IT was 1939 and Merle Howlett was the 17-year-old daughter of a Pyree farmer about to help establish a local organisation that would become a large part of her life for seven decades.
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She was there for the first meeting of the Pyree Red Cross and 70 years later was there for the last meeting.
It was a time when those at home were encouraged to do what they could to help the war effort.
Her brother was away fighting in the war so with her sister Wynn and mother Anne Leaney, she gathered with other farmers’ wives and formed the Pyree branch of the Red Cross.
“We would raise money to send to headquarters. We would cook lunch for the cattle sales and hold garden parties,” she said.
“We also used to cook nice fruitcakes to send overseas to the soldiers in the war.”
Being a keen gardener, Mrs Howlett decided to open her garden to the public in 1976 to raise more money for the Red Cross.
It turned out to be a popular move with locals turning up in droves to view the fruits of her horticultural efforts.
She only stopped opening her garden to the public about 12 years ago – in the years it was open, she raised more than $20,000 for the Red Cross.
“It grew and grew each year – it was a good money raiser,” she said.
Her daughter, Dawn, also a member of Pyree Red Cross, remembers her mother planting seedlings all year round to sell during her open garden.
“Mum signed me up when I was a teenager. I remember we did catering for weddings and events around the area.
“There were plenty of good times,” she said.
Throughout her time in the Red Cross Mrs Howlett received many awards and held most committee positions, including president.
She is also a patron of the Pyree Hall.
The Pyree Red Cross branch closed last month but the members will continue to meet socially a few times a year.
