For the first time in its 57-year history, the Taradale Returned Services Association has appointed a female president with Sylvia Frame getting an overwhelming thumbs-up from voting members at Sunday's annual general meeting.
Ms Frame stepped into the role from her previous position as vice-president of the association which she has been a member of for 30 years. And said that the vice-presidency had been taken on by Carol Murfitt who had been on the executive committee. "A petticoat government," she said with a smile.
Napier RSA president and district president for the Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and East Coast regions, John Purcell, said he was delighted with the appointment and said it was rare for a woman to get the top spot in what had long been a "male-dominated business".
But that was changing, and Ms Frame has joined Waipukurau and Districts RSA president Janet Castell as only the second in the three regions. Mr Purcell said there had been other female presidents around the country - "but not many".
"I am proud to be president and I will give this my best shot," Ms Frame said, adding she had already tasted the top job by standing in at times for outgoing president Murray Pilmer when he was busy at work.