Remarkable Service to Community

White Ribbon, Volume 29, Issue 3, 1 August 1957, Page 6

Remarkable Service to Community

By Frances North

Mr. S. J. Kirk Mrs S. I Kirk, of Wellington, ami mother of the late Miss C. E. Kirk, in addition to her Church work, was intensely concerned with the welfare of women and girls in the community. She served for many years on a Committee of the Ladies’ Christian Association (quite distinct from the Y.W.C.A.), whose members used to welcome immigrant girls brought out by the Government for domestic service, and to assist them in every possible way. The Association also did visitation work amongst the poor and needy, distributing gifts of food and clothing. Mrs. Kirk was President of the Wellington W.C.T.U. for 11 years, and during her term of office organised classes for factory girls, teaching them to read and write and to sew and cook. Her three daughters rendered remarkable service to the community. Miss Amy Kirk Miss Kirk was a teacher and a Sunday School teacher for thirty years, and in addition was local secretary of the W.C.T.U. She was appointed visitor to the Wellington Hospital bv the Wellington Hospital Charitable Aid Hoard and continued this service for thirty years. Mr. A. K. Atkin.on Mrs Atkinson, mother of Miss Janet Atkinson of Wadestown, rendered outstanding service to the W’.C.T.U., commencing with the Y branches before she was married. She was Wellington President and was Dominion President for a period of 12 years up to 1906. A noted public speaker, with a good sense of humour, she toured New Zealand, speaking for the N.Z. Alliance, of which she was a Dominion President. Her leadership was also shown in the Presidency of the Wellington Pioneer Club, National Council of Women, and N.Z. Community Welfare Association. Mrs Atkinson was also a foundation committee member of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Mi.. C. E. Kirk, J.P. Miss Kirk’s teaching career took her into country schools and finally to the staff of the Otaki Maori College. After 1921 she devoted herself to social wori., and was an executive officer of the Society for Protection of Women and Children for 20 years, specialising in Court work and helping to . save girls from undue publicity when before the court. Miss Kirk served as local and Dominion President of the W.C.T.U. and was the N.Z. Recording Secretary for 20 years. She was the second woman to be sworn in as a J.P. in Wellington (1926), and in 1935 received the “King George V Jubilee Medal.” She was the foundation President of the Wellington Hospital Ladies’ Auxiliary, and also held office as a local and a New Zealand President of the National Council of Women. This record of noble achievement presents only a very brief survey of the lives of Mrs S. J. Kirk and her three honoured daughters.