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Women’s Auxiliary RSA
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TitleWomen’s Auxiliary RSA
DescriptionThe Women’s Auxiliary of the Southbridge RSA was formed in July 1938. They immediately got to work and ran socials and a Diggers Market in the Southbridge Town Hall which raised £72-17-3. There were 33 members in the first year and they joined with the Plunket Society and Women’s Institutes to run Poppy Day.
In 1940 the name of both the RSA and the Women’s Auxiliary was changed from Southbridge to Ellesmere. Membership had risen to 52 and was 126 by 1947-48.
The subscription originally set at one shilling (ten cents) was raised to 2/6 (25c).
Helen Coe had been elected to the rehabilitation committee in 1943 and she noted that the committee’s work was steadily growing. In 1945 it was noted that there was a need for tolerance to our boys on their return home particularly to prisoners of war.
RSA reunions were held each year and balls also became a yearly event. The Women’s Auxiliary assisted with both functions. They continued to work with the Plunket Society and the Women’s Institutes on Poppy Day and schools also became involved.
The major yearly donation was made to 'Heritage' which supported widows and children of servicemen who died because of the war. The amount spent had risen from £7 ($14) in 1946 to £1630 ($3260) in 1951 as the children reached secondary school and university age. Other yearly donations were made to the Disabled Servicemen’s Association and to War Amputees usually about £10 ($20) to each.
Regular visits were made to the Kaiapoi RSA Women’s Section and return visits hosted. A number of speakers from the Christchurch area suggested that Ellesmere should become the name of the women’s section in Ellesmere but the local women strongly opposed any name change.
A children’s Christmas party started about 1957 when 130 children attended. The catering of the RSA golf tournament was undertaken. From 1959 until 1970, a fatherless Korean boy, Cha Chare Kim was sponsored. He sent regular letters and parcels were sent to him. Support for Rannerdale Home in Riccarton became increasingly important for the organisation to support.
When the 60th Jubilee was celebrated in 1998, 21 members attended. There were few new members after the Jubilee and activities lessened as members aged until the branch closed.
DescriptionThe Women’s Auxiliary of the Southbridge RSA was formed in July 1938. They immediately got to work and ran socials and a Diggers Market in the Southbridge Town Hall which raised £72-17-3. There were 33 members in the first year and they joined with the Plunket Society and Women’s Institutes to run Poppy Day. In 1940 the name of both the RSA and the Women’s Auxiliary was changed from Southbridge to Ellesmere. Membership had risen to 52 and was 126 by 1947-48.
The subscription originally set at one shilling (ten cents) was raised to 2/6 (25c).
Helen Coe had been elected to the rehabilitation committee in 1943 and she noted that the committee’s work was steadily growing. In 1945 it was noted that there was a need for tolerance to our boys on their return home particularly to prisoners of war.
RSA reunions were held each year and balls also became a yearly event. The Women’s Auxiliary assisted with both functions. They continued to work with the Plunket Society and the Women’s Institutes on Poppy Day and schools also became involved.
The major yearly donation was made to 'Heritage' which supported widows and children of servicemen who died because of the war. The amount spent had risen from £7 ($14) in 1946 to £1630 ($3260) in 1951 as the children reached secondary school and university age. Other yearly donations were made to the Disabled Servicemen’s Association and to War Amputees usually about £10 ($20) to each.
Regular visits were made to the Kaiapoi RSA Women’s Section and return visits hosted. A number of speakers from the Christchurch area suggested that Ellesmere should become the name of the women’s section in Ellesmere but the local women strongly opposed any name change.
A children’s Christmas party started about 1957 when 130 children attended. The catering of the RSA golf tournament was undertaken. From 1959 until 1970, a fatherless Korean boy, Cha Chare Kim was sponsored. He sent regular letters and parcels were sent to him. Support for Rannerdale Home in Riccarton became increasingly important for the organisation to support.
When the 60th Jubilee was celebrated in 1998, 21 members attended. There were few new members after the Jubilee and activities lessened as members aged until the branch closed.
Evelyn Doyle, Ruby Heslop, Millie Hay cutting the 50th Anniversary cake in 1988.
Connections
CollectionService and SacrificeOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
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Women’s Auxiliary RSA. Selwyn Stories, accessed 27/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6242