The IW Club of Marlborough sponsored Talita (Tilly) Kotze to attend the Speed Skating Championships. From these championships she qualified to represent New Zealand in Australia. A great advertisement for Inner Wheel as she wore a T-shirt with our Emblem on the back.

Congratulations Tilly!

The IW Club of Kapiti is proud to announce they will be handing over 20 quilts, among other goods and financial assistance, to an IW Member in the Hawke's Bay for distribution to those in the Hawke's Bay community who have been affected by the weather events of the past few months. The quilts were donated by the Kapiti Quilt Club, of which Kapiti President Judith and Member Kate are members. Below is an excerpt from IW Club of Kapiti's March 2023 Newsletter.

At our committee meeting I greeted the ladies with a wonderful surprise with over 20 quilts that have been donated by the Kapiti Quilt Club which myself and Kate are members of. I will have much pleasure in giving these directly to an Inner Wheel Club member from the Hawkes Bay at the District Empowerment Day, who can then pass them out in their community. This is on top of another donation of goods, plus a monetary payment. My sincere thanks to everyone who has supported our sisters in the Hawkes Bay District. In Friendship, President Judith

Kapiti Quilt Club Convenor Maree with Club President Judith and some of the more than 20 gorgeous donated quilts, which will go to the Hawkes Bay community affected by the flooding

With the end of 2022 fast approaching, the IW Club of Nouméa Plaisance was very pleased to be able to contribute to their local community, and share friendship over an end-of-year meal.

The Club recently gave cheques to two local organizations. The first was to support a transition home which helps young women in need of housing. The second was given to Asead, an organization that supports handicapped children and teenagers. Asead had reached out to the Club for help with the organization of their Science Fair and Chantal (Club Vice-President) presented the Asead President Mme Triballi with a cheque the very next day.

The Club also helped a local group of young women in sport with their fundraising day by donating baked goods and plants.

Finally, the Club held their mixed end-of-year celebration on December 10th at Member Térésa's and her husband Luc's home, where Luc welcomed the group with his saxophone. The group had a fantastic day celebrating and sharing friendship in the middle of nature.

The IW Club of Nouméa wishes you and your family happy celebrations for Christmas and the New Year!

Our market day stalls - a great way to raise funds for our Charity Account. They are held about every 2 months at St Chad’s Orewa, a local church hall and property. There are other stalls also, but we fly the IW flag and wear our Inner Wheel tabards. It is a great opportunity to meet the local community and talk about Inner Wheel. We as Members also get time to enjoy a chat and catch-up while making money – an excellent way to spend a Saturday morning.   We really like it when folk downsize and spring clean, so there are knickknacks and bric-a-brac on sale plus much more.  Home baking and preserves made by our members also sell well.

Last month we had an inspirational speaker, Lynne McMillan who is in charge of the Community Garden in Blenheim.  They donate a lot of vegetables to the Red Cross as that organization is dear to Lynne’s heart due to the help the Red Cross gave to her father whilst a Prisoner of War in Austria. 

Tonight we inducted Lynne as a new member as she really enjoyed the interaction  and welcoming friendship of our members last month. 

After her induction we heard a little more of her father’s journey to Crete including many of the soldiers fleeing to caves and being hunted down by the Germans. 

Intriguing stuff and it was delightful to have Lynne as our newest Inner Wheel member. 

Lynne and Marlborough Club President Tricia at Lynne's induction.

A night to celebrate at a POSH party for the IW Club of Howick on Saturday, 5^th November where they were finally able to celebrate their Club’s 30^th birthday, a year later than initially planned.

Held at the Kotahi Community centre in Pakuranga, the evening was filled with great chatter and the room was filled with memories of 30 wonderful years as women in action sharing friendship through service. The rolling projection of past photos helped to spur memories and conversations around the tables.

Club President, Carmen Hanekom, opened the evening with a welcome and brief history of the Club, followed by a delicious dinner. The after-dinner speaker, Martine Abel-Williamson QSM, shared inspirational stories of her life as a blind woman working as Senior Human Rights Advisor for the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Co-chair of Auckland Council's Disability Advisory Panel and President of the World Blind Union. The surprise presentation of the Dawn Johnston Koru Award by MP Simeon Brown and Del Johnston was another highlight of the evening.

Cake cutting by four Charter Members followed by dessert, coffee, tea, chatter and a little dancing.

A beautiful evening, celebrating friendship!

Dawn Johnston Koru Award -2022: Martine Abel-Williamson

Dawn Johnston was a charter member and past President of the IW Club of Howick. Inspired by the IIW theme 2017-18 “Leave A Legacy” and the year Dawn's health diagnosis changed, gave her the inspiration to leave a legacy to create this award that recognises and pays tribute to a resident in the Pakuranga, Howick and Botany community who in the face of adversity has or is displaying perseverance in overcoming obstacles in the realisation of their goals and dreams.

To learn more about Dawn and the Award visit http://thedawnjohnstonkoruaward.org/

On Saturday 5^th November, at the IW Club of Howick’s 30^th birthday celebrations it was a wonderful surprise and great honour that the 2022 recipient was presented with this Award.

Martine Able-Williamson QSM, Senior Human Rights Advisor for the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Co-chair of Auckland Council's Disability Advisory Panel and President of the World Blind Union.

Martine was nominated by Simeon Brown, MP for Pakuranga. Simeon was present on the evening to read his nomination citation and to present the award to Martine, alongside Dawn’s husband, Del Johnston.

NZ291 District Chairman Penelope, Past National President Michelle, Maureen and Past NZ291 District Chairman Adrienne	Past NZ291 District Chairman Adrienne with her partner Jack
Past NZ291 District Chairman Adrienne dimming the candles	Thank you Glennis
Birthday cake cutters	Howick Club's Birthday cake
Cutting the birthday cake	Dawn's husband Del Johnston, Dawn Johnston Koru Award recipient Martine Able-Williamson, Howick Club President Carmen and MP for Pakuranga Simeon during the presentation of the Dawn Johnston Koru Award to Martine
Dawn's husband Del Johnston, Dawn Johnston Koru Award recipient Martine and MP for Pakuranga Simeon	Howick Club President Carmen
Dawn Johnston Koru Award recipient Martine and MP for Pakuranga Simeon	Dawn Johnston Koru Award recipient Martine and MP for Pakuranga Simeon

Members and friends of the  IW Club of Auckland East enjoyed a fundraising afternoon tea for Look Good Feel Better.

Clare O’Higgins, the General Manager of LGFB, spoke to us and bought us up to date on the many opportunities, both by Zoom and in-person classes in communities, they provide for women and men with cancer. What inspiring work this Charity organisation provides for clients at a difficult time in their lives 

The wonderful raffle provided by LGFB was won by Clare, the Auckland East Club President.

Refugees Settling in New Zealand

Project for July 2022 – June 2023

Working with the Red Cross and their settlement programme.

The ISO District project was for clubs to support this settlement appeal. In talking to the Red Cross, Carolyn could see a wonderful way for all clubs to
get involved.

A list of suggestions from the Red Cross was given to all clubs to bring items to District Meeting in Palmerston North on Saturday 14 September.

The response was massive – electric jugs, toasters, lunch boxes, bedding and kitchen items.

The keynote speaker Sievleag set the tone for the meeting. She arrived in New Zealand 41 years ago as a refugee from Cambodia. She spoke of her life before the Pol Pot regime and finally managing to escape and being settled as refugees in New Zealand. I am sure she only covered a brief account of the horrors they as a family along with many more people experienced.

When she called for questions, members sat in awe, many were shell shocked to hear her story.

After lunch Jenny Pepworth from the Palmerston North Red Cross Centre spoke about the work of resetting refugees in New Zealand. She was ‘blown away’ by the very generous and massive response of donations from all ten clubs. So a huge thank you to all clubs.

Challenge for the rest of year for District NZ 294 ISO Project.

Clubs might like to find a small project in their area.
The possibilities are endless. As I suggested at the meeting, if you need ideas, please send me an email.

District NZ 294 Empowerment Day

Saturday 11 March 2023.

Donations of the following for the Refugee ISO Project:

Please note, soft and knitted toys should be new for health and hygiene reasons.

Donations from the day will go to Wellington Red Cross.

Sharing ideas to other clubs:

• Let me know what your club are doing - some clubs are involved with Refugee Projects
• Also those members involved through their local churches, share as it might give clubs ideas

In Friendship Carolyn Crutch.

NZ District NZ294

The Inner Wheel Club of Auckland East have spent 11/2 days assembling 2000 Look Good Feel Better Christmas Joy Crackers ready for filling of goodies. 

A great time of Service with Friendship.

Watch this space for details of how a $20 donation can purchase a Joy Cracker either for yourself, a thank you or Christmas gift or to your club who gift them to a Woman’s organisation in your community.

The Upper Hutt Spring Festival is held annually in the Main Street of Upper Hutt and is run by the Upper Hutt Womens Centre as their main fundraiser. Due to Covid, the fair had been cancelled for the last 2 years but this year it looked like all of Upper Hutt had turned out on a sunny day and it made the event a real success.

The Upper Hutt Inner Wheel ran a very successful spring-themed raffle and spoke to lots of locals about Inner Wheel. Four of the ladies the Club Members met at the fair came along to the September dinner meeting and hopefully they’ll attend the next one too!

The Upper Hutt Club is finding that their presence at these events is proving really successful to meet new people, promote the Club and raise some funds for the Club's charities (and the Members have fun!). The Club's next event is the very popular Upper Hutt Night Market in November, where Members will be selling Christmas decorations, other hand-made items, and raffling a Christmas cake.

Marie (Club President), Lin, Mary (Club Secretary) and Karen	Donna, and Marie (Club President)
Judi (National Vice-President), Marie (Club Secretary), and Anne (Club Treasurer)