Winnie (Win) Lindores Dugdale, a passionate speech and drama teacher, exited life February 23.
A service celebrating her life was held at the Rotorua Methodist Church on February 26. At her insistence, this was bright and joyous, with contributions from family and friends.
A woman of boundless energy, enthusiasm and love for her subject and the people she taught, Win inspired generations of Rotorua school children to open their mouths and speak with clarity and pride. Her students will remember, among other things, her insistence that there is no such day of the week as Chewsday, (It is Tuesday -- starting with a T), her box of small hand mirrors with whose aid one could observe the correct positioning of the tip of the tongue, the teeth and the lips and the liberal use of peppermints as reinforcement, or bribery.
Win's love of people extended beyond the classroom, reaching into the wider community. Among the organisations she actively supported, often in leadership roles, were the Rotorua Methodist Church, The Bainbridge Trust, Girl's Brigade, Rotorua Little Theatre and the Rotorua Competition Society.
She was an adjudicator for speech and drama competition festivals around the country for many years and relatively recently, a docent (guide) at the Rotorua Museum -- a position she relished.
