ALEXANDER Doreen Rosena Hilda
L82, Legion of Frontiersmen, New Zealand
CITATIONQueen's Service Medal for Community Service (QSM)Queen's Birthday Honours List 2003For services to the community. Mrs Alexander has been an active member of the Legion of Frontiersmen for 15 years. Since May 2001 shehas for four hours each week worked for the North Haven Hospice. For 20 years she has been an active member of the Whangarei City CMA(Care and Crafts for the elderly) and has been involved with Aged Concern. She is an active member of the Women's Section of the RSA andregularly undertakes street collections for the blind and the local RSA Poppy Day appeal.AWARDSQueen's Service Medal (QSM)Pioneer Axe [2007]Legion Long Service & Efficiency Medal [1999]Legion Service Medal [1995]New Zealand Command Centennial Medal [2011]New Zealand 90th Anniversary Medal [1994]NOTES
Born 20 June 1919 Whangarei, New Zealand
Joined the Legion of Frontiersmen 21 March 1988
Died 20 April 2020 Whangarei, New Zealand
Ashes interred Kamo Cemetery, New Zealand [Block II Row A Plot 5]
BIOGRAPHICAL
One of the guests attending the Te Kotuku opening ceremony was Doreen Alexander, who is believed to be the oldest person who was born in the former maternity annex at Whangarei Hospital.
She was born Doreen Rosena Hilda Conaghan on 20 June 1919, the youngest of eight children. She was named after the matron at the time, Doreen Giffney. Her father is listed on her birth certificate as a labourer and drove a horse-drawn wagon, while her mother and one of her sisters had helped at Whangarei Hospital during the influenza pandemic of 1918.For about six years – spanning part of World War II – Doreen worked in the laundry at Whangarei Hospital under the ‘manpower’ programme which was put in place during the war. The image at right was taken during this time.She left when she got married – her husband worked in the hospital boiler room (although they met by chance elsewhere) – and returned to give birth to both her children.Collecting dolls was a passion for Doreen, who eventually ended up with 350. On a round-the-world trip, she bought one dressed in the national costume of every country she visited, and later featured in a newspaper article.
In 2003, she travelled to Wellington to receive the Queen’s Service Medal for community service. Her volunteer involvement included the Legion of Frontiersmen, North Haven Hospice, Whangarei City CMA (Care and Crafts for the elderly) and the women’s section of the Returned Services Association.At the age of 100, Doreen still volunteers at the Hospice shop in Whangarei and retains a driver’s licence for around town, and tends her own garden. She has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
