December1920
Monday 13th
Monday 20th
Monday 27th

January 1921
Monday 3rd
Monday 10th
Monday 17th
Monday 24th

February 1921
Monday 7th
Monday 14th

March 1921
Monday 14th
Monday 21st

Freda was the only child of Wilfrid Ward and his second wife Bibbie Dunne.  Freda had eight half sisters (5 became nuns) and one half brother (killed in the Battle of the Somme in World War 1). 

Wilfrid's second wife Bibbie Dunne was one of four sisters who married relatives:

                    Bella            2nd wife of Walter Hailes

                    Bessie            Wife of Gilbert Ward

                    Grace             Wife of Bernard Ward

 Freda's relatives mentioned in the diary: 

AL - Alex                        Ward son of Gilbert

ALANNAH                    Ward- d/o of Alfred and Louisa O'Brien

AME - Amy                    Ward - Freda's sister

Bella (Aunt)                      Hailes - w/o Walter

BER -  Bernard               Ward - s/o Felix & Agnes Sheath

BERNIE - Bernardine      Ward - Freda's sister

BERT                              Ward - s/o Gilbert

CONSTANCE               Ward - d/o Alfred

CON                               Hailes - s/o Edward Hailes and Nora Coakley

Clare                               Ward - d/o Gilbert

DOWL  (Dowling)          Ward - s/o Gilbert

DALE  (Adalia)               Ward - d/o Alfred

Dorothy                           Jeffries - d/o Tom Jeffries & Aqgie Ward d/o Austin

ETHEL                           Ward - s.o Alfred

EDIE (Aunt)                   Ward - d/o Joseph Ward and Martha Redwood

Everard                          Ward - s/o Alfred

FRANK                         Hailes - s/o Walter Hailes & 1st wife Mary Dwyer

Frank                              Dunne - brother of the Dunne sisters

FRANK                         Ward  - s/o Charles

FELlX (Uncle)                Hailes - s/o Walter Hailes snr. and Fanny Ward

Fan                                Ward - Freda's eldest  half sister - deceased

GIL (Gilbert)                  Ward - s/o Gilbert

GRACE                         Dunne married Bernard Ward

GIRLIE (Mary)              Hailes - d/o Walter Hailes & 1st wife Mary Dwyer

Ina                                 Dunne Freda's 1st cousin

JACK (Austin)              Ward - s/o Austin and Laura Goulter

Joe (Cousin)                  Bolton - I think - s/o Edward & Elizabeth Redwood

Joe (Holy)                     Ward - s/o Charles

Mary (Aunt)                  Ward - d/o Joseph Ward - nun.

MAGGIE (Aunt)           Dunne - another of the Dunne sisters.

MARIE                         Ward  d/o Alfred

Mauna                           Jeffries  d/o Tom and Aggie

Madge                          Jeffries - d/o Tom & Aggie

Olive                             Ward - Freda's half sister

OLA                             Dunne - Freda's 1st cousin

Phil                               Hailes - s/o Walter Hailes & 1st wife Mary Dwyer

POLLY                        Hailes - w/o Felix and d/o Henry Redwood

FAT JOE (Uncle)         Dunne - brother of the Dunne sisters

THELMA                    Jeffries - d/o Tom & Aggie

TROLOVE, Peter        cousin married Amy Goulter

TOT                            Ward - nun Freda's half sister

VI (Violet)                   Ward - nun Freda's half sister

Win (Winifred)             Hailes - d/o Walter Snr.

WALTER                    Hailes - s/o Walter Snr.

WALTER                    Hailes - s/o Edward Hailes & Nora (Coakley)

Our Trip To Chartlea

Note:        "Chartlea" a property owned by Walter Hailes Jnr. His wife 'Bella' and Wilfrid's wife 'Bibbie' are sisters.  Another sister 'Grace' is also mentioned.

Papa and mother came down today from Tangiteroria to Dargaville in the Omana, in order to take me on from the Convent, to Auckland, for my ex­am.  It was terribly hot.  The air was stifling but they had a good trip.  I did some practice then went to Darga. to get some things for our trip.

Tuesday 7th Dec.

        Papa & Mother came down to Mass and Communion.  I waited to speak to them after church.  Then after breakfast I joined Mother in Dargaville & we bought some shoes & completed arrangements, while papa got some boots etc. & fixed up his matters.  I left them then, but drove to the wharf and joined then again about ½ past four, when we went on board the S.S.Wairua. We had a very calm trip & Mother was not at all sick.  Papa introduced us to a prominent Darga. man, a Mr.Dargaville, who was very nice.  Mother & he talked for a long while.  Papa had a long chat with Dr. Beatty, while I saw J.Vordanovich Mr Hornblower his wife was on board too.  We booked berths Nos 1 & 8, but as I was not in Mother's cabin, I remained on deck until about ¼ to twelve, in order to see her safely over the Heads.  Another girl friend & fellow candidate, Kathleen Hilliam stayed up with me.  We had great fun about "Lone Wolf" etc. After crossing the Heads we anchored off Buckland's country for some hrs. then went on to Helensville to catch the train.

Wednesday 8th Dec

        Got up & dressed while coming up to Heleneville.  Arrived in time for a cup of tea before getting the train for Auckland.  We saw our friends again when leaving the boat.  We arrive! in Auckland about nine o'clock and booked rooms at the Waverly.  We then went round to Grey Lynn Convent Sister Margaret( Revd. Mother) was very nice & allowed me to try the piano although Sister Cecelia( music teacher) & choir girls were away having a picnic.  In the afternoon I bought a sailor hat, but was unable to get badge for it.  We rang up Olive and she promised to come to tea tomorrow.  We went to "Carter the Great's" performance, which was very fine but uncanny.  He gave spiritual seances & did some very fine tricks including changing water to liquor while he poured it out, then breaking the bottle he brought out a guinea pig etc.  He conjured a girl into a box, also from one "box‑room" to another, both in full view.  He made a spiritual hand tap and did a very fine trick with rings.  He changed his own for another fellows coat with his hands & legs tied: but best of all, he suspended a girl in mid‑air, as stiff & straight as if she was lying on a couch.  Miss Maxwell who assisted him was very good too.  She read and answered questions without ever seeing them.  She told one man, who asked if he would make a good picture actor, to stick to his bakery. (He turned out to be a baker) To another girl, who evidently asked something about her intended, she said,"If he is too bashful to ask you, you ask him."

Altogether it was a fine performance.

Thursday 9th Dec.

        Went to Mass & Communion, then had a look at the Maheno, Niagara & Orari before breakfast.  Afterwards we went to Grey Lynn Convent & saw Sister Cecelia a pretty lovely little nun.  She heard my pieces & scales & appointed a time in the afternoon for practice.  She had a good talk with Mother & Papa; they were charmed.  Going back to the Hotel I got sick so got a bottle from the chemist.  He said it was nervous dyspepsia.  I went to the Con. in the afternoon, but was sick again & had to stay outside for awhile.  When better I went in & had a good practice.  We came home & had tea with Olive at the Grosvenor.  She was booked for "Carters" & as we could not go she went with Nurse Lynskey.  A telegram came to the Mater for me from Dowl saying, "All hope you will be successful." After Olive had gone I went to bed to be ready for the exam next day.

Friday 10th Dec.

        Mother & Papa went to Mass & H.Communion, & offered it for the exam.  I did not go.  In the morning I learnt some more theory & analysis.  After lunch we went down to see Papa's gold watch which he bought at £16.  It is a beauty.  After that I rubbed out my analysis & got ready to catch the tram for Grey Lynn at three o'clock.  Arriving there I was examined almost immediately.  Dr. Thomas was very nice & the exam was not so stiff as I expected.  He was in great style, fully robed.  When I came out Sister gave me a tray, & I took him in some tea and served him.  There were three more girls to be examined, after which he gave the results.  I passed with Honours (86) The highest of all this time, & highest of Sister Ger. last‑year candidates.  I sent telegrams to Bernie, Sister Germaine, Tot & Aunt Bella, & rang up Olive, who was delighted.  She told me of the tele­gram.  I wrote to the Tailors for Cap & Gown, also to Bernie, Ame, & Sister Germaine.

Saturday llth Dec.

        Raining hard.  After breakfast Papa bought Mother a coat & some fruit & stuff for our journey to Taumarunui.  He took tickets etc. right through to Wellington, and reserved seats.  I posted letters & parcel of theory books to Sister.  At one o'clock we left Auckland, and though it rained at the start, we ran into fine weather.  The country looked splendid.  We saw Manurewa & our old place also Jukes, Swears, Luptons, Rollets, & the trees of Cap.  Clayton's hills.  As we rushed past Hamilton we had a glimpse of our gum tree. There was some very rich land about Paerata and Pukekohe.  We saw all the main stations of the north end of the Trunk including Huntly(the great coal mining place) Mercer, Te Kuiti, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Ohaupo etc.  Then we passed Pairongia & crossed the first viaduct.  Later on we joined up with the Ongarue, branch of the Wanganui.  We crossed it several times, & followed along it for some miles.  Another important place was Hangatiki, which is just two miles from the famous Waitomo caves.  Mrs & the Rev. Latter told us that.  We found she was a former friend of Mother's.  They are both going to Bis­hop's Court Ch.Ch. for eight years.  We made several stoppages Taupiri being one but arrived at Taumarunui at ½ past seven.  We booked rooms at the Grosvenor, had tea, then went out to get fruit & stuff, also a kit, ready for Monday's start, before going to bed.

Sunday 12th Dec.

        Had breakfast, then strolled round Taumarunui.  We had a look at the landing for the tourist boats, which go down the Wanganui River, "Waireka" & two others alongside.  We had a good look at the traffic bridge over the Ongarue & Wanganui branches, which form the "Wanganui proper".  Unlike most bridges it has a "doublewidth" in the centre for the purpose of passing.  We also saw Rotunda & Sports ground.  Then we went to the little church on the hill to Mass.  The church is not nearly so nice as Mangawhare, but they have a good convent & remarkably up-to­date school. I took several snaps of buildings & nuns also, Pa & Mother, took one of Gibbs Hill from balcony of Grosvenor Hotel Tamaraunui.  We saw Revd. Mother (St.Joseph's) & three other nuns.  She told us to ask for Sr.Claud, Hill St. ( Forgot- do so coming home. ) We went to Bene­diction at seven, at which ceremony a little girl fainted.  Afterwards Father(Duffy) came round & spoke to us.  He was a very nice young priest and wanted us to stay for the Bazaar - play a solo for it etc.  He told us about a poor girl (one of his bazaar workers) who was drowned that week.  We saw the girl's Father, Mother, & brothers.  We saw the place near where the poor nun was drowned.  After walking back from Benediction we lay down until one o'clock the next morning.