Otapiri Lora Gorge Womens' Division of Federated Farmers

Record Group

Identifier: A0091

Staff Only

Overview

A collection of notebooks, account books, and correspondence for the years 1953 to 1986. Some stubs of cheque, deposit and receipt books are included with documents contained within envelopes. The receipt-book stubs (for subscriptions) are valuable in that names of members are recorded.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1953 - 1986

Creator

Federated Farmers of New Zealand. Women's Division (Organization)

Women's Division Federated Farmers

The Women's Division of the Farmers Union began in 1925, when the women who accompanied their husbands to Wellington for a Farmer's Union meeting got together and recognised the isolated and hard lives many farmers wives led. They aimed to improve living conditions and rural services, including medical facilities and schooling. Getting domestic help for women who were sick or away was realised as being very important and an Emergency Housekeeping Scheme was started. They published cookbooks, and a magazine, and established holiday homes for it's members to recuperate and relax in. They also ran social events, entered competitions at A&P shows, encouraged young girls with talks and tours, and provided soldiers with parcels during the war. It was renamed Women’s Division Federated Farmers (WDFF) and in the 1970's reached over 21,000 members. Their name changed again to Rural Women New Zealand and they continue to support women and rural communities.

The Otapiri branch opened in 1939 and the first president was Mrs G. Wadworth. Beginning during the war, it's focus was the war effort. They knitted and sent parcels, and upon return each soldier in teh district recieved a wall mirror. They continued to support worthy causes such as the Red Cross, UNRRA, "Fat for Britain" scheme and many others. New babies in the area were given a Post Office Savings Bank money box.

See Bibliography for References

Extent

1 box(es) (Box 1)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Bibliography

W.D.F.F. : Southland provincial history, 1930-1955' by Federated Farmers of New Zealand. Women's Division.
Reference: LC 630 WOM
'WDFF : Southland Provincial history 1980-1990' by Federated Farmers of New Zealand. Women's Division.
Reference: LC 630 WOM
Rural Women New Zealand
https://www.ruralwomen.org.nz/ (accessed 13/02/2019)
'Women’s Division Federated Farmers 1925 –' by Rosemarie Smith, NZ History
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/women-together/womens-division-federated-farmers (accessed 13/02/2019)

Womens Division of Federated Farmers - Holiday Homes Committee

WDFF Holiday Homes Committee Minute books have been transfered to Southland District Council Archives - 20/05/93.

See documentation in Donation Folder.