The Elusive Link

          In 1932 11 Ladies Founded the Awhitu Country Women's Institute and in about 1934 a Farming Link was established with the Burgh le Marsh Women's Institute in Lincolnshire England . During the 1939-45 war years parcels were sent but discontinued in the 1950's when the need was over.

       Years passed and Awhitu C.W.I. was about to celebrate 50yrs and Betsy Robinson was asked to research the past years. Part of this was finding out the address of Burgh le Marsh and picking up that contact again. What happened during those years and till now is not known.

         The year 2004 brought about changes to this, with once again being in contact with them and this is how it happened.

        Burgh le Marsh W.I. is celebrating their 80 th anniversary this year and as part of the celebrations two of their members researched their history and found that they had corresponded with a C.W.I. in New Zealand for many years in the forties and fifties, but records were very vague and they didn't know which Institute. Curiosity got the better of one member and she wrote to the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington which keeps C.W.I. archives (she found this on the internet) they did a lot of research but didn't find anything. So they emailed and referred her to the New Zealand Federation of Country Women's Institutes who she also emailed.

         But an amazing thing happened, their President met a Lady she knew in the Supermarket and she said to her that her Mother had died (she was also a past President) in sorting out personal papers etc she found an old letter from a C.W.I. in New Zealand . As the address on the letter was Manukau Heads R.D.4. Waiuku it was obvious the correspondent was an Awhitu member. The signature was not very clear, only Betsy could be deciphered, but we all at Awhitu knew she was Betsy Robinson. Even those that had never met her (she died about 10yrs ago) knew of her work for Institute, Planket and other things in the area.

         How did I become involved, well it was like this? National Federation contacted South Auckland Federation and the Secretary gave me Sylvia Blight's (of Burgh le Marsh) email address and I sent her a return email and she replied and also sent me a copy of Betsy Robinson's old letter.

        All this has been exciting and amazing, that over 70yrs we still have that Link though some what elusive.

          Kit Howell Awhitu.W.I.

  Sylvia's Page