Geraldine loses former civic leader

Geraldine has lost one of its early civic leaders.

Eulla Campbell Williamson passed away on March 3. Her service to Geraldine had been recognised with an OBE.

Mrs Williamson was born in Dunedin in 1918, the first child of Annie and tailor Peter McCubbin. The family moved to Christchurch and then to Timaru. She attended Timaru Girls' High School, excelling in basketball and athletics.

In 1936 she became the South Canterbury Athletics Club high-jump champion with a jump of 4 foot 11 3/4 inches (152 centimetres). She was eligible for the Commonwealth Games but the war intervened.

During World War II, after her father's death, Mrs Williamson began her working life as a window-dresser and trained in corsetry.

Seeking independence, she moved to work in Geraldine, where she met her husband Bill.

Her civic career developed from her community involvement. She was the first woman to serve on the Geraldine Primary School PTA.

She was president of Geraldine High School PTA and chaired the Geraldine Board of Governors for 15 years. She also chaired the Geraldine Red Cross and was mayoress during her husband's time as mayor and then councillor and deputy mayor. She then became one of the first 12 women mayors in New Zealand.

She was a member of the South Canterbury Hospital Board for nine years and chaired the finance committee. Mrs Williamson had a long involvement with the Geraldine Red Cross.

She had a great love of writing and was an active member of the South Canterbury Writers' Guild for many years.

She went on to publish five books: UP Reds, a history of rugby in Geraldine (1975), Hearts Hands and Voices, a history of the Anglican church in Geraldine and surrounding district (1978), Farmers in business: One Hundred Years of Trading by Canterbury Farmers Co-operative, Timaru and Branches (1980), On My Honour, a history of early scouting years with the Geraldine troop 1910-1931 (1983), End of an Era 1964-1989: A history of the last 25 years of administration of Timaru Hospital (1994).

She was awarded an OBE in 1991, was appointed a JP in 1978 and worked as a marriage celebrant from 1982 to 1988.

Mrs Williamson also loved to read, play bridge, and renovate her homes and garden.

She is survived by two daughters, a step daughter, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

- © Fairfax NZ News