Background
She was born in Huirangi, Taranaki, New Zealand on 23 December 1888.
She was born in Huirangi, Taranaki, New Zealand on 23 December 1888.
Elsie Andrews was the only one of twelve siblings who attended secondary school. She received her education at Huirangi School and with the help of a scholarship, she went on to New Plymouth High School.
When she failed entrance examinations to both university and teachers" college, she became a pupil-teacher at Waitara School. After completing her training, she moved around various rural schools before getting a permanent position at New Plymouth"s Fitzroy School. She unsuccessfully contested the New Plymouth electorate in the 1935 election as an Independent.
She was one of only three women who stood for election that year.
She died on 26 August 1948 at New Plymouth, having never married.