Campaigner steered by strong moral compass

Mary Dobbie numbered famous names in New Zealand's literary and political worlds among her friends. Photo / Supplied

Mary Lilian Dobbie, QSM. Journalist, campaigner for social and community causes. Died aged 95.

Mary Dobbie was one of the most remarkable women Auckland has known. Her influence spread over the whole country.

She was a journalist with a strong moral compass, and a practical and participating campaigner for social and community causes.

Her friends, some of whom she met at Auckland University, included some of the best known names in Auckland's literary and political worlds from the 1930s on, such as Elsie Locke, R. A. K. Mason, A. R. D. Fairburn, Frank Sargeson, Robin Hyde, Bob Lowry and Martyn Finlay. Her marriage to Pat Dobbie, who worked closely with Bob Lowry, brought her further contacts.

Mary herself might have said she was primarily the mother of five daughters, all of whom are leaving their marks on the community. She was also friend and mentor to people from a range of ages and backgrounds.

Born Mary Smee in England, she came with her parents to New Zealand in 1919. As a young reporter on Auckland's weekly Observer, she managed to escape the fate of most woman journalists - being confined to the society columns - and was shown the basics of news gathering by Robin Hyde.

Among her early interests was working for better nutrition for families through the Food Value League, such as suggesting "nutritious meals for a family of four on a working man's wage of £2 a week".

Elsie Locke had formed what became known as the Family Planning Association in 1939. Mary helped to start an Auckland branch, soon becoming its president. She was later to write the history of Family Planning nationwide.

This work showed her many other family problems and, with strong political views emerging, she helped to establish what became the Auckland Family Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, which today has a staff of more than 20.

The Parents Centre movement, begun by Helen Brew and Christine Cole in Wellington in 1952, soon became a major part of Mary's life, beginning with her joining the campaign for parents to be permitted to be with their children in hospitals.

By 1956 Professor Carey at National Women's Hospital was one of those interested in what was called natural childbirth, and other patient-centred techniques. These were anathema to the conservative nursing hierarchy but Mary was able to have her fifth baby naturally, and to room-in with her.

From the careful notes she took of the whole experience she was able to form a Parents Centre branch in Auckland with particularly warm support from Bethany Hospital where there were also many unmarried women whose babies were likely to be adopted.

Mary was the first to realise that Parents Centres should also be providing classes for these women and for the adopting parents. When Parents Centres federated in 1957, she first became national secretary and then editor of the movement's magazine, the Bulletin. This continues today as Kiwi Parent.

Although Parent Centres used films as part of training for birth and early parenthood, all were imported and none showed an actual birth. Mary and a Parents Centre father, Monty Mead, made several films which were warmly welcomed by many expectant parents throughout New Zealand.

Many, but not all, could see them because this was still the time when most doctors and maternity nurses believed that the least important people in the birth situation were the mothers. Fathers were left at the hospital front door.

When Mary in 1990 came to write the history of the Parents Centre movement, she included this anecdote from 1952: "A small deputation of young mothers humbly presented themselves at the surgery of the leading obstetrician who had written the maternity training handbook.

"They did not dare ask if their husbands could support them throughout labour but asked whether, if these husbands had first attended Parents Centre lectures given by supportive doctors, the specialist obstetricians would permit them to support their wives in first-stage labour only.

"This was during the time of the Cold War, and the leading obstetrician used the most dismissive words possible: 'You are nothing but a bunch of communists!"'

Mary continued as editor of the Bulletin until 1979, covering many matters vital to the emotional and physical health of infants, young children and their parents, spear-heading movements for political and social change and maintaining this interest for the rest of her life. Although she became blind in her later years she continued to live her belief that "to bring about real and lasting change, you must be political".

When she decided to live in Piha she at once became active in community issues, particularly conservation. In 1997 she received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community. She is survived by her five daughters and families.