Following the civil unrest in New Caledonia in May 2024, the Inner Wheel Club of Nouméa Plaisance has responded with compassion and community spirit, supporting those most affected by the crisis.

Education has been a key focus. In addition to donating school supplies to 20 local students at the Collège de Normandie, the Club visited Savio de la Foa College, an hour and a half from Nouméa, to donate books and educational games. Students, eager to learn and connect, welcomed the support. After a local vocational high school was completely destroyed, students were relocated to Jules Garnier High School, without access to essential equipment. Government support was not expected until July, so the Club, alongside local Rotary and IW partners, used emergency aid funds to provide what was needed. 

To bring joy and social connection to seniors on low incomes, the Club organised a film screening at the Saint-Exupéry cinema. The event was so well received that it will continue monthly for the next three months, reaching 75 more seniors.

Club Members with some of the seniors in attendance at the first film screening

Food insecurity became a major issue after the unrest, especially in retirement homes. From May to September, the Club worked with the NGéa retirement home, volunteers, and local food banks to prepare over 1,600 free meals. These meals brought people together to eat, chat, and reconnect—offering comfort during an isolating time.

Some of the Club’s ongoing work includes crafting clothing for premature babies in Vanuatu and making warm items for local rest home residents through a collaboration with the association Les passionnées du fil

Through all these efforts, the Inner Wheel Club of Nouméa Plaisance has shown the power of community, service, and solidarity in times of adversity.

A remarkable resident from Te Kowhai has been recognised and honoured within the wider community.

Suzy McPhail received a Margarette Golding Award for her dedication to providing amazing opportunities for individuals with dementia and other neurological disorders to live their best lives. Suzy offers art and music classes for people with dementia and organises social events to raise funds.

The International Inner Wheel Award, created in 2000 in the name of Margarette Golding, the founder of Inner Wheel (1924), is awarded for highly commendable personal service (unconnected with Inner Wheel) to the community.

Members of Inner Wheel Club Mt Roskill, together with District NZ291 Chairman, District NZ291 Secretary, editor-secretary of IWC Fairfield (Hamilton) and partners were present when National President Rina Maxwell-Hesp, on behalf of Past President Judi Newborn, awarded Suzy McPhail with the Margarette Golding Award.

During her visit to the IW Club of Nouméa Plaisance in New Caledonia, 2023-2024 IWNZ National President Judi Newborn was honoured to present the Margarette Golding Award to the Chantal Marconi, the President of the IW Club of Nouméa Plaisance on Thursday April 25th.

The club held a gala dinner to celebrate IIW’s 100th Birthday and decided that this would be a great time to present the award, as they had 67 guests coming, including the Rotary Presidents and the Assistant Governor. Chantal had no idea and was completely taken aback. Chantal received the award for her selfless dedication to others outside of IW.

The citation read “In recognition of services rendered to four associations, three for the elderly (ACAPA – FOYER NGEA – RETIREMENT HOME HIBISCUS) and one for disabled children (ASEAD)”

"This award was well and truly deserved and it was an absolute pleasure to present it to her." - Judi Newborn, 2023-2024 IWNZ National President Judi Newborn

Two Clubs have had the wonderful idea of making 100 items to be donated, in honour of Inner Wheel's 100 year anniversary! 

Yvonne, a very talent Member of the IW Club of New Plymouth North, tackled the task of knitting 100 items with the help of her trusty canine helper, Molly. Yvonne knit 100 pairs of booties for the Taranaki Hopsital's Neo Natal Unit, 100 pairs of slippers for Barnados and made up 100 toiletry bags donated to WITT students who aren't as fortunate as others.

The ladies of the IW Club of Invercargill South also gave themselves the challenge of knitting 100 items! They knit 100 pairs of socks and 100 beanies, assembled them into 100 packs and donated them to the Maternity Ward at Southland Hospital on International Inner Wheel Day. The 100 little pairs were donated to the first 100 babies that were born from midnight on the 10th of January, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of our International organisation. The time and effort put in by the Club Members was greatly appreciated by the staff. The Southland Times were also in attendance to record the occasion, and an excellent article was published the following Saturday. You can read the article here on page 3 (News section).

A wonderful article has been written in issue 565 (p.8) of the local Matamata newspaper Scene featuring the IW Club of Matamata!

The Club was awarded a Presidential Citation by 2022-2023 International Inner Wheel (IIW) President Zenaida Yungco Farcon. The award recognizes the Club’s work towards the goals of the 2022-2023 year’s theme Work Wonders and also for inspiring members in fellowship and service.

You can read the article (on p. 8) here or by clicking the photo below.

Thanks to the efforts of Huibrie Keyser, President of the IW Club of Howick and Vice Chairman of the NZ291 District, the Howick and Pakuranga Times published an article on February 7th 2024 about the Inner Wheel Centennial year. The article discusses the community involvement and history of IWNZ and of the Howick Club. It also advertises our beautiful "In Friendship" rose, sold for Inner Wheel's Centennial year! Fantastic work by the ladies of the Howick Club in getting IWNZ's name out in the community!

You can read the article online here or by clicking the image below.

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.”