Heritage Marlborough shines light on Women of the War

The roles of Marlborough women during WWII are being put into the spotlight at a series of events hosted by Heritage Marlborough, Council’s new heritage team.

The next event, Heritage Out Loud: Stitching for Victory, will be held on 24 August at Marlborough Library, Te Kahu o Waipuna, at 2pm.

Hosted by Dr Liz Ward, the event will focus on a wall hanging stitched by women of the Clarence Bridge Women’s Division of the Farmer’s Union during the war.

“The women stitched the signature quilt, which has more than 140 names stitched onto it, as a fundraiser during the Second World War. It features family names from Clarence Bridge, Kēkerengu and Kaikōura,” Dr Ward said.

Dr Ward will talk about the history of signature quilts and the ways women used them to raise funds for patriotic causes during both the First and Second World Wars.

The event will be of interest to anyone who is curious about the home front during the Second World War. The history of women’s handcrafts and the role that community projects played in the lives of women who were often living on isolated farms will also be discussed, Dr Ward said.

“The next session follows on the previous very interesting discussions around the important roles women played during the war. In particular, the talk will delve into how family history research led to further discoveries about the hanging and the women who made it.”

As part of their work to preserve the history of Marlborough into the future, Heritage Marlborough will shine a spotlight on the many people and communities who have shaped the region. Women of the War is the first such series hosted by the team. Keep an eye out for further upcoming events covering a wide array of topics.