A FINE RECORD

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 1, 16 January 1952, Page 7

A FINE RECORD

TAUPO WOMEN'S INSTITUTE Inspired by the spirit of communjty service, about. thirty women of Taupo assembled in the local school room, one day in June 1933 to form a Women's Institute, and so to link up with the world-wide movement Jaunched in 'Canada many years ago. The Women's Institute movement is probably one of the greatest organisations for social service ever estab;lished. Its motto, inscribed on its hadge, is "Service, not iSelf", bearing witness to the sacrificial spirit animating its members. Its objectives «are, fundamentally, to help and to aid the lonely, to comfort the sick and the bereaved, to hearten tjhe morale of others facing and endur^ng hardships and the stress of adyersity. It is also a pleasant meeting ground for social intercourse and aetivities. Throughout. its history ,the Taupo Women's Institute has ^ived up to the ideals of this great iworld organisation. The Taupo Institute linked up with its big neighbour, the Waikato Federation of Women's Institutes. Its ^irst president was Mrs Stott, with ^Vlrs Hooper as honorary secretary, both of wbom held office for four years. (Mrs Hooper fthen became ^president, with Mrs Tierney as .secretary. Two years later Mrs J. Taylor became president, with Mrs Tierney continuing as secretary until relieved by Mrs Glass. Mrs Taylor caried on as president for twelve years, a wonderful record, which •earned for her the well-merited Institute medal for long service. During the past year Mrs Glass assumed office as president, with Mrs Tierney as secretary. Taupo Women's Institute during the depression years and World War II engaged in a variety of helpful and charitable services, including soup for school children to the quantity of gallons a day, each member making her quota of four gallons from Monday till Friday. Wartime parcels for Taupo servicemen overseas were packed and dispatched with unfailing regularity. Also was provided a money gift on return, and invariably of course, a present ^of a wallet or pen upon leaving for active service. As further testimony to the interest displayed in a practical spirit by the Taupo Women's Institute was a donation of £72 to the local R.S.A. hall fund. The Institute is a live body, and is not satisfied to rest on its laurels. Regular meetings are held — on the third Wednesday of each month. In addition it has been found possible to send a delegate to all the big Institute Conferences wherever held in the Dominion. Much valuable information has resultsd from the contacts of the delegates with other Institute branches at these conferences, and the financing of the Taupo representatives has been well worth while. The branch is now linked with the Rotorua Federation of Women's Institutes, with Mrs .Tierney as minute secretary.