New Zealand's longest surviving WI celebrates 95 years

Cheryl Hunter, left, president Felicity Ellison and Kay Hart, the national president of the New Zealand Federation. Photo/ Christine McKay

It may only have five members, but the Norsewood Women's Institute plays a big part in the history of the organisation. With the Rissington WI going into recess in March 1988, Norsewood is now New Zealand's oldest existing WI.

Although Norsewood's WI's official birthday isn't until August the small group decided to celebrate last week as Kay Hart, the national president of the Federation of Women's Institutes was in Dannevirke.

Norsewood's president Felicity Ellison joined in 1983 and has been instrumental in keeping the institute going.

Survival is the name of the game for the institute and Cheryl Hunter, who joined on the institute's 90th birthday, is keen to encourage new members to join the existing five.

"I'm going to put a notice in our school newsletter to encourage people to come along early before they collect their children from school and have a cuppa," she said.

"We can be too insular these days and the institute is about community."

Described as kind, thoughtful and industrious, Felicity has held every office at the Norsewood WI in her 33 years of membership. She had planned to finish her stint as president at the 90th birthday celebrations.

"It didn't happen," she said.

The history of the Norsewood WI began in 1922 when Mrs Hinds and Kirsten Neilson talked with their friend, Bessie Spencer, who farmed fruit and honey in Napier.

She was the founder of the New Zealand Country Women's Institute and on July 13, 1922, a meeting was held in Norsewood to consider the formation of the institute. Twenty-two women attended that first meeting, including Alice Poulson and Grace Brabazon. The Norsewood CWI officially began on August 3, 1922.

At that time the WI belonged to the Hawke's Bay Provincial Federation, but are now members of the Southern Hawke's Bay Federation.

In those early days the women started as they meant to continue, donating a concrete vase to hold flowers and tributes on the soldier's memorial in Upper Norsewood.

That concrete vase is still in place and used every Anzac Day as institute members and the community remember those from the village who served our country. In 1926, with the arrival of electricity to the district, the Norsewood Country Women's Institute members were given a demonstration of lampshade-making and the institute purchased an electric cleaner which was hired out to members at one shilling a time.

But not only has the Norsewood WI supported the local community, it has a lasting national legacy, thanks to founding member Mrs Neilson, sometimes described as a petticoat pioneer, who introduced the Health Stamp scheme into New Zealand in 1929.