Hats galore for Toti WI’s 81st birthday

AMANZIMTOTI Women’s Institute celebrated its 81st birthday and annual prize-giving on Tuesday, 13 September.

President of Toti WI, Yvonne Dixie welcomed all members, presidents, guests from various women’s institutes and visitors with a special welcome to Noleen Walker, Federation of Women’s Institutes first vice president, and thanked all for attending the celebration.

The birthday party theme was ‘mad hatter’s tea party’. The tables were beautifully decorated with unusual teapots of all shapes sizes and colours as centrepieces. When the guests arrived, there was a wonderful display of hats, some small, large and unusual, but great and fun for the theme. Birthday cards were read out by Yvonne who thanked those who sent them.

Patricia McCann organised a fun play reading, ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ of course, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The actors were Grace Finch, Jennie Martin, Pat Rhodes and Yvonne Dixie.

It was kind of Noleen Walker to hand out the trophies to members who entered the competitions during the year. She congratulated the winners and also thanked the judges for their help judging this year. The winners this year: Cookery: First Cynthia de Lange, second Jennie Martin, third Nan Podmore.

Handicraft: First Yvonne Dixie, second Jennie Martin, third Angela Odendaal.

Floral: First Jeennie Martin, second Josie van Staden, third Nan Podmore.

Aggie: First Jean Donkin, second Yvonne Dixie, third Jennie Martin.

Craft: First Yvonne Dixie, second Jennie Martin, third Josie van Staden. Open: First Josie van Staden, second Norma Veldtman, third Yvonne Dixie.

Adult-ed: First Yvonne Dixie, second Muriel Hartwig, third Jennie Martin.

Overall points went to Yvonne Dixie, runner-up Jennie Martin,

The Woodhouse Good Fellowship tray – Pat Roach. President’s prize cup – Rina Perrin.

Yvonne said she really hopes all the new members will enter the competition next year. It is not necessarily how good one is that wins prizes, it’s how many times one enters. Regularly entering will improve the standard of your workmanship as well as the level of enjoyable you get from attending WI. The three hampers were drawn and won by first Norma Veldtman, second Pat Roach , third Dawn Gould.

The morning event was enjoyable, with scrumptious cake and tea served to members and visitors. With all the chatting and laughing with friends and visitors, it really sounded like the ‘mad hatter’s tea party’.

Before closing, Yvonne requested members to bring a packet or box of mealie meal or oatmeal porridge for Toti Cares to the October meeting. Amanzimtoti Women’s Institute meets in the Toti library activities room on the second Tuesday of the month at 9.15am. For more information, phone Yvonne Dixie on 031-903-1942.