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.

Two Club Members during the first shift selling raffle tickets

The IW Club of Invercargill proudly partnered with Mitre 10 Mega Invercargill to raise funds for Hato Hone St John – Murihiku. Mitre 10 Mega have generously donated goods totalling $2000.00 for a ‘Winter Warmers’ Raffle. Tickets were sold at Mitre 10 Mega from Friday May 12. The Club had a roster set up for 2 weeks, but the tickets sold in 2 days! The final draws will be taking place on Wednesday May 31, with three chances to win.

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.  

Mt Roskill Members	The tables
The Venue	Charter Members cutting the Cake
The Cake	Delicious Food

The Inner Wheel Club of Tawa finally got to celebrate their 40th Birthday on the 26th March 2023.  The Club was chartered in 1982 and was to recognise 40 years of service last year, however Covid intervened and the decision was made to postpone the party until 2023.

Charter, past and present Members attended along with dignitaries from IWNZ, NZ294 and corresponding Clubs.

Each club Member was presented with a certificate to mark the occasion before the specially designed cake was cut by our remaining Charter Members.

The Tawa club was established through the work of Clare and Bill Russell who, on returning to Wellington after living in Oamaru and having been a part of the Oamaru Inner Wheel and Rotary, wished to see a club developed in the Tawa area.  After many discussions and meetings, the club was endorsed by Tawa Rotary and the first meeting was held March 1982.

Room decorations for the celebration

Charter Members cutting the Club's birthday cake together

On March 21st 2023, the IW Club of Marlborough celebrated its 50th anniversary with a high tea and a beautiful Inner Wheel-themed cake. The celebration was well attended and all shared friendship, along with some delicious treats!

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!