A housewife or hussif is a a rollup cloth case containing sewing equipment - needles, pins, safety pins, buttons and thread - used as a sewing kit by men and women in the field to alter or mend their own clothing. They were rolled up and tied with the tapes for easy transport and storage. Also referred to as a pocket-housewife - a cloth case with compartments for carrying needles, thread and other basic sewing equipment, usually rolled up and fastened with a tie.

6312 Matron Edith Florence Worn, ARRC (1909-1989) NZANS, WW2

Edith F Worn trained at Christchurch Hospital, graduating in 1929. She joined the NZANS in 1939 and following a period of training at Trentham, accompanied the 1st Echelon to England on the Strathaird. During the war she served at 2/10 British Hospital, at 2 NZGH Middle East, in Greece, on HS Maunganui on the voyage to 1 NZGH in Italy where she was Matron from 1944 to 1945. Matron Worn was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross in December 1944. After the war Edith Worn returned to civilian nursing and became Assistant Matron at the Cook Hospital Gisborne.