HUFFAM, PAULINE FELICIA nee MITCHELL

 

Pauline Mitchell was born on the 6 March 1926 at Hawera, the daughter of Thomas Gilbert and Dora Felicia Mitchell nee Gibson.� She attended Oeo School, and later New Plymouth Girls High School.� After a working holiday in Australia, Pauline returned to Hawera and worked in an office.� She married Ernest William Ryland Huffam (Bill) in 1958 at Hawera.

 

Pauline trained as a speech teacher, and became associated with the South Taranaki Branch of the Hearing Association when it was formed.� She became a full time tutor to the association.� She also counselled those with hearing problems, conducted tests, and carried out industrial hearing tests as well as tutoring speech classes.

 

Her work took her to many parts of South Taranaki from Opunake to Stratford and Patea, and the annual deaf awareness campaign found her at her most active. Pauline could always be relied on to give sound advice on hearing problems and the various aids that were available for those with such afflictions.� She was held in high regard by the medical professions who referred many patients to her for tests and counselling.

 

Bill and Pauline ran the West End Dairy on the corner of Wilson Street and High Street for many years, and when this closed Pauline went on to run the shop at the King Edward Park swimming pool.� She was also an avid indoor bowler, and a member of the Altrusa Club of Hawera.

 

Pauline Huffam died on the 6 August 1984 at Hawera and is best remembered in the naming of the South Taranaki Hard of Hearing Associations rooms in Grey Street as "Huffam House".

 

SOURCE

Obituary "Hawera Star" 9 Aug 1984