QUILT OF DESTINY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 85, 12 June 1946, Page 8

QUILT OF DESTINY

AN HISTORIC LINK MOMENTO OF WORLD WAR I Covered entirely with messages of goodwill from the residents of this district thirty years ago, the ‘Quilt of Destiny’ was brought into the Beacon Office yesterday, by Mr H. Eivers of Manawahe. Its story is an intriguing' one of almost unbelievable coincidences, and belongs entirely to the residents of the Whakatane district. It is indeed, something of a shrine of memory to the patriotic ardour and goodwill extended by residents to the soldiers who left this corner of the Dominion to fight in Egypt and Turkey during the war years of 1914-18. This is its story:—

In 1916, the ladies comprising the Whakatane Women’s War Guild, decided upon the novel idea of compiling a quilt upon which would be worked in four inch squares, the personal goodwill messages of as many residents who were prepared to pay the small sum of one shilling. The quilt was duly completed, and nigh on one hundred names embroidered in all colours, and offset with cheering messages, were attached to its surface. Names of honoured and revered residents, many of whom have long since passed the Great Divide, may still be read and the remarkable state of preservation in which the quilt now is is probably a tribute to the workmanship and materials utilised in its making.

"When completed, it was despatched through the Joint Council of the British Red Cross and St. John to London, whence it was forwarded to Giza Hospital, Cairo, for use upon the especially dedicated Whakatane bed there. Throughout the war, and for many years after, it saw consistent service, and the messages conveyed to the patients must have had their own uplifting and intangible effect. It has been stated, by the matron of the Giza Hospital, that hundreds of men in the ward were greatly cheered and touched by the greetings and goodwill which were to ,be read on every corner of th« quilt.

In 1928, the widow of the former Colonel Commandant of the Giza Hospital, into whose possession the quilt drifted, discovered by sheer accident the address of Mrs J. Eivers, chairwoman of the Whakatane Women’s War Guild, and returned it to her as one of the most interesting war souvenirs which this town now possesses. Upon the death of the late Mrs Eivers, the quilt was taken by her husband (Mr James Eivers), to Gisborne, where he now lives. Here it was discovered recently by his brother, Mr H. Eivers, who is keen to have the quilt made over to a responsible body in Whakatane which will safeguard it as a permanent endowment. A safe return, Rest after Duty nobly done, Kia Ora, Cheerio, How do, ‘Strike, Strike Hard, and Strike Again.’ Whakatane

District, N.Z. 1916. The above constitutes the central hanel upon which is fourther designed in green and brown a tree and a fern and a kiwi. Some of the names which must arouse memories in the hearts of old residents are as under:—

Bina Duckworth; Ruth Lawson; Millie Cadness; Marion Eivers; Edith Newman; Bell Sutherland; Alice Reeve, Te Teko; E. Brown, Ngaroma; Irene Ganley, Te Teko; A. Sykes; A. Martin, G.‘ E. Ryde, Poroporo; Ray Beamish; Lillie Canning; Claire Tinnock, Waimana; M. B. Baty; A. Payne; James Shaw; E. Francis; Leah Skipper, Taneatua; Sara Shaw; A. J. Smyth; E. Pattie, Matata; E. Warnop; Rex Rondon; Annie Burt; F. E. Wardlaw, Waimana; Ivy Burt, Matata; Pat Richiem, Matata; Cis Skipper, Taneatua; E. A. Nixon; E. Bentley; Nena Lord, Taneatua; E. Palmer, Waimana; M. A. Thompson; Winnie Roberts, Waimana; D. J. Eivers; K. Bridger; Lillie Carson, Whakatane; D. Buddie; E. Sykes; N. Redwood; B. Reid; Eva Bell, Awakeri; Sid Burt, Matata; M. Ramson; Linda Sutherland; E. Luxton; Alma Olcn, Taneatua; R. Hardy Taneatua; Mrs A. P. Wylde; ‘Union Bank’; Fred Burt, Matata; Tup Skipper, Taneatua; Dick Bentley; A. J. Kirk; Clarry Payne, Waimana; E. Peebles, Taneatua; J. Campbell, Matata; E. T. and H. Snell, Waimana; M. Foster; John Kirk; Allbion Burt;

G. Creeke; E. Stewart, Matata; M. O’Neil, M. A. Ward; Iberis Nielson; J. Campbell; Judith Ball, Taneatua; Freda Tebbutt, Opouriao; M. McGarvey; M. Phillips; Bina Duckworth; Winnie Semmens, Taneatua; Mrs J. G. Anderson; I. McKenzie; Margie ! Holmes. The quilt is now on view in Messrs Bridgers Ltd. central window. We learn that shortly after its despatch, a second quilt, -modelled on exactly the same lines was sent to France. So far as is known, there Ts no trace of it.