“MISS N.Z." DRIVES IN OPEN CAR THROUGH THE STREETS OF WELLINGTON

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 June 1949, Page 6

“MISS N.Z." DRIVES IN OPEN CAR THROUGH THE STREETS OF WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, Last Night (P.A.) —Shouts of "Good old Taranaki” and showers of confetti and streamers greeted "Miss New Zealand, 1949,” Miss Mary (Bobbie) Woodward, when she left her hotel today to drive through the city in an open car. She was accorded an enthusiastic welcome throughout the drive. Miss Woodward was sponsored by the New Plymouth branch of the Air Force Association. After the strain of the judging, culminating in the announcement of the winner at the variety concert in the Wellington Town Hall on Friday night Miss Woodward spent the week-end quietly in Masterton with her married sister, returning to Wellington late on Sunday night. This afternoon Miss Woodward had her first conference with Mrs. A. C. Seivewright, of Wanganui, who is in charge of the wardrobe, part of the prize "Miss New Zealand” will take with her on her trip overseas. Although many New Zealand manufacturers have said that they want to contribute to the wardrobe, little could be done until the winner of the quest was chosen. Miss Woodward will have many styles and garments to choose from, and will leave for Auckland on Wednesday with Mrs. Seivewright to begin choosing her wardrobe. Scotland, Ireland, and Cornwall are the places Miss Woodward most wants to see during her overseas tour. “A week-end in Paris would be wonderful, but I don’t know whether that would be possible,” she said. "In any case, I really haven’t had time to think yet—it’s all been so very sudden.” SHE WANTS TO TEACH. Apart from the immediate future, her plans were reasonably settled, Miss Woodward said: She had hoped to complete her B.A. degree at Auckland University College this year but that would have to be postponed until 1950. When she had finished her degree she planned to teach languages, French and German being her specialties. "I’ve often thought I’d like to study teaching methods in Europe and America at first-hand, and then see how they compared with methods in New Zealand. If students and teachers study for a time in other lands and then go back to their own countries, it does help to bring about international understanding,” she said. Althpugh she is enthusiastic about teaching, another of her interests is textile design and manufacturing. While consulting with New Zealand designers and manufacturers about her gift wardrobe, she will get a good insight into the work of this sort which is being carried on in the Dominion. MUSIC EXAM. POSTPONED. A promising pianist, Miss Woodward will also have to postpone sitting for her A.T.C.L. this year. She has studied music since she was a child and has also learnt dancing. With the theatre and ballet among her other interests, she has definite ideas about the kind of concerts and plays she would like to see while overseas. The Royal Air Force Association, her hosts in Great Britain, will arrange her itinerary accordingly. The best moment of the whole quest, of course, came for her on Friday night. The worst was when she was Asked during the judging how many Members of Parliament there were in New Zealand. “I just couldn’t think,” she said.