Kathleen Bernice GOODWIN

Serial Number: W3147
WAAF Trade: Ambulance Driver
Date of Enlistment: May 1942
Date of Demob:
Rank Achieved:
Flying Hours: nil
Operational Sorties: nil

Date of Birth: Born at Pukeroro
Personal Details: Kathleen was the daughter of Mr and Mrs H.R. Goodwin of Monavale. She was born at Pukeroro, just outside Cambridge, and when she was two years old, her family bought a farm at Monavale. She was educated at Monavale, Waihi, and Cambridge Primary Schools, and Cambridge District High School. her obituary read, "She studied elocution, and as well as being a popular entertainer, she gained her A.T.C.L. and L.T.C.L., and taught in Cambridge, Matamata and Okoroire."

After the war, Kathleen became a receptionist at various Hamilton hotels. She was reported as a well-known and popular Cambridge girl, but she had been in poor health for some time and fell seriously ill some months before her death at a young age.

Service Details: Kathleen had a farewell afternoon tea givenfor o her at Monavale Hall, when she joined the WAAF, which was reported on the 8th of May 1942 in the Waikato Independent thus:

"Farewell Afternoon: A delightful party was arranged at Monavale Hall on Tuesday afternoon in honour of Miss Kathleen Goodwin, who is leaving to join the WAAF. During the afternoon Miss Goodwin was presented with a travelling clock. Those present were Mesdames H. Goodwin, N. Wrightson, H. Giles, Walsh, Gibbons, D. Brown, Stevens, T. Wiles, F. Smith, Cochrane, Turkington, Roberts, A.I. Fisher, Williamson, Johnson, J.M. Fisher, F. Carter, Ball, Fancy, Robinson, D. Dillon, W. Goodwin, Misses G. Fisher, B. Stead, M. Gibbons."

She became an ambulance driver at one of the stations in Auckland. She later transferred to RNZAF Station Te Rapa, in Hamilton

Date of Death: 21st of December 1958, aged 46

Connection with Cambridge: Kathleen was born in and grew up in the rural Cambridge district before joining the WAAF

Thanks To: Errol Martyn for his valued assistance once again

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