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Miss Shelly Lyons. of Cheltenhnm, the winâ€" ner of the Peel County Women's In- stitute bursary. Lanes and Links from the Australian Women’s Institutes Home and Country In the Country Women‘s Institute move- ment, some of the work done is not spectacu- lar, nor is it very well known to the general public. But it means a great deal to those con- cerned. Sometimes work done behind the scenes can be more important than, or at least, as great as that which is seen by the public eye. Into this category. we should put the “Lone” movement, and “Links.” Today I am going to tell you something of this work. The “Lones” operation was started some 15 years ago when it was decided to write to women who for various reasons such as dis- tance, age, or physical disabilities could not really take part fully and actively in the meet- ings. Some are bactecountry farmers’ wives, some lighthouse keepers‘ wives, some “shut-ins”. Many of these women would find life hum- drum without some outside interest. and this we endeavour to provide A "Lone" is adopted by an Institute, and members write regularly to her, telling her what has taken place at meetings, and interesting happenings, and plans for the future. If she’s near an Institute local member will visit her. They’re encouraged to Miss Joan Mundan- uld, of Terra Conn, winner of the 1963 Women‘s Institute Peel County Scholar- ship. 28 enter competitions especialy arranged for [ht-i ; in conjunction with the biannual confercn. and the Annual General Meeting. One "Lone" who was adopted in 1959 u the wife of a lighthouse keeper, on Cuvier ' land in Auckland Harbour. This member it a family of three, and her letters were mesi -. teresting. She told us how she watched r: weather as mail day approached, once, a It“ might. Supplies also arrived that day, and it 1,: weather forecast was bad, existing stocks w. carefully watched. just in case. People sail! her when she went to the lighthouse, “Oh, in you‘ll have plenty of spare time“; but 5 found that it was quite the reverse, as such number of adjustments had to be made. A extra work done. The children’s school wt‘ had to be supervised each morning, wh» meant household chores were delayed till afternoon. Maybe some mending or seuE. could be done in the evening, as there were near people to “pop in" and hinder her. T “Lone” enjoyed her stay there. She‘s now it South Island Institute, and can attend mt ings. but her adopted Institute still keeps touch. Another “Lone” is a permanent patient : hospital, and can do nothing for herself. ‘i just waits for mail every day, and the new her adopter. Yet another is a cripple who can lllll. meetings very rarely. She enters into all competitions, and keeps abreast of all doings of the movement. One member wrote to a “Lone” after e. meeting for seven years. This lady was it sick, and just lived for the letters. She ‘ since passed away, and her husband sent a . to the member, in appreciation of the year“ happiness she had given his wife. But those who adopt these “Lones” get much joy as those who are adOpted. If we a do something that may help someone e‘ well. there is our reward. There are now 119 “Lones” on our R. and we welcome enquiries from “Shut-ins" those who can‘t get to meetings. We'll gla adopt them and both parties will derive a of pleasure from getting to know each other. The “Lones” now have their own bam- This was displayed at the 1966 Confers and had a place of honour among Federal! Banners. Theirs is bright blue, depicting ‘ and sky and embroidered with a white 1161 pen and ink, and a lighthouse. It was made the Wanganui District Federation. The “Link” movement began during WU- War II. and has continued ever since. It felt, during those difficult days, that We n be able to help our less fortunate Sisters ‘ England. Addresses of Institutes were obtain ’ from London Headquarters and given to at HOME AND couN’f‘ri 1’