Community Contributed

Miss H E Bowen

Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T16:49:51+00:00
First President Levin Red Cross 1941 - 1946 [As written by Miss Eileen Atack in 1968]
Date of death1959

Bowen Miss H E

President Levin Red Cross 1941 - 1946

Miss Bowen had held several public positions before she joined the newly-formed Levin Red Cross branch in 1941. She was elected president at the first meeting to form a Red Cross Sub-centre to Palmerston North and held that position until 1946.

One has only to read the minutes of her time to know the particular fine work Miss Bowen did during those early years of the Second World War. She visited the next-of-kin and helped them in many ways. After she resigned the Presidency, she undertook the visiting of the sick and needy. Miss Bowen collected clothes for the poor and every year was given money to buy Christmas gifts for those she had visited during the year. One year, when she had overspent the allowance by £5, she was paid the extra money but gave it back as a donation.

The accompanying photo of Miss Bowen is part of the Levin Historical Society collection.

Miss Bowen had had Red Cross service previously and in 1957 she was presented with the Society's 30 years service medal. Captain Galloway pinned it on her coat and offered her his congratulations for her untiring service.

Speaking at the presentation was Mr A W Parton. He said he felt very proud to speak about Miss Bowen's work. She came to Levin in 1892 and succeeded her mother as postmistress in 1902. She was elected to the Borough Council in 1936, as Levin's first woman councillor, becoming acting Mayoress in 1941. Mentioning her work for the needy during the 1930 depression, Mr Parton said she was a pinnacle of strength to those in distress.

"What a stalwart she has been for Dr Barnado's Homes" Mr Parton said, mentioning that Miss Bowen had been the mainstay of the organisation in Levin.

Her passing in 1959 was much regretted by the Levin Public.