Gold Honours badge members (from left) Alison Crawford, Jean Mills and Mary Bayley cut the cake at the Poverty Bay-Wairoa Federation of Women's Institutes 95th-birthday celebration. Photo / Kaye Easton
Gold Honours badge members (from left) Alison Crawford, Jean Mills and Mary Bayley cut the cake at the Poverty Bay-Wairoa Federation of Women's Institutes 95th-birthday celebration. Photo / Kaye Easton
Five years short of a century was a milestone for celebration by the Poverty Bay-Wairoa Federation of Women’s Institutes.
Dana Kirkpatrick was guest speaker at the federation’s 95th-birthday celebrations and talked about life as a member of Parliament for the East Coast electorate.
Kirkpatrick is the granddaughter ofwell-regarded past Women’s Institute member Kath Gaukrodger.
As a child, Kirkpatrick learned that the women’s institute held a special place in her grandmother’s affections. It was apparent on those occasions when she asked her if she could visit and was told, “No, it’s an institute day”.
Federation president Alison Crawford told Kirkpatrick of a women’s institute skit with the theme “I wish I was” in which the MP’s grandmother dressed up as an All Black, ran in and said, “Who will I tackle first?”
A gift bag containing homemade apricot jam and Louise cake went home with Kirkpatrick ... a token of appreciation for her attendance.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz had opened the meeting and welcomed the New Zealand Federation of Women’s Institutes national president Jude Vaughan, executive officer Colleen Dryden, and visiting Rotorua members Judy Cathcart and Margaret Hayes.
Stoltz thanked Poverty Bay-Wairoa federation members for their ongoing contribution to the community.
National president Vaughan had researched the early days of the movement in this district. She said that in April 1933, The Gisborne Times had reported that membership of the 18 country women’s institutes in the district had risen from 800 in April 1932 to 1221.
The New Zealand Federation of Women's Institutes national president, Jude Vaughan (left), presents the Good Service badge to Margaret Naden at the Poverty Bay-Wairoa Federation's 95th-birthday celebration. Photo / Kaye Easton
Vaughan presented Margaret Naden, of the Turanganui Women’s Institute, with the Good Service badge.
Gold Honours badge members Jean Mills, Mary Bayley and Alison Crawford cut the Rachel Crawford-decorated birthday cake.
Vaughan and Dryden were thanked for being part of the celebrations and were given copies of Jean Johnston’s book, Ambitious Gisborne Women.
Turanga Ukulele Whanau entertained with singalong-friendly music, and lunch brought the festivities to a close.
