Watsonville Pioneer Women

Watsonville's small community shed in what was once the main street of the village was again busy with about eighty history buffs attending the annual Pioneer Women's Day event organized by the local Western Progress Association.  The usual singing from You Can Sing Too and various bush poets entertained the crowd before the traditional bush lunch.  The pioneering lady featured this year was Mrs Eileen Mary King (nee Miles) who raised a family at the Croesus mine and worked as a cook but would not take on work unless she was paid men's award wages.  Local historian Jane Chapman again produced a small booklet on the featured lady which was for sale on the day.  This little heritage event has become a regular annual outing for many and although the crowd was down on previous years, I hope it will continue for many years to come.