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Dunsandel Ladies' Hockey using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library
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TitleDunsandel Ladies' Hockey using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library
DescriptionIn the absence of any early records of the Dunsandel Ladies’ Hockey Club, Mackie (1979) [1] regarded that a photograph claimed to have been taken in 1900 as proof that the club was in existence at that date.
However an article in the Press in September 1904 [2] records that “Great interest was shown in the first match between the Addington and Dunsandel ladies’ teams at the Sydenham Park”.
In describing the Dunsandel team the newspaper went on to say that, “This being their first match, they lost several opportunities of scoring through over eagerness and bad shooting”.
Misses Wright (2), Walker (2), and Washbourne played well for Dunsandel.
In a further match, this time against Waihora (Doyleston), Dunsandel was defeated 3 goals to 13.
“The game was very fast throughout and splendid play was shown by both sides.
For Dunsandel, Misses Walker, Washbourne, Gemmel, and Gates, played well”.
By 1906, in common with some other clubs, the Dunsandel Club had taken a Maori name, “Waikirikiri”, and an event that was a little different for Dunsandel occurred [4].
The gentlemen of Dunsandel and surrounding district gave a return dance to the ladies of the Waikirikiri Hockey Club.
About sixty couples were present, and Fox's Band supplied the music. The hall was prettily decorated, and the floor was in good condition tor dancing.
The same happened the following year [5] but this time there were about 40 couples in the hall and Wells Band supplied the music.
The 1908, 1909 and 1910 annual meetings were reported [6-8] but the venues were not mentioned.
1908 was obviously a good year as the annual report stated that the club won seven games, drew two and lost two.
Over the 3 years the presidents and vice-presidents and delegates to the Association were almost all male or married women and single girls could only aspire to be secretaries, captains or members of the selection committee.
J.S Boag’s name was conspicuous as it also featured in Dunsandel football and cricket.
The 1926 AGM was definitely held in the Dunsandel Hall [9] and at this later time the president and all the vice presidents were male with unmarried ladies occupying most of the other roles.
The 1910 annual dance which was held on a cold night in July in the hall [10], attracted a good attendance.
Visitors from Christchurch, Doyleston, Greendale and Rakaia were present.
No further reports of social activities could be found in the newspapers until August 1922 when the club held a ball in the hall [11] which was nicely decorated with the colours of the club (blue and black).
The music was supplied by Chappell's Band, extras being played by Misses Clinton and M. Lill.
Unfortunately the hall was uncomfortably crowded for dancing but everything was done to make the evening enjoyable for all. Miss D. Walker, the secretary, worked hard to make the affair a success.
1925 appears to have been a busy year socially with a fancy dress ball [12] in June and an annual ball [13] in August.
For the first event, the hall was decorated with rainbow coloured streamers, and greenery and for the second with vari-coloured streamers and spring flowers.
Grand marches were led by Mr J. Hardy and Miss N. Patterson.
Macdonald's Orchestra, from Rakaia, supplied the music on both occasions and also the following year and for the fancy dress ball in 1927 [14], and extras were played by Misses I. Chappell & M. and R. Lill.
The 1925 format was repeated in 1926 with a fancy dress ball [15,16] in May in a hall “crowded to its utmost capacity” and an annual ball in October [17].
Details of the fancy costumes worn by the attendees were recorded. The hall was prettily decorated with orange, pink and green streamers, and the walls were decorated with greenery for the 1927 fancy dress ball in June [18].
Also the floor was in good order and an excellent supper was served in the anteroom.
A lucky spot waltz was won by Miss Dunlop and Mr C. Chatterton, and extras were played by Miss L. Chappell.
Prizes were awarded for the best fancy dresses to Miss M. Gudsell (Gipsy), and Mr J. Shanks (Mexican), and for the most original to Miss L. McGregor (Window), and Mr J. Drake (Nigger) [19].
Well’s Band was chosen for the successful and well attended plain and fancy dress dance that was held in June 1928 [20]. No venue was mentioned but it was probably the hall.
Extras were contributed by Misses I. Chappell and D. Forster and by Mr C. Hampton. Messrs J. Drake and K. W. Macpherson were the M.C's.
The Hockey Club committee arranged and served a bountiful supper. Again, prizes were presented for best fancy dress.
In the final year of the first hall (1929), three social events were reported.
Euchre and dance social in May [21], a concert by the Christchurch Y.M.C.A. Orchestra in June [22] and a social/dance in August [23,24].
According to Mackie (1979) [25] “by the mid-‘fourties the growing popularity of basketball (netball) as a winter sport for young women brought about the eclipse of hockey, and the club went into permanent recess”.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1904-1929SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandel
DescriptionIn the absence of any early records of the Dunsandel Ladies’ Hockey Club, Mackie (1979) [1] regarded that a photograph claimed to have been taken in 1900 as proof that the club was in existence at that date. However an article in the Press in September 1904 [2] records that “Great interest was shown in the first match between the Addington and Dunsandel ladies’ teams at the Sydenham Park”.
In describing the Dunsandel team the newspaper went on to say that, “This being their first match, they lost several opportunities of scoring through over eagerness and bad shooting”.
Misses Wright (2), Walker (2), and Washbourne played well for Dunsandel.
In a further match, this time against Waihora (Doyleston), Dunsandel was defeated 3 goals to 13.
“The game was very fast throughout and splendid play was shown by both sides.
For Dunsandel, Misses Walker, Washbourne, Gemmel, and Gates, played well”.
By 1906, in common with some other clubs, the Dunsandel Club had taken a Maori name, “Waikirikiri”, and an event that was a little different for Dunsandel occurred [4].
The gentlemen of Dunsandel and surrounding district gave a return dance to the ladies of the Waikirikiri Hockey Club.
About sixty couples were present, and Fox's Band supplied the music. The hall was prettily decorated, and the floor was in good condition tor dancing.
The same happened the following year [5] but this time there were about 40 couples in the hall and Wells Band supplied the music.
The 1908, 1909 and 1910 annual meetings were reported [6-8] but the venues were not mentioned.
1908 was obviously a good year as the annual report stated that the club won seven games, drew two and lost two.
Over the 3 years the presidents and vice-presidents and delegates to the Association were almost all male or married women and single girls could only aspire to be secretaries, captains or members of the selection committee.
J.S Boag’s name was conspicuous as it also featured in Dunsandel football and cricket.
The 1926 AGM was definitely held in the Dunsandel Hall [9] and at this later time the president and all the vice presidents were male with unmarried ladies occupying most of the other roles.
The 1910 annual dance which was held on a cold night in July in the hall [10], attracted a good attendance.
Visitors from Christchurch, Doyleston, Greendale and Rakaia were present.
No further reports of social activities could be found in the newspapers until August 1922 when the club held a ball in the hall [11] which was nicely decorated with the colours of the club (blue and black).
The music was supplied by Chappell's Band, extras being played by Misses Clinton and M. Lill.
Unfortunately the hall was uncomfortably crowded for dancing but everything was done to make the evening enjoyable for all. Miss D. Walker, the secretary, worked hard to make the affair a success.
1925 appears to have been a busy year socially with a fancy dress ball [12] in June and an annual ball [13] in August.
For the first event, the hall was decorated with rainbow coloured streamers, and greenery and for the second with vari-coloured streamers and spring flowers.
Grand marches were led by Mr J. Hardy and Miss N. Patterson.
Macdonald's Orchestra, from Rakaia, supplied the music on both occasions and also the following year and for the fancy dress ball in 1927 [14], and extras were played by Misses I. Chappell & M. and R. Lill.
The 1925 format was repeated in 1926 with a fancy dress ball [15,16] in May in a hall “crowded to its utmost capacity” and an annual ball in October [17].
Details of the fancy costumes worn by the attendees were recorded. The hall was prettily decorated with orange, pink and green streamers, and the walls were decorated with greenery for the 1927 fancy dress ball in June [18].
Also the floor was in good order and an excellent supper was served in the anteroom.
A lucky spot waltz was won by Miss Dunlop and Mr C. Chatterton, and extras were played by Miss L. Chappell.
Prizes were awarded for the best fancy dresses to Miss M. Gudsell (Gipsy), and Mr J. Shanks (Mexican), and for the most original to Miss L. McGregor (Window), and Mr J. Drake (Nigger) [19].
Well’s Band was chosen for the successful and well attended plain and fancy dress dance that was held in June 1928 [20]. No venue was mentioned but it was probably the hall.
Extras were contributed by Misses I. Chappell and D. Forster and by Mr C. Hampton. Messrs J. Drake and K. W. Macpherson were the M.C's.
The Hockey Club committee arranged and served a bountiful supper. Again, prizes were presented for best fancy dress.
In the final year of the first hall (1929), three social events were reported.
Euchre and dance social in May [21], a concert by the Christchurch Y.M.C.A. Orchestra in June [22] and a social/dance in August [23,24].
According to Mackie (1979) [25] “by the mid-‘fourties the growing popularity of basketball (netball) as a winter sport for young women brought about the eclipse of hockey, and the club went into permanent recess”.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1904-1929SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandelClick on the image to add
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Dunsandel Ladies' Hockey using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library (1904-1929). Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5527
