The Women 's Institute On June 23, 1916, the MacDonald Institute was organized in Mount Herbert —including Bunbury , Crossroads , Mermaid , Mount Herbert / Bethel , Hazelbrook , and Southport . The institute was named for Sir William J. MacDonald , who built the large MacDonald consolidated school in Mount Herbert . Meetings were held in this school from 1916 to 1920. First president was Mrs. Fraser T. Morrow ; vice, Mrs. Malcolm Mac ¬ Donald; treasurer, Mrs. Walter Jones . Interesting demonstrations were held on fruit and vegetable canning and quilting, and question boxes and discussions added to the program and the community. Since the Mount Herbert Red Cross Society amalgamated with the MacDonald Institute, to this day we carry on the work of the in this district. In 1942, Southport formed its own Women 's Institute. First president was Mrs. John B. MacKay ; vice, Mrs. Urban McQuaid ; secretary Mrs. Allison Tait . Directors were Mrs. Earle Jenkins , Mrs. Perley Mutch , and Mrs. Hope Mutch . Twenty-five members were enrolled. During 1952-1974 we were involved in the Music Festival, and helped provide a music teacher for the school. In 1948 the Girl Guides were organized with Mrs. Neil Matheson and Mrs. Raymond Macdonald as leaders. In 1949 the Brownies were formed under Mrs. Urban McQuaid and they are still flourishing under our sponsorship. The first 4-H food club on the Island was organized under Mrs. Maylea Manning and Mrs. Neil Matheson . In 1948 a 4-H girls sewing club was started, and carried on for a number of years by Mrs. Hope Mutch , Mrs. Leroy Rodgerson , and Mrs. William Wood . It was reorganized by Mrs. Wood in 1962, and operated as a closed club from her home in Kinlock until 1965 when large numbers caused it to be moved to the school, where it is an open club. In 1956 our W.I . furnished a kitchen in the basement of the school, and also bought a number of banquet tables and sets of glassware and silver. In 1978 we were honoured to have one of our members, Mrs. Florence Livingstone , chosen as W.I. Woman of the Year for her years of devoted nursing. A short biography of Mrs. Livingstone will be found further on. 39