DEATH, ALICE MAUD MARY nee WINKS
Alice Winks was born on the 3 February 1878, the daughter of John and Mary Jane Winks nee Amon. Alice was born above her parents' shop in High Street, Hawera, now the site of the ANZ Bank.
Alice was educated at Hawera Main School, along with her brothers and sisters, before moving to a farming property, "The Falls", at Normanby in 1893. On the 12 July 1899, she married Albert Ernest Death at the Presbyterian Church, Normanby, and the couple made their first home on a 200 acre dairy and sheep property at the southern end of Lake (now Manawapou) Road.
By 1908, the family had five children, and Albert bought a further five acres on Parrington Lane (now McAlpine Road) for closer access to schooling. Another four children were born, and Alice was busy organising the household and developing a large garden with tennis court and croquet green. A travelling salesman, Mr Williams of Smith And Caughey, Auckland would deliver material in his Model T Ford, for the family clothes. Then a dressmaker would come to outfit the family for summer and winter outfits.
Power was installed at McAlpine Road in 1914 for the princely sum of �17. This was relatively early for the rural areas and the family found electricity much more convenient than the kerosene lamps and candles that they had used previously, and it also reduced the fire risk.
As the family became more independent, Alice joined the newly formed WDFU (now WDFF). Although not a ready speaker she soon became president of the Hawera branch, a position she held for 20 years. During World War Two, she was particularly busy in this position with the WDFF war effort. On the local scene, home help was organised for lonely country women who faced hardship during the depression of the 1930s, and later, with their men away at war. From this, the Housekeeping Service of the WDFF was formed. Alice was later made a life member of the WDFF.
The newly formed women's section of the National Party was another group that Alice became involved in, and was president for many years. In 1954, she was invited to attend the opening of Parliament with the new Queen, Elizabeth, wearing her coronation gown, officiating. In 1957, as one of the earliest residents born in Hawera, Alice was invited to cut the Hawera Borough 75th Jubilee cake at the celebrations.
Alice moved to Wera Street, Hawera in 1952, and lived there with her daughter, Violet, as companion until her death on the 8 November 1964 aged 86 years. Alice is buried in the Hawera cemetery.
SOURCE
Violet Death, Hawera (daughter)
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