Exceptional dedication to Women's Institute celebrated in Dannevirke

Celebrating a combined 260 years' membership of Women's Institute are Pam Henricksen, left, Carol Ellis, Val Moynihan, Margaret Larsen and Dorothy Ellis. Photo / Christine McKay

Women's Institute member Dorothy Ellis has just celebrated 70 years of institute membership, joining when she was 16.

But Dorothy, 86, jokes she's been a life-time member, attending meetings of the Macandrew Bay WI in her mother's womb.

"My mother founded the Macandrew Bay institute in Dunedin and we have a proud history of membership, with my aunt also a member," she said.

"When I first became a member our subscriptions were £1.6. For me the Women's Institute is about companionship, but these days the institute isn't so relevant to the young ones, they have to work and we were at home."

At one stage Dorothy belonged to four Women's Institutes - Mcacandrew Bay, Rua Roa, Pahiatua and Te Rehunga - and as a keen handcrafter she has won a national competition.

Although Dorothy became an institute member officially 70 years ago, she began attending in 1939 with her mother because her father was away at war.

Carol Ellis has been a member of the Rua Roa Women's Institute for 60 years and she's known as someone always willing to put her hand up to help.

"I was taken along to institute by neighbour Mrs Jensen and it's been most enjoyable ever since," she said. "It's a great organisation and everyone looks after each other, especially in years gone by when ladies didn't drive cars."

The Rua Roa WI is thriving with 30 members.

Val Moynihan and Pam Henricksen have been members of their respective Women's Institutes, Mangamutu and Horoeka Ti Tree Point, for 40 years.

Mangamutu WI has just seven members.

"When I joined there were 38 members, that number grew, but now, sadly, there are just a few of us. But we do have a lot of fun," Val said.

Margaret Larsen has been a member of the Te Rehunga WI for 50 years which has just four members.

"I think institutes in the city are doing better membership-wise than we are in the country now," she said.

The long-serving members' dedication to the WI movement was celebrated in Dannevirke last week at the annual meeting of the SHB Federation of Women's Institutes.