Thank you, Ro Worley

Thank you, Ro Worley

It was a surprise and a delight to be told recently that Ro Worley, one of Aratoi’s long-term supporters and often to be seen lunching in Entice Café with her friends, had left us a generous bequest in her will.

Ro (Rosemary) was born in Auckland in 1932 and moved to the Wairarapa when she married John Worley. They farmed at Otahome, near Whareama on the coast, for many years before retiring to Little Otahome at Homebush where Ro designed and planted a spectacular garden, scene of many garden tours. She taught home economics at St Matthews Collegiate and had a décor shop in Centrepoint for a time.

It would not have been possible to establish a regional museum like Aratoi without the support of people like Ro. She was very interested in the arts and for many years attended exhibition openings and floor talks at Aratoi, often with her closest friend, Helen Dashfield. Aratoi is lucky to have a very active and loyal Friends Association, who, like Ro, donate time and energy to fundraising and volunteer help. We at Aratoi are profoundly grateful for these acts of generosity. We plan to apply Ro’s generous gift to our education programme and to our new initiative of installing solar panels for long term energy sustainability. Ro’s name will be permanently commemorated as one of these donors.

For more information: Susanna Shadbolt, Director: 06 370 0001 / [email protected]

Image: Ro Worley