Rural Women mark centenary

Diane Glennie, of Crookston (left), Morva Kennedy, of Tapanui (centre), and Gloria McHutchon, of Edievale, don celebratory finery for the Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) centennial celebration in Waikouaiti last month.

The West Otago women were among about 60 people attending a high tea at the town’s East Otago Events Centre, to celebrate 100 years of RWNZ in Otago.

The organisation stems from the 1925 Farmers’ Union Conference meeting in Wellington, to which 16 women accompanied their husbands, founding the Women’s Division of the Farmer’s Union.

Its goal was to improve support systems for all rural women.

More than 40 centennial celebrations have been held across New Zealand including southern events in Clifden, Cromwell, Henley, Invercargill, Moa Flat, Oamaru, Tapanui and Thornbury.

The Waikouaiti event was the final celebration in Otago and Southland.