IWNZ News

Last Christmas, the Kapiti Inner Wheel club in New Zealand partnered with the local Whitcoulls bookstore to collect and distribute Christmas bears to donate to needy children. Shoppers who spend over a certain amount in the store are invited to purchase a bear and then either take it away for a gift, or donate it to a local charity. Last Christmas more than 250 bears were donated by generous locals and collected up by IW members, and most were given to Foster Hope who support foster children. The Women’s Refuge were also recipients. Both organisations were so grateful for the donation of the bears, which are soft and cuddly and can be very comforting for children at a stressful time. This arrangement provides an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of Inner Wheel, as our name and logo are proudly displayed in the store during the promotion. Our ongoing partnership with Whitcoulls will continue this coming Christmas. Everyone benefits from the arrangement – Whitcoulls and Inner Wheel get great publicity, and needy children get a wonderful Christmas gift.

IW District 291 hosted IWNZ President Darlene Westrupp at their recent District meeting. Some highlights of the meeting included the butterfly tree made at the meeting, the IWNZ Conference 2019 crew's presentation and an address by IWNZ President, Darlene.

This edition of the New Plymouth Photo Gallery includes: stuffing dolls for children in surgical ward of THB; the knitting group hard at work; August Speaker Niamh O’Sullivan, A Taranaki Rose of Tralee and members who walked followed by coffee at Somerset Village on IW Day.

The Inner Wheel Club of Opotiki celebrated New Zealand Inner Wheel Day on 1 September Cherry was there and Elsa and Gary. The day was blue skied and sunny, amazing to sandwich it between two very wet fronts. Bronwen and Brian, Fiona and Bob then Jean with a friend Anne. Off we set through the green and shadowy obviously loved five acres of native trees and shrubs. The track has been renovated or whatever term is appropriate for such hard work that has been done. Gravel laid with wooden sides over the wet spots, a board walk through high Tree ferns. Most impressive are the steps leading down through the valley and up to a wooden walkway surround encompassing Taketakarau, the ancient Pourere tree that is wound into local history of long ago. The sun slanting through the leaves made the bush sparkle and the birds were quite vocal in their Spring busy ness. After all it is September 1st. It is the first day of Spring and it is NZ Inner Wheel Day. We wandered on commenting on the shapes and shadows and growth that caught our eye. Finally into the sunshine up an incline and out to where our cars were parked. Back down to the town to meet up with Ruth and Lois at the Hot Bread shop for a well earned coffee and “goodies” and of course more discussion and exchange of news that is important to us all. HAPPY INNER WHEEL NZ DAY.———-GREETINGS TO SPRING.

President Carole and Ruth Wilkinson present knitting done by the IW Club of Opotiki to Whakatohea Iwi Social & Health Services to be distributed to families in need. This is an on-going project for the IW Club of Opotiki.

The Inner Wheel Club of Opotiki held their Changeover luncheon at Jean Smithson's home on 29th June. This year the club changed the format of their Changeover and decided to have a catered meal - 2 courses - at Jean Smithson's home with the a meat dish and a fruit salad as 2 extra dishes. The committee acted as waitresses. The meal was delivered to the house ready to eat. Husbands were included and Jean had set up tables in her dinning room and these were decorated with lovely floral arrangements which were auctioned off to raise a bit of money. As the club had shared presidency the year, each of the Presidents wrote a few sentences of their time in office and Secretary Fiona put them together, with a few added comments, and these were read them out at the changeover. After the group photo, they tea or coffee and this brought the luncheon to a close. Photos: 1. Waitresses (left to right) Bronwen Hough, Lana Morgan and Jean Smithson. 2. President Carole Young receiving the Chain of Office from Past President Jean Smithson. 3. Committee for 2018/2019 (left to right) - Lana Morgan, Past President Jean Smithson, President Carole Young, Secretary Fiona Laming and Editor, Bronwen Hough. 4. Group photo