1ZB HAPPINESS CLUB FAIR

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 43, 19 April 1940, Page 47

1ZB HAPPINESS CLUB FAIR

Over £1500 Raised For Charity

UCKLAND’S Town Hall has seen the second Fair held by the 1ZB Happiness Club. The sum collected was over £1,500. The Happiness Club’s reputation for successful functions was shown strikingly in Auckland when the second Fair was organised and run by members of the Happiness Club under the leadership of "Joan" (Joan Sutherland), eclipsing last year’s figures both for takings and attendance. Although comparatively new to her task as Director of the Happiness Club, Joan has shown her ability as organiser

and ‘leader of the nine thousand members of the club. The Fair was opened on Friday afternoon by the Mayoress of Auckland, Lady Davis, who has given her support and patronage to many Happiness Club functions. The opening was relayed by Station 1ZB, and during the afternoon listeners were acquainted with the happenings at the Town Hall by a series of short broadcasts, Perhaps the highlight of the Fair for many ZB fans was the miniature studio on the stage where 1ZB personalities, including Joan herself, Marina, John Batten, Gran, and George Vryer, conducted sessions "on the air" in the same way as they broadcast from the studio. However, the main object of the Fair was to make money for charitable purposes. This money was raised by various stalls, the contents of which showed the immense amount of work and organisation put into the Fair. The wide selection of goods, mostly representing hard work on the part of many women in their own homes, demonstrated the great spirit of co-operation and generosity which characterises the club. In conjunction with the Fair, the Happiness Club conducted a Queen Carnival. Each branch provided a candidate, ond there were many functions which ‘raised £611 in support of the respective Queens. The candidates for the " Royal" position weré presented on the stage of the Town Hall on the Saturday evening,

Amid much excitement, and before a huge audience, the winner of the Carnival was announced. This was Miss Audrey Horspool, of the Ponsonby Club. The votes depended on the number of pennies taken by each club, thus the biggest sum obtained for a particular Queen won the voting. The sum of £1,500 collected at the two-day Fair, and from the activities in aid of the Queens, out-distanced last year’s Fair by approximately £300, The attendance, too, probably constituted a record, although exact figures are not yet available.

Mention should be made of the meritorious effort of Miss Lorna King, in whose capable hands rested much responsibility. In addition to being Joan’s secretary she might also be described as the Happiness Club’s secretary. She handled the whole sum of over £1,500 in cash, assisted by a voluntary band of helpers, among whom were 1ZB personalities and members of the 1ZB staff. The "Coronation" will be held on April 24th, It will take the form of a concert provided by 1ZB, when the funds raised by the Fair and Carnival will be handed over to charity. The proceeds of the concert are to be donated to the Patriotic Council. After the Fair, Joan said: "People have been ringing me from North and South congratulating me on the phenomenal response. But I feel the members are the ones to be congratulated, as well as the people from 1ZB who helped me. It was wonderful how the boys were there standing by throughout the Fair ready to help — frem the technician, Bruce Reese, to John Griffiths, the station director. There was also Guy announcing, with John Gordon and Peter Hutt. Harold Walmsley was also helpful. I was grateful for the splendid professional items and the Ponsonby Boys’ Band, The Fair was a tribute to the spirit of happiness which permeates the whole club." /