A True Standard Bearer

Simon Woolf M.Photog pays tribute Eunice Mowles was an FPSNZ, a former member of the Honours Board, PSNZ Council, and a recipient of the PSNZ Service Award.

Eunice was a very fine photographer in a number of genres. Her PSNZ Fellowship set, which documented the workers at Hutt Hospital, was considered standard-setting for a PJ set. It hangs in the hospital to this day!

Eunice, with her late husband Arthur, made quite a partnership. Together they were standard bearers, for both photography, and the organisation of PSNZ events and activities. They both won major awards, were regular exhibitors, and were amazing mentors to others.

Eunice, in particular, had a photography reach far further than PSNZ. She exhibited in a number of group and solo exhibitions in the wider arts community. She was adept in colour and black and white, and in using both film and digital mediums. Her monochrome work was exquisite, and her documentary photography often had a sense of humour attached! Her landscape work was beautifully crafted, and very original. Her work is viewed as eminently collectable, outside of PSNZ circles.

She served PSNZ, both on and off Council, for a lengthy period, and in a number of roles. Her work with PSNZ archives and the Permanent Collection was meticulous.

Eunice was a true character, with warmth and wisdom and a strong personality, who shared and cared for others. She will be greatly missed.

Eunice was a keen supporter of the PSNZ Permanent Collection. When in 1993 the New Zealand Centre for Photography in Wellington could no longer store the collection, she housed it at her home. She also repacked the collection in archival paper and boxes