Joy Drayton

Dame Mary Josephine (Joy) Drayton DNZM MBE (née Stock, 13 January 1916 – 14 September 2012) was a New Zealand teacher and local-body politician.

Early life and education

Drayton was born in Dunedin in 1916[1] and was educated at Wellington East Girls' College.[2] She graduated from Victoria University College with a MA(Hons) in history in 1937[3] and went on to complete a DipEd at the same institution.[4]

Education career

Drayton was a teacher at Wellington College from 1942 to 1944.[5] She became principal of Tauranga Girls' College in 1959, a position that she held for 22 years. During that time, she added Māori language to the curriculum, making the college the first state school to do so.[6]

She became a member of the University of Waikato Council in 1979,[6] and served as Chancellor from 1988 until 1991.[4] She was also a member of the Hamilton Teachers' College Council from 1986 to 1991.[6]

Political career

Drayton was a Tauranga City Councillor from 1985 to 1992, having entered local-body politics campaigning for the building of a new city library. She was the deputy mayor of Tauranga between 1986 and 1989.[6]

She was a regional councillor on Environment Bay of Plenty from 1992 to 1998, including three years as deputy chair from 1992 to 1995.[6][7]

Other activities

Drayton also served on the executive committee of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (1986–1998) and the executive of the Tauranga branch of the National Council of Women (1987–1991). She was the chair of the Bay of Plenty Women's Refuge from 1982 until 1986.[7]

Honours

In 1993, Drayton received an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato.[8]

Drayton was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to education and the community in the 1980 New Year Honours.[9] In the 2000 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local government and the community.[10] She was subsequently promoted to Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2005 New Year Honours,[11] and reclassified as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.[12]

Death

Drayton died in Tauranga on 14 September 2012.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Births". Otago Daily Times. 15 January 1916. p. 8. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "East Girls' College – enthusiastic gathering". Evening Post. 4 March 1932. p. 14. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Victoria College – Degrees conferred". Evening Post. 8 May 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Former Chancellors of the University of Waikato. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "Obituaries". The Lampstand (Wellington College Old Boys' Association). 2012. pp. 62–64. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Dame Joy was tireless, caring". Bay of Plenty Times. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Joy racks up a 'well-deserved' milestone". Bay of Plenty Times. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Honorary Doctors of the University of Waikato. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48043. p. 26. 28 December 1979. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  10. ↑ New Year Honours List 2000. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  11. ↑ New Year Honours List 2005. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  12. ↑ Special Honours List 1 August 2009. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 18 December 2012.