Mary Alice HOPKIRK

Mary Alice HOPKIRK was the second child of Cyril Spottiswoode Moy HOPKIRK and Dorothy Kate  SAUNDERS.

Mary was born on 12 May 1925 in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.

Mary made many trips in her lifetime. In May 1958 she travelled from Nandi, Fiji to Homolulu, arriving in Hawaii by Quantas Airline, arriving on 20 May 1958. Her place of residence is listed as 1 Graham Place, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
On Tuesday afternoon, 27 May 1958, Mary was the first visitor observer, in the Scout exchange program, to visit the Fox River Council, per the Appleton Post Crescent.
On Tuesday night, 27 May 1958, Mary was in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the guest speaker at the local Lions Club, per the Appleton Post Crescent newspaper dated 30 May 1958..
She was headed to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in the USA as the guest of honor of the Omro Girl Scouts. From this news paper article in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern we learn that by age 33 Mary had spent 10 years of her life as a Girl Guide, and a Guide leader for 15 years as of 1958. Also as of 1958 Mary is in charge of the New Zealand government kindergarten.
For a complete summary of what Mary, at the age of 33, was doing during her Scout exchange program visit this Appleton Port Crescent page from 13 June 1958

By 1963 Mary was the Lead Girl Guide Trainer for New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The first image is of Mary from 1963 and the one to the right is Mary Hopkirk in 1972 as the Executive Director of the Girl Guides for all of New Zealand.

Mary held the head leadership position of the Girl Guides for decades.

Mary lived in Palmerston, on the North Island of New Zealand, for most of her adult life, not far from Massey University and the location of the Hopkirk Research Institute named after her esteemed father Cyril HOPKIRK.

Mary HOPKIRK was an avid tramper, even into her 70's and early 80's you could still find Mary out on some of the many trails which criss-crossing all of New Zealand .

Mary passed away Tuesday 8 January 2019.

From Legacy Funerals we get this notice:
HOPKIRK, Mary Alice MBE CBE. In her 94th year, died on Tuesday 8 January 2019. She will be sorely missed by friends and family. A service for Mary will be held at Tauranga Park 383 Pyes Pa Road, Tauranga on Saturday 12 January at 9.30am. Also there will be a memorial service to spread Mary's ashes in Palmerston North, date to be advised. Messages to the Hopkirk Family c/- PO Box 3136 Greerton Tauranga 3142.






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This page last updated oin 9 January 2019