INVERCARGILL Y. W. C. A.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 10

INVERCARGILL Y. W. C. A.

DOMINION PATRONESS : Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool. PRESIDENT : Mr.s W. F. Bisset. VICE-PRESIDENT3 : Mrs J. T. F. Mitchell, Miss Birss. HON. SECRETARY : Miss V. A. Jamieson. HON. TREASURER : Mrs R. R. Macgregor. BOARD OF DIRECTORS : (Term expires 1921.) Mrs R. R. Macgregor, Mrs Greenwood, Mrs Brodie, Mrs J. T. F. Mitchell, Miss V. A. Jamieson. (Term expires 1922.) Mrs W. F. Bisset, Mrs G. Chewings, Mrs R. A, Anderson, Mias B. H. Asher, Mrs P. Oruickshank. (Term expires 1923.) Mrs T. W. Walker, Mrs J. D, Giimore, Mrs J. Collie, Miss H. Birss. ADVISORY BOARD: Hon. A. F. Hawke, R. A. Anderson Esq., J. Hensley Esq., C. S. Longuet Esq. HON. SOLICI-TOR : G. S. Longuet, Esq. HON. PHYSICTAN : Dr Pottinger. HON. AUDITOR. J. llensley, Esq. GENERAL SECRETARY : Miss Mildred Williams. SPECIAL GIRLS' WORKER: Miss Bella Thomson, HOUSE SECRETARY : Miss Farquhar. CLUB ATTENDANT : Miss Rose Mahoney. ANNUAL REPORT. 1919-1920. We have come to the end of another year Of service for our King. As we give our reports we need not fear He will spurn the results we bring ; For He looks with compassion on al! we do In love for His dea.r sake, And if through the year to our God we're true, Our gifts He will surely take. As we stand at the close of another year Let us pause and ask His grace. That with hands that are strong to do and bear Each may serve Him in her place. May our Dominion be saved for the Pririce of Peaee, And may we faithful he, That love may reign and strife may cease In our Land of Liberty. ADMINISTRATION. We have welcomed to our Board of Directors during the year, Mrs W. F. Bisset (president), Mrs G. Chewings, Mrs P. Cruickshankr and Miss Wilson, though we regret the resignation in December of Miss Wilson who has left the district. We again feel grateful for practical advice and help given by the members of our Advisorv Board in financial problems that have assailed us through the year. There have been alterations on the staff, 'Miss Hunt, our Girl's Department secretary, left us in April to ret lrn to Ler home in Melbourne, and Miss B. !tvcmson was appointed on May 7 th to carry on the work of that department for a term, In ihe opening paragraph of our report Tast year we stressed the leed Kr a kitchenette in ctfnnection with the CJuh Rooms. We are glad to be aols lo report that through the generosity of two of o.ur business men, that i • cd Iias been met. The girls of the town are beginning to appreciate it and there is now quite a substantial nuclaus of what we believe Will be a good cafeteva- de partment. We have been able during the year tc assist with several outside event3. In the Peace Celebrations Procession some of the members represented Women War Workers of Britain, and several of the senior members gave assistance to the YV.O.A at their canteen for returned soldiers. On Violet Day the Y.W.C.A. »vas responsible for a street stall in aid of the Children's House. On another occasi we were able to assist the Stocking League with their exhibition of garments for the poor in England, by lending our robins and crockery. Our own Daffob.i Day organised by Hue members of the B«avd of Directors netted £57 to ihe general expenses, while a Cake and Pudding i air in December brought in £26. RELIGIOUS WORK. The Sunday afternoon Bible Class preceded by a song service has been held all through the year. On Sunday afternoon, April 20th, the members joined in the Peace Celebrations Service- at the Theatre, and in May one Sunday was given up in ortler that the (girls might atjtend a

Woman's Meeting iu the Y.M.C.A. when M ; G. W. W. B. Hughes told of women's war work as he had seen it. On two other Sundays the class a-ttended the Booth Mission, some of the girls helping in the choir. We would like to thank our president, Mrs W. F. Bisset, Mr S. Hoare, Y.M.C.A. secretary, and Mr G. B. 'Galloway for services rendered at our Sunday gatherings. FOREIGN WORK. There has again been an advance in this department. The Birthday League has been revived with Miss Rose Mahoney as secretary. We take the opportunity of inviting all who care to help to send in a thank offering on their birthdays towards the support of our work in foreign lands. The Girl's Department_ secured its quota by a Japanese Fair manag,ed entirely by the girls themselves. Alfcogether the sum of £18 10s has been raised in the interests of the Foreign Department. We are glad to report this deepening interest in view of tlio fac.t that the coming years ai'e bringing increased responsibilities in connection with our work in foreign fields. EDUCATIONAL. Millinery : — The average attendance at the millinery class has been seven. Much thanks is due to the efficient instruction given by Miss Dykes. Physical Culture : — Fourteen girls enroled with Mr Page as instructor for physical culture. In consideration for tha visitors to the supper rooms which hava opened on the floor beneath us we finl it necessary to raove our physical culturt club to one of the halls at the liostel. This movement interfered with the attendance as several of the girls found it too far to go. We are grateful indeed to Mr Page for his sustained interest and careful instruction in spite of these adverse conditions. Home Nursing : — This has been one of the qjost successful classes held during the winter. We were fortunate in securing the services of Matron Ewart of the Southland Hospital to give a series of lectures and demonsCrations to the girls. Twenty-eight members enrolled and a fairly full attendance wtis maintained throughout. Korou Club : — A senior girl's club meets every Thursday night. Half of the evening is spent in glee singing and for the remainder a miscellaneous programme has been drawn np, including artificial respiration, literary subjects and addresses. MEMBERSHIP. During the year fiity-five new membc-s have been welcomed, with the inevitable number of names dropping off for reasois varied, our membership remains almost the same as it was last year. OUT OF DOORS. A Tramp Club has been formed and tbe members have enjoyed hikes to Thomson 's Bush, Ocean Beach, and Yictoria Park. At this latter place, the home of Mr R. A. Anderson, the girls wer entertained at afternoon tea by Mrs Anderson and given permission to pick sweetpeas to their hearts content. After a delight. ful ramble through the very beautiful gardens, Mt Anderson kindly motored us back to the tram terrninus. Another much enjoyed outing was a moonlight picnic at Thomson's Bush. These vesper times amid our fun and with such beautiful surroundings do much towards keeping us all strong in mind and body for the day's work. Camps At Easter, although the weather was exceedingly wet, one of the best camps we have had was held at the Rocks, Riverton. There was plenty of fun and sunshine inside to rnake up for the lack of it outside, and as each evening we gathered round the big open fire, the spirit of the Easter-time was very manifest and precious. A school girl's camp was held at Riverton at Labour Day week-end. This time the weather was more favourable and the campers were able to enjoy the glories of tlie outof -doors. (The remainder of the report will appear in our next issue.)