Newspaper Article 1986 – The Beginning – Napier

The Beginning – Napier

The year 1936, and the name of Mrs Laura Tekla Holland, will surely be remembered with gratitude by the hundreds of Inner Wheel members now spread throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand.

Mrs Holland, who was of Danish ancestry, became aware of, and interested in, the formation of Inner Wheel Clubs while on board ship travelling with her husband to a Rotary Conference in Scandinavia.  On 27 November, 1936, Mrs Holland called a meeting of the wives of Rotarians in the lounge of the Masonic Hotel in Napier, and it was at this gathering that the decision to form an Inner Wheel Club in Napier was made.

This then, was the beginning of the Inner Wheel movement in New Zealand, and the first committee was formed with Mrs Holland as President, Mrs Edmundson as Vice President, Mrs Chadwick as Secretary and Mrs Wallace as Treasurer – an office which the latter held for twenty years.

Mrs Holland continued as a faithful member of the club up to the time of her death in 1978, and was one of the three foundation members who were honoured at the Fortieth Anniversary celebrations of the club in 1976.

Mrs Dorrie Brown who was also a member of the first committee, and who I had great pleasure of meeting in 1985 passed away earlier this month.  She had so been looking forward to the Golden Jubilee celebrations but her death was a happy release for her.

Napier’s 50th Anniversary Dinner was held on October 11 when World President Minna Kapur, from India, was a special guest.

Kawerau will charter an Inner Wheel Club on November 1 when a good attendance is expected from around the District.