Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 38, September 1994
Mrs Mabel Alley, nee Beamish, was born at Mercer in 1891 and after leaving school became a 'pupil teacher'. This career took her to a number of country schools around Auckland until she arrived in Hikutaia to take up a position at the school. The school was a one room building, the primers at one end and the senior pupils at the other. The headmaster was Mr E J Walters.
In 1919 she married Mr Bert Alley, a farmer. Following the birth of her four children, she, with Mrs Win Clark, formed the Hikutaia sub-branch of the Plunket Society in August 1945. The first clinics were held in the Hikutaia Hall and the first baby to attend Plunket was Judith Corbett the eldest daughter of Tom and Gladys Corbett. Mrs Alley was elected foundation president in 1945 and held this position for 17 years. Mrs Win Clark was elected secretary-treasurer. Mrs Alley died in October 1963. In the Paeroa Plunket rooms hangs a portrait of Sir Truby King, which was presented to the branch in memory of Mrs Alley.