VICTORIA UNIVERSITY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 46, 25 February 1936, Page 3

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY

SARAH A. RHODES FELLOWSHIP HOME SCIENCE NEWSLETTER Dear Home-makers, You may wonder who I am and why I am writing to you through these pages. Please read this through to the end and then you can see for yourselves. I am lecturing under the Sarah Anne Rhodes Fellowship in Home Science, all of which means that out of the funds left by the late Mrs. Rhodes of Wellington for the purpose, the Victoria University College appoints a Fellow to lecture on domestic problems, throughout the five provinces that constitute the Victoria College area. Prior to 1935 this work was carried on in the North Island by Miss Macmillan who is now organising extension work in Canterbury and Otago. In 1935, as successor to Miss Macmillan, I spent five months touring Nelson and Marlborough, and then returned to the North Island to extend our work to other districts. This year my services are available to all women of the Central Hawke’s Bay area for the duration of my visit from approximately the beginning of May to the middle of June.

Why I am writing to you is to let you know that you are all welcome to attend my classes and to see if anything I have to say or show will help you to be more successful and happier in your home tasks. Are you interested in kitchen arrangements that save unnecessary fatigue, or restful interior decoration, in repairing furniture and upholstery, or are you one who aims at the sound body and would like to know more about right food habits, meal-plan-ning, and the prevention of diseases due to dietary deficiencies, or are you interested in clothes? If you are interested in any of these subjects, and would like to have them discussed, then you will be anxious to have your organisation arrange for me to talk about them during my stay i-n your district. My work consists, first of all, of public lectures on such subjects as balanced meals, ideas about dressing, household management, or some other topic of general interest. The local organisations usually arrange these meetings jointly, if more than one exists in , the same place. There is no charge made for my services, but the local expenses are met by the local organisations. Then come the private study groups. Those who join these are expected to do three things: (a) Pay at the rate of 3d per hour and provide their own materials: (b) learn all they can, and give anything they have learned a fair trial at home, and (c) help others by passing on to them whatever they have found to be useful. The best study group members are already experienced women, who pick up new ideas quickly, and after I have left the district act as local leaders on the subjects which they have found sufficiently interesting to study. If you think some subjects would, be worth hearing, don’t wait for your neighbour or secretary or president to bring the matter up—start the ball rolling yourself by speaking to them about it, and ask them to find out what subjects are available. You may apply for public meetings, which can, if desired, be followed by private study groups for the special instruction of from 6 to 12 women who are already proficient in the subject and who would be willing to act as demonstrators and so pass on to the rest of the district the things they have learnt at the study group meetings. So ask for the meetings you want, and think out the members who could demonstrate and use further information for their own and other people’s benefits, and nominate them on to study groups. If we have the right type of woman in our study groups, she can be of the greatest use to the community, both by example and through demonstrations, passing on her own knowledge and .experience and this added information after I have left the district.

On Friday, 28th February, at 2.4 5 p.m,, in the Concert Hall, Waipawa, a preliminary organising meeting will be held to — (1) Mefet .representatives of all women’s organisations in the area, and all other women interested. (2) Explain in detail the proposed work in the district. (3) Make decision as to the size of the area to be included in the district, and have a roll-caß. of organisations represented at the meeting. (4) Appoint a local committee, with secretary, to assist lecturer with local organisation and preparation of time-table. (5) Discuss any other business

which may arise. Hoping for your co-operation, Yours sincerely, HAZEL JOHNSON. Massey College, Palmerston North. 20th February, 1936.