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1180
SI SWP FEDERATION CONFERENCE
NEW ZEALAND, 2004
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April 6th 2004
Sheilah Downs (SI Lower Hutt) sent the following about the First Event (Unofficial) of the SISWP Conference:
"I have just returned home from a visit to Kapiti Coast Club, about an hours drive away, together with two of my fellow club members. We joined them for a meal and to welcome three of the members attending Conference from the Lae Club in Papua New Guinea."
Verity Smith-Loretz and Naomi Wilkins, speaking
about the SISWP Project - Halt Family Violence.
Sheilah continues:
"The stories they told us made you just cringe - babies of a few months old being sexually violated by family members. On the other hand the work of the women in Papua New Guinea, not only Soroptimists, to help these women and girls, was just heart warming. It makes you realise that in a society such as theirs, where violence towards women is part of their culture, it is going to take a lot of hard work, money, time and effort to change attitudes in society. However, small steps at a time do make a change and it was very satisfying to hear of the women and young girls who have been helped. This is now encouraging more women to speak out against violence and report it, plus making the authorities take positive action against the offenders.
Chatliners may remember seeing the photos of when the Centre was opened, and they have come a long way in a relatively short time. They now have a Management Committee, plus full time Director and are hoping to appoint an Assistant Director this year. One of their Friendship Links is Ilkley in Yorkshire ; they also have a link with Tuscon, Arizona.
We had a most enjoyable and friendly evening and it really got us into the Conference mood.
April 7th 2004
Sheilah writes:
"Tonight we had a Mayoral Reception hosted by the Deputy Mayor of Wellington in the Council Chambers, a magnificent old building which has been beautifully restored. It was a good opportunity to meet up with old friends and make some new ones.
On the left: Betty Loughhead-Turland and Joan Cromer
We had a great time with Councillor David Major who used to live in Papua New Guinea and speaks fluent pidgin. He told us a great story, in pidgin, and Naomi Wilkins from Papua New Guinea, translated it into English for us. Needless to say he had us in great gales of laughter."
Shown on the right with Dr Major is Elaine Moffat.
Another Pre-Congress event, sent by Barbara Milburn (SI Upper Hutt)
Barbara writes:
"Zanaa and Dolly, Mongolian Soroptimists who are staying with me for the Conference arrived on my doorstep three days early. This was a bonus as I was able to show them Wellington and my home area of Upper Hutt. "One morning I took them to a school I often relief teach at. The children range in age from 5 years to 10 years old.
Zanaa and Dolly with pupils"This is a class of 8-year olds to whom Dolly and Zanaa talked to after the school assembly. They were a great hit. Note the range of ethnicity in the class, - Maori, Maori/Scottish,
Pacific Islands, Russian, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Sudanese , European, and children with a great mixture of race. We have a lot of inter marriage and as a Maori member of Parliament wisely said 'Any racial problems we may have, are solved in the bedroom'!"
9th April
From Sheilah - Friendship Night Parliamentary Reception
"The Parliamentary Reception was hosted by one of New Zealand's women M.P's Marian Hobbs, who amongst other portfolios is Minister of the Environment. We were entertained by two wonderful singers performing a mixture of operatic arias - duet from Lakme, the letter song from Marriage of Figaro, but also show songs
including Summertime from Porgy & Bess."
Sheilah Downs (New Zealand) and Indrani Manuel (Malaysia) at the Friendship Night of SISWP Federation Conference in Wellington NZ.
Meryl Caldwell-Smith at Parliamentary Reception.
Joan Gaudin and Barbara Milburn.
9th April
From Sheilah - Photos taken at Chatliner Breakfast
Joc Hanby, Barbara Milburn, Heather Chong and Maddie Wright
Heather Douglas, Joan Drayton and Marlene Brooke
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