Sixty years service to Leamington WI recognised

Women's Institute member Helen Flay of Te Awamutu (right) receives her 60-year-badge from NZ Federation of Women's Institutes president Fay Moore.

Sixty years ago Helen Flay (nee Garrett) followed in her mother Hazel's footsteps and joined Leamington Country Women's Institute.

Recently she was awarded her 60-year-badge from New Zealand Federation of Women's Institutes president Fay Moore - and if she has her way there'll be more badges to follow.

Hazel Garrett was a founding member of the Leamington branch in 1950.

After moving around a fair bit until WWII, the Garrett family settled in the Cambridge area when Norman Garrett left the RNZAF near the end of the war to work on the Karapiro Dam.

Daughter Helen attended Leamington School, and after it burnt down, finished her primary schooling from the temporary school in Leamington Hall.

She went to Hamilton Technical College for her secondary schooling and then trained at Drury Dressmaking College.

He first job was for a milliner, then she worked at a garden shop before meeting and marrying her first husband.

The couple lived in Cambridge and Helen soon found she could apply her artistic skills in fabrics, floral art, music and cooking through Country Women's Institute - now simply WI.

She was also happy to take responsibility, and for most of her 60 years she has held office - president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, competition stewart, roll book and leader of drama group, choir, arts and crafts and gardening.

She learnt how to judge, as well as been a keen competitor in many aspects of WI endeavours and she has a large number of trophies and awards that attest to her competitiveness and skills.

"I'm proud of the awards," she says.
"I had to work hard for them."

Handicrafts and embroidery were her specialties and she was also instrumental in starting a number of groups outside WI in the Cambridge region - including Cambridge Patchworkers and as a foundation member of Precious babies.

She was also involved in a number of notable projects, and has her works in Government House from the 1990 project, in Te Papa as part of a National Council of Women project and in sister city Le Quesnoy.

Outside WI she was also a Rotarian and involved in her Church, Waikato Patchworkers and Quilters and Cambridge Daffodil Show - to name a few.After nursing her husband for about a decade, she was widowed.

Latterly remarried and now Mrs Flay, she moved to this side of Waipa District, but retained her loyalty to the Leamington WI she cherishes.

Mrs Flay says WI teaches women many valuable skills and attitudes and she is disappointed many branches, like other worthwhile organisations, are shutting down through lack of new members.