These wonderful ladies from the IW Club of Matamata have been members of Inner Wheel for 25 years, which is a great achievement. They are still actively involved in the organization and were recently awarded their 25-year badges by Club President Brenda at the Matamata Christmas function. Unfortunately, Carole Young was unable to attend the event.

During the Matamata Christmas event, Sandra BA Hunter from the Inner Wheel Club of Matamata was awarded the Margarette Golding Award by 2023-2024 National Vice-President Rina Maxwell-Hesp and Club President Brenda Linnell for her exceptional services.

Sandra has been serving the community and the Waikato district for nearly 30 years. She has been actively involved in various initiatives such as Victim Support, Tough Love, and the Rotary End Polio Now program. Since 2008, she has held multiple positions at Inner Wheel Matamata and currently serves as the I.S.O. and correspondent. Congratulations, Sandra! You are an inspiration to us all.

From left to right: Vice-President Rina, Club President Brenda and MG Award recipient Sandra

On Saturday 28th October, the 3rd "The Last Night of The Proms" was held at the Civic Theatre Invercargill. Once again organised by the members of Inner Wheel of Invercargill North.

The proceeds of the evening will be jointly shared by Hospice Southland and The Southland Charity Hospital.

A full house at the Civic Theatre enjoyed a lively evening of fun, and fantastic music, showcasing the wealth of talent we have in the South.

Soloists such as Rebecca Ryan, Libby Fraser, Nathan Hughes (also our MC) and Cleo McNaught combined with The Invercargill Symphonia, The Ascot Park Brass Band, and a massed choir of 100+ voices directed by Sarah Rae. Accompanying the soloists was our own Honoured Active Member, Sheryl Walker. Our Stage manager, Craig Waddell also joined in for  the traditional second half, alongside our "Royal Family".

Once again our fantastic Invercargill North membership worked tirelessly behind the scenes. 

The IW Club of New Plymouth North has been putting together WITT Care Packs. These packs contain shampoo and conditioner (355ml bottles), deodorant, soap (85gm), razor, toothbrush, toothpaste(120gm), laundry detergent sheets (we re-pack four of them in a press-lock bag) and a small Kit-Kat bar to feed the soul. The Club has been involved at one of New Plymouth’s secondary schools and have received some fantastic feedback regarding the packs:

“The Care Pack was awesome. I was so stoked to be given stuff that I can use. Mum barely has enough money for food, and I have been using soap to wash my hair for weeks. Now my hair is soft and clean and actually smells nice.”

“The pack made my week. I actually had tears in my eyes when I took everything out to see what was in there. I am barely keeping things afloat at home as a solo Mum with 2 kids. I got to wash both kids hair and wash their clothes properly. Thank you so much, it was a blessing. The smallest kindness can mean so much.”

“The pack was awesome. It had everything I needed.”

It came to the Club's attention that with winter coming on, children need warm pyjamas especially after they have been in hospital. The call went out to our members to bring new pyjamas to the next meeting. We were overjoyed by the response with well over $1000 worth of pyjamas, nighties and dressing gowns being given. Julie (Club President) and Sue (Club Treasurer) made the presentation. 

Chantal (Club Vice-President) and Nadine (Club Membership) were honoured to represent the IW Club of Nouméa Plaisance at the IWNZ Conference in Wellington in May 2023. They've highlighted what a pleasure it was to see everyone again after these tumultuous years; the links are still there and the Conference was superb.  

With 19 current Members, the Club was first chartered in 1988 and will celebrate its 35th anniversary this year. The New Caledonian Inner Wheel Members demonstrate feelings of humanity and solidarity with others through multiple actions to help women and children in particular, without forgetting men, throughout the New Caledonia island and abroad. The Club has great connections with Rotary Clubs and often take part in joint actions with them.

Since 2021, the Club has committed to supporting the "Relay Apartments" system of the South Province. They have been raising funds necessary to buy kits (including beds, table, fridge, etc.) for families moving out of their temporary housing. They have also signed an agreement with the CCAS (community center for social action) of Nouméa, police, doctors and psychologists to help as part of this "Relay Apartments" system. Their efforts have been very successful in helping families in distress and the Club would like to thank District NZ291 for the help they have provided. The Club is also planning on hosting a fundraising concert in September, featuring women's choirs, jazz, and other kinds of music.

The Club is also proud to report that earlier in June, they presented a cheque to 30 students of the Collège de Normandie to fund their trip to Napier in September (pictured above). The students were very thankful to the Club and performed two songs they have prepared for their upcoming trip.

The Club supports many different organisations and projects in the community. Through collections, they've supported the organisation Avec (help with medical evacuations) and they've funded dance lessons for extraordinary children, teenagers and adults (disabled). They're supporting a newly created women's soccer team, participated in the award ceremonies for a book club for young people and hosted a Friendship table at the yearly Telethon to help raise funds to support medical research. The Club contributed to the online IWNZ Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal, and Chantal and Nadine also brought along a 22kg suitcase filled with clothes, slippers, beanies and socks made and donated by the Club to the IWNZ Conference.

In May 2023, the IW Club of Palmerston North donated two wheelchairs to Parkinson's Manawatu and it came to our notice that people with Parkinson's do not have access to a wheelchair for appointments etc if they need a wheelchair. A lot of members cannot afford a wheelchair of their own. 

Our club decided to buy a new wheelchair which cost $799 and we had another wheelchair donated to us from Sue Carpenter which was Sue's mother who had passed away. Sue was pleased the wheelchair was going to a good cause. 

- Julie Watson (Club President)

An article was published in the Manawatu Guardian about this donation - you can read it here.

Steve Parsons and Julie Watson (Club President) donating the wheelchairs to Parkinson's Manawatu

Days for Girls
by Juliet Allen 

Last November I attended the Days for Girls conference held at the Home of Compassion in Wellington. I experienced three days with many inspiring and innovative women and one man who had an amazing story. There was a very interesting video link with Celeste Mergens in the USA. Celeste is the founder of Days for Girls and is a truly amazing, energetic and inspiring person.

One person told of when distributing Days for Girls kits in Kaitaia, a woman asked for two kits, saying that she was so grateful to have a Christmas present for both of her two daughters.

Auckland East Inner Wheel has been sewing for Days for Girls for seven years.

Days for Girls kits are now being included in the Rotary Emergency Response Kits.

The Inner Wheel Club of Mt Roskill celebrated its 40th birthday on 26 March. A high tea was held at a lovely venue, the food was delicious and the company wonderful.  Members, friends and representatives from other clubs attended and Rotary members did a splendid job on waiting at table.  Four Charter members were present and cut the cake.