Marking 85 years
For 85 years the Wanganui District Federation of Women’s Institutes has been bringing women together and serving the community.
On March 21 members celebrated the milestone with a lunch at the Grand Hotel, attended by national president Kay Hart from Motueka.
It was also an important and final event as Federation President for Shirley Forward who completed her term last month.
A good number attended the lunch with toasts and formalities, including cutting a celebratory cake by Kay and Patricia McMillan MNZM, the Federation’s longest serving member and holder of the Institute’s Gold Honours Badge.
June Swann read the History of Federation after which the group enjoyed live music entertainment.
This was Kay’s first visit to Whanganui as national president.
“I went in in 2014 for a twoyear term,” she says.
“If they like you enough they might put you back for a second term, but at the end of four years you stand down.
“There have been some quite large changes under my team’s management.
“I have a very good team that works extremely well together.”
Kay says the Institute’s direction will be continued by whoever takes over the role. Kay hopes to play a part in the WI centenary in three years’ time.
Accompanying Kay from the South Island was Maureen O’Connell, regional representative. Both returned a week later for the Wanganui Federation AGM.
Women’s Institutes in New Zealand were started in 1921 by Anna Elizabeth Jerome Spencer on her return from war work in England, where she had seen the work of the fledgling organisation.
She was awarded the OBE in 1937.
“It started in a slow way, in small numbers,” says Kay.
“But then it suddenly grew. At its height we had 42,000 members.
“We are not political and we are not tied to any particular church.
“We are here for friendship, company and to help our communities, and I feel that this particular federation is extremely good at working with and in its community.”
She says it’s still growing, with three WI groups starting up in South Auckland this year.
Kay has travelled to every federation bar one in the past four years.
In Stewart Island members put on a garden party for her.
“If you’ve ever seen little cocktail feather hats and gumboots worn at the same time . . .
“WI works. These ladies are here because they want to be here.”