Birthright Ashburton's history began in June 1966 when the Ashburton Jaycees sponsored the inaugural public meeting to establish a Birthright Branch in Mid-Canterbury. The object was to provide advice, guidance and assistance to families where the support and guidance of one parent was no longer available.
Birthright Ashburton was established in 1966 with a client base of 22 single-parent families. By 1980 there were 56 families with over 130 children; in 1988 – 119 families and 216 children and by 1999 – 120 families with 221 children. Today we have a client base of around 84 families with 172 children.
In the early days the group functioned with an executive, and several capable community members who were “willing to form a warm, real relationship with the family”. No professional qualifications were needed by the counsellor/visitor – just a practical, helpful understanding of the needs of families.
The inaugural committee consisted of such well-known local identities as Leyton Stephenson, Jack McDonnell and Graham Sinclair, together with D. Gilmore, Dr R Edwards, Ross Argyle, M. Marks, Fred Newton, Rev Hayden Pirie and Mesdames Edith McQuilkin and S.G. Lemon. The majority of these served for more than ten years. Many since have also given extended service to the organisation with our current President, Phil Godfrey, in his 25th year as a member of our executive.
In 1977 members were co-opted from Ashburton Rotary, Jaycees, WDFF (Rural Women), CWI and Social Welfare. Over the years Kiwanis, Altrusa, and Plains Rotary have joined the executive and The Salvation Army together with other community agencies has been a continuing source of support.
Today we are pleased to have both independent members as well as service clubs on our executive, in particular representatives from Ashburton Rotary, Plains Rotary and Rural Women.
