Women's Institute Festival

Women's Institutes from most districts throughout the Nelson province were represented at the annual one-day festival at Motueka late last month. This year, the branches were asked to provide a half-hour's entertainment rather than individual choral, dramatic, and verse speaking items as in the past. Mapua-Mahana had a very successful day, winning the Stringer Rosebowl for most points overall, and the trophies for the best choral work, floral work and for the Institute with under 40 members. At left are the winning Institutes' representatives with their trophies, Mrs D. Sowman (Motueka), best item of entertainment value, best half-hour's entertainment; Mrs D. Lummis (Lower Moutere), runner-up for overall points; Mrs S. W. Hodder, Mapua-Mahana, and Mrs M. Silcock (Uruwhenua), most points in drama.

A scene from the Uruwhenua branch presentation of Christmas in hospital. "Father", has just received his Red Cross present, a sort of bed cap, and he's trying it on.

From the same production, a couple of the nursing staff exchange gossip over rolling bandages.

The Tahunanui Institute took the audience on a trip to Commonwealth lands. Here, in the wilds of Canada, an Injun and his squaw arrive at a trading post.

The Motueka Institute's production of life in darkest Africa (we threw a little light on it here), was first-class. A lot of effort obviously had been put into the story, scenery and costuming. One of the features of the show was the dance of the chimps (right).

The Tahuna Institute was passing through Wales when we took this pic. The bottom pic shows the full cast of the Tahuna Institute production on stage.

A tableau by the Wakefield Institute. No need to explain this one.

A choral item from the Wakefield Institute.

The brat of a kid (and what a brat.') visiting dad in hospital during the Uruwhenua Institute's production gets a look from his long-suffering sister.

The winning floral display, by Mapua-Mahana, featured "War and Peace" – a very beautiful example of floral art.

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The Nelson Photo News

No 96 : October 19, 1968

Women's Institute Festival