Some of SI Wellington’s outstanding Soroptimists
Over the years, there have been a number of Wellington Club members who have received Queen's Honours, including Betty Loughhead, Sylvia Spear, Dorothy Hamilton, Florence Howland, Patricia Cairney and Glenys Arthur.
Betty Loughhead
Betty joined Soroptimist International of Christchurch in 1951 and held office at all levels. She served on C.o.C. of which she was Chair in 1967-69 and was President of the Soroptimists Clubs of the South West Pacific 1980 – 82. She served as a member of the International Board from 1979 – 1983. (It was about this time Betty moved to the Wellington club). In 1983 Betty began her two year term as President, Soroptimist International. She was the first New Zealander to achieve this position and many New Zealand Soroptimists attended her inauguration in Istanbul.
During 1991 to 1995 Betty was the Editor of the International Soroptimist magazine. Betty was made an honorary member of all clubs in the South West Pacific Federation. A national scholarship (for women over 25), the Betty Loughhead Scholarship, was set up in her name in the 1980’s. Over the decades $147,000 has been given in grants to seventy-five women. The trust is still going strong to this day and has enabled many women to have an opportunity to obtain a ‘second chance’ education. In 2014 Betty passed away. She left behind a wonderful legacy of an illustrious and busy life with Soroptimism, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Hazel Wright
Hazel joined Soroptimist International of Wellington in May 1957, and became President in 1960-61. In 1965 Hazel went on to become the Soroptimist N.Z. President. Among her many achievements, she represented Soroptimism on the N.Z. Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity from 1966 until it went into recess in 1978. She was instrumental in Soroptimists gaining national affiliation with the National Council of Women and with the United Nations Association. Hazel was the N.Z. delegate to the C.o.C for six years and a N.Z. delegate on the executive committee of the British Federation. Hazel was made an honorary member of all clubs in the South West Pacific Federation.
Dorothy Hamilton
Dorothy was a formidable woman in her own right as principal of the Dental Training School. Her tenure as President in 1964 – 65 meant she led the Wellington club into their 25th Anniversary year celebrations. She was an outstanding Soroptimist with many community achievements and was instrumental in the formation of the Wellington branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society in 1976. (For many years the club continued to support their work in the community).
Sylvia Spear
Sylvia became President in 1962 – 63. In 1973 Sylvia took on the role of President for the newly formed Soroptimist International of NZ North. From 1970 – 1974 Sylvia represented Soroptimism on the UNESCO board. She acted as N.Z. Extension Officer from 1965 – 1972 and, assisted by Dorothy Hamilton and Hazel Wright, started the Lower Hutt (1965) and Palmerston North (1971) Clubs. Sylvia was on the United Nations Association national body from 1968 – 1975. From 1980 to 82 she was Secretary for the Federation of the South West Pacific, and from 1983 to 1987, Sylvia was the International Programme Coordinator for Education. She was also made an honorary member of all the clubs of the South West Pacific Federation. Her outstanding legacy continues with the Wellington Club through the Sylvia Spear Conference Grant, set up in her name to assist new Soroptimist Wellington members to attend local and international conferences.
Dr Glenys Arthur, CNZM
Dr Glenys Arthur was a Soroptimist for 38 years, starting as a charter member of SI Wellington East, in 1984. She remained a fully involved and very active member of that club for its whole life, and on closure of SI Wellington East then transferred to SI Wellington in 2003. She was a member of SI Wellington for seventeen years and made a Life Member of our club in March 2020.
She served twice as President of SI Wellington East, including being its last president, and was always extremely supportive of its activities. During this time she represented the Medical Women’s Association at the National Council of Women, and sat alongside the representative from SI Wellington East to discuss and agree on issues that were under consideration.
In the 2002 New Year’s Honours list Dr Glenys Patricia Arthur, of Wellington was made a Companion New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medicine.
Advocacy had always been her special interest, and she continued with this as a member of SI Wellington, preparing submissions on a number of topics. Always interested in all aspects of our club activities, she continued to share ideas although in 2020 her health no longer allowed her to attend meetings or other activities. Glenys died in Wellington on 20th May 2022.
Betty Loughhead
Betty joined Soroptimist International of Christchurch in 1951 and held office at all levels. She served on C.o.C. of which she was Chair in 1967-69 and was President of the Soroptimists Clubs of the South West Pacific 1980 – 82. She served as a member of the International Board from 1979 – 1983. (It was about this time Betty moved to the Wellington club). In 1983 Betty began her two year term as President, Soroptimist International. She was the first New Zealander to achieve this position and many New Zealand Soroptimists attended her inauguration in Istanbul.
During 1991 to 1995 Betty was the Editor of the International Soroptimist magazine. Betty was made an honorary member of all clubs in the South West Pacific Federation. A national scholarship (for women over 25), the Betty Loughhead Scholarship, was set up in her name in the 1980’s. Over the decades $147,000 has been given in grants to seventy-five women. The trust is still going strong to this day and has enabled many women to have an opportunity to obtain a ‘second chance’ education. In 2014 Betty passed away. She left behind a wonderful legacy of an illustrious and busy life with Soroptimism, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Hazel Wright
Hazel joined Soroptimist International of Wellington in May 1957, and became President in 1960-61. In 1965 Hazel went on to become the Soroptimist N.Z. President. Among her many achievements, she represented Soroptimism on the N.Z. Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity from 1966 until it went into recess in 1978. She was instrumental in Soroptimists gaining national affiliation with the National Council of Women and with the United Nations Association. Hazel was the N.Z. delegate to the C.o.C for six years and a N.Z. delegate on the executive committee of the British Federation. Hazel was made an honorary member of all clubs in the South West Pacific Federation.
Dorothy Hamilton
Dorothy was a formidable woman in her own right as principal of the Dental Training School. Her tenure as President in 1964 – 65 meant she led the Wellington club into their 25th Anniversary year celebrations. She was an outstanding Soroptimist with many community achievements and was instrumental in the formation of the Wellington branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society in 1976. (For many years the club continued to support their work in the community).
Sylvia Spear
Sylvia became President in 1962 – 63. In 1973 Sylvia took on the role of President for the newly formed Soroptimist International of NZ North. From 1970 – 1974 Sylvia represented Soroptimism on the UNESCO board. She acted as N.Z. Extension Officer from 1965 – 1972 and, assisted by Dorothy Hamilton and Hazel Wright, started the Lower Hutt (1965) and Palmerston North (1971) Clubs. Sylvia was on the United Nations Association national body from 1968 – 1975. From 1980 to 82 she was Secretary for the Federation of the South West Pacific, and from 1983 to 1987, Sylvia was the International Programme Coordinator for Education. She was also made an honorary member of all the clubs of the South West Pacific Federation. Her outstanding legacy continues with the Wellington Club through the Sylvia Spear Conference Grant, set up in her name to assist new Soroptimist Wellington members to attend local and international conferences.
Dr Glenys Arthur, CNZM
Dr Glenys Arthur was a Soroptimist for 38 years, starting as a charter member of SI Wellington East, in 1984. She remained a fully involved and very active member of that club for its whole life, and on closure of SI Wellington East then transferred to SI Wellington in 2003. She was a member of SI Wellington for seventeen years and made a Life Member of our club in March 2020.
She served twice as President of SI Wellington East, including being its last president, and was always extremely supportive of its activities. During this time she represented the Medical Women’s Association at the National Council of Women, and sat alongside the representative from SI Wellington East to discuss and agree on issues that were under consideration.
In the 2002 New Year’s Honours list Dr Glenys Patricia Arthur, of Wellington was made a Companion New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medicine.
Advocacy had always been her special interest, and she continued with this as a member of SI Wellington, preparing submissions on a number of topics. Always interested in all aspects of our club activities, she continued to share ideas although in 2020 her health no longer allowed her to attend meetings or other activities. Glenys died in Wellington on 20th May 2022.
