A GALLANT DEED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1938, Page 8

A GALLANT DEED

HUMANE SOCIETY AWARD. PRESENTED BY THE PREMIER TO MISS Z. PICKERING. A gallant deed was recognised and acclaimed appropriately in the Opera House on Saturday evening, when the theatre was filled to capacity for the reception to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J Savage). At the request of the Mayor (Mr T. Jordan) the Prime Minister presented to Miss Zoe Pickering framed letters of commendation from the Royal Humane Society to Miss Pickering and to her sister (now Mrs Ingley) for a brave attempt they made to save the life of the late Mr Monte Tocker at Lake Ferry some four years ago. Mr Jordan explained that he had waited for a suitable opportunity on which to make the presentation.

Mr Jordan recalled that some four years ago, two young ladies of this town —Miss Zoe Pickering and her sister o Miss Dorothy Pickering, now Mrs Ingley—made a galant effort to save the life of Mr Monte Tocker, who was overtaken by cramp when swimming at Lake Ferry. Miss Zoe Pickering swam some 250 yards out to bring Mr Tocker ashore, her sister going out part of the distance to help her. Unfortunately attempts to revive Mr Tocker did not succeed. When the matter was brought under the notice of the Royal Humane Society, it awarded these two young ladies framed letters of commendation for their gallant effort. (Cheers and applause).

The Mayor then read one of the Royal Humane Society's letters, and asked the Prime Minister to present it to Miss Zoe Pickering, whose sister was unable to be present. The letter to Miss Pickering reads as follows: —“Madam, —We have the honour to inform you that at a meeting of the Court of Directors held on September 26, 1934, it was unanimously resolved that yAi be highly commended for your humane and praiseworthy conduct in attempting to rescue Monty Honi Tocker from drowning at Lake Ferry, Wairarapa, New Zealand, on March 30, 1934. We have the honour to be, Madam, your obedient servants.” The signatures are those of the president and -the secretary of the Royal Humane Society. The letter to Mrs Ingley is in identical terms.

Making the presentation, Mr Savage said the Humane Society letter expressed in simple terms! the feelings of everyone and would mark for all time the gallantry and heroism displayed by Miss Pickering and her sister. This was one of many similar acts which

took place from time to time and, he was afraid, were too often overlooked. When you found two young girls getting into a lake to grapple with a drowning man, that, he thought, was gallantry of the first order. It showed that women did not take second place to men when it came to gallantry in helping fellow human beings in trouble. The Premier told Miss Pickering that if it ever became his privilege to help her in any way, he should be delighted. Her conduct on the occasion to which the award related marked her as one of nature’s ladies, if he might put it in that way. (Loud applause). On being told that Miss Pickering’s sister had been unable to be present, Mr Savage said: “I should be glad if you would convey to her my kindest regards and admiration for her gallant deed.” (Applause). At the Mayor’s call, three hearty cheers were given for Miss Pickering and Mrs Ingley.

Mr Jordan said the letters of commendation from the Humane Society had been in his possession for a considerable time. He had waited for a suitable opportunity on which the presentation might be made. That was his only apology.