. A. Perry (then a very young .girl), Mrs. Rnodes, Mrs. R. L. Gibson, Mrs. Staveley, the late Mrs. J. R. Franklin, Mrs. James Campion, Mrs. Sommerville (Raetihi), Miss M. Polson, and Miss D. Polson, who as a young girl accompanied her mother. At a second meeting a month later the names of Mesdames J. McDougal, Cave, Handley, Collins, Macdonald, Misses Fraser and Macdonald were added to the list. The first address was given by Miss Vane. in presenting specially made silver ribbon medalions to the foundation members present, Mrs. McPhail made special reference to the members of tne Polson family who had done so much for the division. As well as a silver medalion, Mrs. Lilburn received a rosette (in the division colours) in honour of being the first branch president. Silver medalions were also pre-

sented to Mrs. J. Glasgow and Mrs. A. Perry. A rosette and special badge were handed to Mrs. J. C. Wickham, who was second branch president and past Dominion president, and Mrs. McPhail, the third branch president, received a rosette from Mrs. Lilburn. Others honoured were Mrs. S. Scott, past Dominion librarian; Mrs. J. McDougal and Mrs. W. Glasgow, vicepresidents; Mesdames C. M. Duncan, R. V. Brown, F. W. Slater and McDougal, hospital visitors; Mesdames Burrell, A. B. Currin, Lilburn and J. Gray, hospital standing committee; Mrs. Carson, of Westmere, who was one of the original members of the Manawatu branch before coming to Wanganui to reside and, with Mrs. Lilburn, helped with the bush nurse and housekeeper scheme, was also honoured.

Mrs. McPhail and Mrs. D. Jackson (Waverley) paid a high tribute to the hospital visitors and told how the country women in hospital appreciated tneir visits. Mrs. W. Elliott, who was presented with a corsage spray of daphne and violets, was introduced by Mrs. McPhail. , ~ After thanking the branch lor the flowers and the warm welcome, Mrs. Elliott spoke of the courage and wisdom of the women who nad started the organisation. Women then were not quite experienced and they faced great dilricuiues, she said. 1 ney io convince the women of New Zealand that such an organisation was needed. Country women then had no status in the land; we can now, with dignity and intelligence, take part in the social ana cultural life oi the land, said the speaker. All sorts oi things have beer done ior the betterment of women and children and many lovely things have come to women tnrough what division women have done, it must make the foundation members feel happy- The torch they held aloft will still be can led higft by present members. Mrs zlliott. referred to the many menaships formed. It was regarded as a liiiK that can never be broken, ior richness had come to many lives through the W.D. She thanked the h ederated Farmers tor their support and asked the women to support the Federated Farmers. Wanganui had given tne organisation two Dominion presidents, the late Mrs. W. J. Pol„oii ana Mrs. Wickham. Ine speaker concluded by congratulating the branch on the happy occasion and quoting a snort ana inspiring poem by Patience Strong. Mr. W. Glenn, provincial president o£ Federated Farmers, who also congratulated the branch, gave a briet speech and spoke o£ the need of the young people becoming interested in the organisation as it would be to them tne country would be looking in the future. . , Mrs. Lilburn gave a brief outline ol the ditliculties they had when starting out and the appalling conditions in the back blocks. At the beginning it was all uphill, she said, lhey set to work to get £lOOO, then later another £lOOO, then they organised the bush housekeeping scheme. The housekeepers were ideal women who gave their services for very little and did wonders for the sick women in the back country. There had been many wonderful workers in the W.D. With the assistance of the W.I. they had been responsible for the first mobile dental clinic. Following afternoon tea the bnthdav cake, with its 21 candles, was brought in. For the candle-lighting ceremony the following were called to take part: Mrs. Elliott (Dominion president), the Mayoress (Mrs. M. J. Kogers), Mesdames It. Lilburn, Wickham, McPhail, McDougal, D. R. Jackson (Waverley branch), Handley (Waitotara), J- A. Harris (Wellington Central), Taylor (Westmere), Bland (Okoia), Frederick (Wangaebn), Miss Macdonald (Manga-mahu-Fordell), Miss Bartrum 'Makirikiri), members of Federated Farmers, Mrs. Scott-Maundrell (Huntervillc), Mrs. A. Perry (Turakina), Mrs. Beaumont Bates (Dominion president of the National Council oi Women). Mrs. J. C. Batt (president, Townswomen's Guild), Mrs. Carson (Westmere), Mrs. J. P- Morrison (president, League of Mothers), Mrs. F. Spurdie (a former secretary), Mrs. Seddon (Aramoho Institute), Miss Pratt (secretary), Mrs. Dunean (treasurer), Mrs. R. V. Brown (past Mrs. Butcher, who had been secre-tary-treasurer for a number of years, was presented with a spray. Mrs. It. Lilburn cut the cake. The W.D. son;., was sung, with Mrs. Elliott at the piano. Sprays were presented to several officials. On behalf of pion-

eer members, Mrs. J. Glasgow presented lovely sprays to Mrs. Elliott and Mrs. McPhail. Mrs. Elliott expressed her thanks 1o the foundation members and the branch.