It's all different now, says new president
It has taken 95 years for Whangarei's "gentlemen's" club to have a woman appointed as president.
Or more correctly, it has only taken 13 years - because before 1993 women were not allowed to be members, or even walk through the door.
"Oh, it's all different
now," new president Margaret Lilly laughs, "although I've heard some of the old stories."
After having run a dairy farm as a single woman for many years, Ms Lilly refuses to see glass walls that might prevent women taking leading roles in traditional male bastions. Besides, these days women figure strongly in the once exclusively male Whangarei Club.
There's another woman on the committee, the secretary-manager is a woman and so are most of the staff. "But sadly, a lot of our women members are not really active in the club," Ms Lilly said.
And she can't understand why more of them don't join.
One of her major pushes as president will be to encourage more women members. Another will be to promote hireage of the club's amenities as a functions, dinner, meetings or dance venue.
"It's a secure, safe, pleasant place for women to come on their own. It's a good alternative to going to a pub when you want a drink and a chat with someone.
"From the very first day I felt very comfortable about coming here by myself.
"How many places are there in town where women can feel that?"
Among the advantages to belonging to the "well equipped, superbly located" club - such as inexpensive drinks, all-day coffee or tea, snacks, good networking and good company - is the opportunity to lie down on a comfortable couch after a tiring or hot day in town, the new president confides.
That could have members from an earlier era turning in their grave.
But today - despite the brick building's blank, fortress-like appearance, its inside residual air of maleness and faded style, big armchairs and old-world bar, three full-sized free billiard tables, and quaint (and empty) wood-panelled telephone booth - the female-friendly Whangarei Club is definitely a modern place, says its thoroughly modern president.
