In January 1980, the Auckland Diocese was divided and the new Diocese of Hamilton was established with Bishop Edward Gaines appointed first Bishop of Hamilton.

The League was to remain with Auckland until after Auckland’s Golden Jubilee Conference in 1981, which was attended by the new Hamiltonian contingent as a special event, remembering the past and reaching out in hope towards 2000.

However, the Hamilton Bishop and members were impatient to become independently organised immediately and a meeting was called.  Two representatives from each branch attended the inaugural meeting at the Passionist Monastery in Hamilton 11th June 1980.  The meeting was chaired by Barbara Wilkinson and the new council was formed with huge enthusiasm and camaraderie.  First President Mrs. Geraldine Scott; Vice-Presidents –  Mrs Yvonne Honey, Mrs Margaret Kelly; Secretary Mrs Pat Cull; Treasurer – Mrs Margaret Todd; Council:  Mesdames B. Wilkinson, C. Clarke, Z. Moore, N. Edwards and M. Cresswell.  Bishop Gaines appointed himself Diocesan Chaplain.

At the first Diocesan Conference an inscribed book of the Daily Office was presented to the President who undertook to read the Office daily for and on behalf of the members of the League.  This has been handed on to subsequent Presidents to carry on the tradition.  By 1990 the membership had reached 663 with 28 Branches.

Notes on the first decade of the Hamilton Diocese Catholic Women’s League gleaned by Delyse Hopkins from a detailed history written by Geraldine Scott.