Newspaper Article 1942 – They Have Many Irons in Fire

THEY HAVE MANY IRONS IN FIRE

All Are Hot, Too!

“The will to work – and the work to win,” might well be the motto of Woodville women war workers. The various organisations which contribute to that success, make a happy and industrious family.

PARENT of the exemplary flock is Woodville Patriotic Society, shepherded by the mayoress, Mrs R. R. Johnston; secretary, Mrs H. P. Horne; treasurer, Mrs J. T. Horne; and Mesdames N.M. Burnett, W. Nixon, J. M. Graham and Miss E. Hughes.

BEHIND the Patriotic Society are many excellent voluntary workers who have done yeoman service since the war began. Over 6000 skeins of wool have been knitted to date, including many comforts for Air Force Relations and Navy League. Convenor of the hussif section is Mrs T. Smith, with Mrs E. J. Harding directing the packing of overseas parcels. Over 753 of these have already been dispatched, most of them including the famous Woodville homemade cakes.

A most helpful daughter is the local branch of the W.D.F.U., with President Mrs J. M. Graham. In addition to the fine work being carried on under their housekeeping scheme, a busy spinning circle meets weekly at the home of Mrs W. Lyon. Garments made from home-spun wool are a highlight of its work.

Working side by side with the union is the Women’s Institute, which has Mrs N. M. Barnett as president and Mrs G. G. Harding secretary. Here war work also goes forward apace.

To date, £133/9/6 has been raised through weekly dances for patriotic purposes, including £10 towards cakes for soldiers’ parcels, and £25 towards National Savings.

Another industrious daughter is the local branch of the W.W.S.A. of which Mrs H. P. Horne is president. Convenor of the cycle corps is Mrs R. James; Mrs T. Jamieson convenes the Public Health group; Miss J. Lindsay, physical training; Mrs F. Williams, transport; and Mrs R. C. Leach, canteen. In addition to the regular work of the auxiliary, every effort is made to encourage vegetable growing in the district. An important move has also been made to provide homes for soldiers’ children in cases where mothers are indisposed.

Lady Galway Guild, with Mrs R. R. Johnston as president, Mrs R. L. James, secretary and Miss E. Nicholson, treasurer, has accomplished miracles in making left-off clothing into quilts and garments for the distressed overseas, and providing stocks for the local emergency store. The sewing group meets at the home of Mrs R.C. Leach.

The Red Cross flag is also well to the fore in Woodville, and through the society’s weekly meetings, hundreds of dressings have been made for the Red Cross and E.P.S. The Salvation Army League has also contributed.

WOODVILLE HAS EARNED A JUSTIFIABLY PROUD POSITION IN THE LADDER OF PATRIOTIC ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Photo captions –

MRS. R.R. JOHNSTON, Mayoress of Woodville, has a fulltime war job. She is president of the District Ladies’ Committee of the Woodville Patriotic Society and similarly presides over the Red Cross and Lady Galway Guild Branches.

MRS. W. GALBRAITH (left) commandment of Woodville voluntary aides is a qualified aide herself, while Mrs. H. P. Horne (above), is president of Woodville W.W.S.A., Plunket Society and Crippled Children’s Society.

MRS J.M. GRAHAM does splendid work as president of both the Woodville branch of the W.D.F.U.  and the Southern Hawkes Bay executive of the Union. She is also an industrious member of the W.W.S.A.