Bernice Shackleton

Bernice Elizabeth Shackleton (14 November 1901 – 3 December 1998) was a New Zealand journalist and writer.

Biography Shackleton was born in Waimate, New Zealand, in 1901. She was educated at Waimate District High School, Columba College in Dunedin, and Canterbury University College in Christchurch. She graduated with a Diploma of Journalism in 1928 and her first job was as a reporter on the daily newspaper the Christchurch Star. and was responsible for the leader page, editorials, a column and a feature titled "A Woman's Point of View". At the time, this was the highest position a woman had reached on a major New Zealand daily paper.

In 1936, Shackleton became a freelance parliamentary reporter, and reported on parliament from the segregated public gallery. Her column was syndicated in the four main centres of the country (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin). After the war she became interested in international aid and began to work for the non-profit organisation Corso. In 1949 she became publicity officer for their national office. It is considered a significant work on the place of small hospitals in the New Zealand health system.

Publications

Shackleton wrote a series of five articles on New Zealand's railway stations and journeys by rail around the country which were published in the New Zealand Railways Magazine between November 1937 and September 1938. In addition, she produced the following non-fiction works: The ever open door : the story of Knox Presbyterian Church, Waimate prepared for the 75th anniversary 1874-1949. Knox Presbyterian Church, 1949 The ever open door : the story of Knox Presbyterian Church, Waimate : a century of worship 1874-1974. Waimate Publishing Company, 1974