Mrs Crawford has been a member of the Women’s Institute (WI) for over 50 years, holding several roles including treasurer and secretary of the Puha WI which she joined in 1973.
The Women’s Institute is a nationwide charitable organisation which support slocal communities by donating goods, catering and fundraising for worthwhile causes. They also support medical research and education awards.
Mrs Crawford is president of the Poverty Bay Wairoa Federation of WI and has been a member there for 48 years. From 2008 to 2012 she served on the national executive of the New Zealand WI, travelling to Wellington six times a year.
Her involvement with other organisations has included as friend and supporter of Alzheimers Gisborne Tairāwhiti and the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. From 2010 to 2017 she was part of the WI effort preparing and serving breakfast for the 1500 participants of the relay.
Her voluntary work has been recognised with a number of awards. She received the highest award in the Women’s Institute, the Gold Honours Badge, in 2000. In 2007 she received a Citizens Civic Award, given by the Gisborne District Council for outstanding voluntary work. She was named a Kiwibank Local Hero in 2013.
She has come a long way from the days when as a self-described loner she would choose to work at the back of the shop where she was employed, and take on cleaning jobs after hours when no one else was around.
“Somebody took me to one of the WI meetings, and from that time onwards it gave me a new purpose,” she said.
Impressed with the values Women’s Institute upheld — serving communities, home and country — she joined the organisation. There was no stopping her and she has since addressed crowds in the hundreds, when the WI’s national AGM was held in Gisborne, in 2007.
“We made polar fleece blankets for everyone to sit on and take home. I hear that people are still using them today,” she said.
Mrs Crawford’s mother encouraged her three daughters to cook and to be generous.
“We were brought up with, ‘It’s better to give than to receive’.”
The family attended school galas and school parent-teacher association meetings where they would be given a “70-pound bag of sugar to bake with”.
That shared love of cooking is something that has continued for Mrs Crawford.
“Cooking is my greatest joy, making people happy. I just think a little packet of biscuits is so simple to do, but it means such a lot to the person who receives it,” she said.
Mrs Crawford has also organised fundraising events for other charities including Gisborne Women’s Refuge and Hato Hone St John. She continues to participate as a St John’s caring caller — a volunteer service reaching out to those who may be living alone, providing support and friendship. She has provided baking to seniors and to promote WI activities. This includes the provision of 70 fruit cakes to be distributed following the Christchurch earthquakes.
She has been a trustee of the Tairāwhiti Positive Ageing Trust since 2006 and has supported the Poverty Bay A&P Show.
“My first biggest thank you is to the Women’s Institute. Fifty years ago when I joined, my whole life changed to make me what I am today. As a leader you’re grateful for the support and for believing in me and my ideas, as you cannot do it alone.”
Alison Crawford will receive her medal in an official investiture ceremony in May.
