I don't know why I can't manage a BLOG every month? The problem is there is so much to think about, so much media prompting thoughts. What has prompted me into print this time is the passing of Dame Margaret Shields.
This brings many memories flooding back from the 70's when I had left teaching and was working in retail. I had been asked by staff at Whitcombe and Tombs to be a union delegate. When I studied history at college we had to look back further than the actual history in NZ so learnt about agricultural labourers in Britian, the Tolpuddle Martyrs. I had no idea about the history of the NZ Trade Union movement.
Long story short, I became an exec member (treasurer) and found very quickly I had little in the way of assets to treasure! Our union pretty much existed in name only. I became the President and began what seems to me on reflection, a most significant period of my education as we set about rebuilding the union.
Graham Kelly was recruited from the clerical workers union as the Secretary and among others Sonja Davies joined us from the PSA heading the field staff team. My life became enmeshed in a world of dynamic and amazing women, Margaret Shields was one of them.
At one stage, when I was working for McKenzies I was based at their combination store (Supermarket / Variety) at Paraparaumu. National was government and we were involved in a lot of public debate about the advent of Saturday trading. Barry Brill was shaping up as the national candidate for the Kapiti seat in the impending elections. As president of the Shop Employees union I was very publically involved in the arguement and spent quite a bit of media time trading blows with Barry.
I was approached by some representatives of the Parliamentary Labour Party to stand for Labour in Kapiti. Very flattering for someone who was but a boy! As you might imagine there were lots of discussion with friends, however two were most influential, Brian Bensley and Sonja Davies. Brian was the General Manager of McKenzies with whom I went on to work in 2 more companies. Sonja of course is a legend having created the first industrial childcare centre in NZ and with Margaret, WEL (Women's Electoral Lobby). Brian gave me sensible career advice and Sonja enlightened me, a political naive, on the political nuances.
Both offered me support should I make the decision to stand and felt I would probably pull it it off. I decided not to in favour of Margaret and although she didn't succeed that time round she did at the next election.
As the headlines have recorded she went on to become a champion for women in business and politics.
Hearing of her death was sad news. I deeply appreciated being around in those early days as Margaret and others set about creating a new world especially for women.
