After serving the Dunedin community for more than 120 years, the Victoria League in Otago has been wound up.
League president Christine Bell said the end had become a reality when the organisation simply ran out of people to run it.
‘‘I think we’ve got about 23 financial members, but no-one wants to run the meetings.
‘‘The treasurer’s resigning today and the secretary’s moving on. That just leaves me as president.
‘‘I can’t do it by myself. I need at least six people.
‘‘We just can’t keep going.
‘‘It’s really quite sad.’’
Mrs Bell said the Victoria League in Otago was established in 1905, soon after the London-based society formed in 1901 to promote unity and friendship across the British Empire.
The Otago league was New Zealand’s first branch and its volunteers were dedicated to fostering friendship and understanding, hospitality, education and cultural ties among Commonwealth nations.
Until yesterday, the Dunedin-based branch had remained active, promoting goodwill, hosting social events and maintaining connections to the monarchy.
‘‘In its heyday, when young people were going to London for their overseas experience or studying in the 1950s, they went and they all joined,’’ she said.
‘‘Tea, dances and outings and visits — lots of people used to meet through the Victoria League and get married.’’
More recently, it had become increasingly difficult to attract younger members and keep the league going, she said.
‘‘Most of our members now are in their 80s.
‘‘Older people today are very busy helping their children. They’re looking after grandchildren or they’re possibly still working. They just don’t have the time.’’
She said many of the league’s members now resided in rest homes or residential care and were not as mobile as they used to be.
‘‘And younger people — they have less of an interest in the Royals at the moment.’’
But that might change and it gave her hope that the league could be re-established in the future.
She believed there could be a resurgence of interest in royalty among young New Zealanders.
‘‘I think it’ll be more of a popularity thing.
‘‘I do feel that there could be a future if younger people take up the reins — once William and Kate are in charge.
‘‘It could be resurrected — probably not by myself — but it could be with like-minded people.’’
She said there had been many highlights over the years, including many visits by people closely linked to the Royal Family, like the British high commissioner.
Mrs Bell said she would miss ‘‘the social side of things’’ the most.
‘‘We’ve met monthly as a group and we’ve managed to have a great speaker every time,’’ she said.
She said it was appropriate that their last gathering (for now) was celebrated with a Victorian high tea, at the Dunedin Club, yesterday.
