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This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator.This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. CC BY-SA includes the following elements:
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Land Girl Enid PLUMMER
Personal Details
Maiden nameLongley
Life dates1924- 2023BiographyEnid's father Dennis frequently moved the family around the country because of the requirements of his work as an insurance salesperson. Initially he trained as a draftsman. Enid went to school in Whanganui, at Gonville School. Whanganui Girls High School provided the secondary education for Enid. Photos of that time show the old regulation black gym uniform, familiar to most women in NZ schooled prior to the 80’s. Enid was an only child and a happy one who had mum to herself, as Una didn’t work outside of the home. Una loved reading, instilling the love of a good book to Enid who has always been an avid reader. After High School the family relocated to Tauranga.
When she was about 18 Enid became a land girl, recruited during a time when the men-folk were at war. In the war years, women weren’t allowed to be soldiers, hence fulfilled many of the work roles previously held by men.Tom and Ada Plummer were the owners of a prosperous dairy farm and welcomed Enid into their lives. It was a hard physical life, adequately equipping Enid with some formidable skills and the strength to take on any farm related chores to support her future husband on the farm.
It was in this role that Enid met her husband to be - Jesse. He had a farm on a road now known as Plummer Rd in Whakamaramara. Married life began in 1946 on the Plummers’ farm on Youngson Rd, now Plummer Rd. Enid remembers the farm as being very hilly and dotted with white woolly sheep. Jesse was a man of the land who had toiled long and hard to ‘break in’ the Youngson farm. (Jess road in Plummer’s Pt is named after Jesse minus the ‘e’). Jesse had a number of brothers, one brother owned the land around what is now known as the Cascade Fountain Gardens. Other brothers had land around Whakamaramara, and beyond the Youngson Rd farm. Once kiwifruit became profitable, dairy farms in the area began to be sold off to be divided into orchard and lifestyle blocks. Life began to change, with the demise of the dairy farm. Enid was always busy, she could shear sheep, cook meals for shearing gangs, wash farm implements and barns, and take care of the working farm animals, She recalls keeping pigs which would roam near the trench at Huharua Park. They were fed mangels, a kind of orange root vegetable which we don’t hear much about these days. Enid enjoyed the Woman’s division of federated farmers which met once a month. Card games too were a big part of social life before and after the advent of TV in 1964.
Enid and Jesse had three children: Anne, Margaret and Rosemary. Unfortunately Anne passed away early on in India. She was a young lady with a heart for animals and served the cause of animal welfare for a number of years. Enid had the privilege of seeing Anne at work when she visited her in India. All the children and dad Jesse went to school at Omokoroa no.1. It was a hub for all manner of social activities, including the centennial celebrations in 2000, a highlight for Enid. For a number of years Jesse was on the school board; a reflection of the love and loyalty the couple had to their small community.
Life on the Peninsula was fun. Enid recalls that they had a family launch moored at Kotuku Park, called Mabel, which family and friends (often 10 or more) would merrily board on an outing to Motohoa for a picnic.
Enid had five grand-children and 1 great grand-daughter (Rosemary’s son’s daughter) and was widowed in her 40’s.
Church was a huge part of Enid’s life. In her late eighties-early nineties she could be seen driving herself and Tussy (her church friend) to and from Omokoroa Community church. It was not unusual to find the Minister- Matthew Needham or other members of the congregation visiting Enid in her own home.
Biography supplied by the Ōmokoroa History Group.
Enid passed away peacefully on the morning of November 24th, 2023.
Ninety-nine years old and a life well-lived.Place of birthAucklandOccupationLand Girl, farmerPlace of ResidenceWhanganui, Ōmokoroa
Life dates1924- 2023BiographyEnid's father Dennis frequently moved the family around the country because of the requirements of his work as an insurance salesperson. Initially he trained as a draftsman. Enid went to school in Whanganui, at Gonville School. Whanganui Girls High School provided the secondary education for Enid. Photos of that time show the old regulation black gym uniform, familiar to most women in NZ schooled prior to the 80’s. Enid was an only child and a happy one who had mum to herself, as Una didn’t work outside of the home. Una loved reading, instilling the love of a good book to Enid who has always been an avid reader. After High School the family relocated to Tauranga.When she was about 18 Enid became a land girl, recruited during a time when the men-folk were at war. In the war years, women weren’t allowed to be soldiers, hence fulfilled many of the work roles previously held by men.Tom and Ada Plummer were the owners of a prosperous dairy farm and welcomed Enid into their lives. It was a hard physical life, adequately equipping Enid with some formidable skills and the strength to take on any farm related chores to support her future husband on the farm.
It was in this role that Enid met her husband to be - Jesse. He had a farm on a road now known as Plummer Rd in Whakamaramara. Married life began in 1946 on the Plummers’ farm on Youngson Rd, now Plummer Rd. Enid remembers the farm as being very hilly and dotted with white woolly sheep. Jesse was a man of the land who had toiled long and hard to ‘break in’ the Youngson farm. (Jess road in Plummer’s Pt is named after Jesse minus the ‘e’). Jesse had a number of brothers, one brother owned the land around what is now known as the Cascade Fountain Gardens. Other brothers had land around Whakamaramara, and beyond the Youngson Rd farm. Once kiwifruit became profitable, dairy farms in the area began to be sold off to be divided into orchard and lifestyle blocks. Life began to change, with the demise of the dairy farm. Enid was always busy, she could shear sheep, cook meals for shearing gangs, wash farm implements and barns, and take care of the working farm animals, She recalls keeping pigs which would roam near the trench at Huharua Park. They were fed mangels, a kind of orange root vegetable which we don’t hear much about these days. Enid enjoyed the Woman’s division of federated farmers which met once a month. Card games too were a big part of social life before and after the advent of TV in 1964.
Enid and Jesse had three children: Anne, Margaret and Rosemary. Unfortunately Anne passed away early on in India. She was a young lady with a heart for animals and served the cause of animal welfare for a number of years. Enid had the privilege of seeing Anne at work when she visited her in India. All the children and dad Jesse went to school at Omokoroa no.1. It was a hub for all manner of social activities, including the centennial celebrations in 2000, a highlight for Enid. For a number of years Jesse was on the school board; a reflection of the love and loyalty the couple had to their small community.
Life on the Peninsula was fun. Enid recalls that they had a family launch moored at Kotuku Park, called Mabel, which family and friends (often 10 or more) would merrily board on an outing to Motohoa for a picnic.
Enid had five grand-children and 1 great grand-daughter (Rosemary’s son’s daughter) and was widowed in her 40’s.
Church was a huge part of Enid’s life. In her late eighties-early nineties she could be seen driving herself and Tussy (her church friend) to and from Omokoroa Community church. It was not unusual to find the Minister- Matthew Needham or other members of the congregation visiting Enid in her own home.
Biography supplied by the Ōmokoroa History Group.
Enid passed away peacefully on the morning of November 24th, 2023.
Ninety-nine years old and a life well-lived.
Place of birthAucklandOccupationLand Girl, farmerPlace of ResidenceWhanganui, ŌmokoroaFamily
SpouseJesse PLUMMERChildAnne PLUMMERMargaret CLARKERosemary (Rosie) MOORE
ChildAnne PLUMMERMargaret CLARKERosemary (Rosie) MOOREEarly Settler Data
Pioneer or Early Settler pre1900No
Related Information
OrganisationsOmokoroa History Group
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Land Girl Enid PLUMMER. Western Bay of Plenty Community Archives, accessed 17/04/2026, https://westernbay.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/3514
