The Y Book Corner

This corner of our website is dedicated to women focused and feminist authors and books.  If you have any suggestions email us at info@ywca.org.nz and we will add them to this space.

The Y's visit with a local author

Recently the managers of the nine Local Associations and the National Office had a weekend meeting in Wellington at the beautiful Booklovers B&B in Mt Vic, where we were hosted by New Zealand author Jane Tolerton.  Jane Tolerton is a well-known New Zealand writer. She is the author of the historical biography Ettie, about Ettie Rout, who ran a safe sex campaign among World War One soldiers, which won a New Zealand Book Award. Her oral history works include the best-selling Convent Girls and In the Shadow of War, the stories of World War One veterans. She has had freelance articles published in major New Zealand newspapers and magazines, has won the Dulux News Award and the Cowan Prize for historical journalism. She has also worked as a producer on National Radio.  Ask for Jane's books at your local booksellers or at your community library.

Check out the New Zealand Y's connection to Sylvia Martin's new book on the life of Ida Leeson.

In 1932, Ida Leeson was the first woman to be appointed Mitchell Librarian in Australia after a very public controversy over whether it was appropriate to appoint a woman to such a senior position. She was the girl from the working class background who successfully penetrated the bourgeoisie to become a woman of achievement in what was still a predominantly man’s world.

Brought to vivid life by Sylvia Martin, here is a story of a woman to inspire a new generation of readers – hers was a truly remarkable life in an intriguing era.

NZ CONNECTION: Ida’s life partner of over fifty years was a New Zealand woman called Florence Maud Birch. Florence was born in 1873 on the west coast of the South Island, where her father was Clerk of the Court, and later moved to Napier where he stepped into the role of town sheriff. The whole family then moved to Melbourne, where Florence met Ida. She returned to Wellington in 1912 to take up the position of General Secretary of the YWCA, where she doubled membership in her first year. Florence’s hard work was rewarded when in 1920 she was appointed the National Field Secretary for the YWCA and sent to the United States for six months to study. On her return she set up branches in Whangarei, Gisborne and New Plymouth. The Wellington Gazette reported when she resigned that, “Miss Birch has done a splendid job pioneering work in New Zealand, and we feel that her resignation is a great loss to the Dominion. Our best wishes go with her.”  For more info check out : www.allenandunwin.com