WARKWORTH & DISTRICTS RSA

The last meeting for the year was our Christmas Party where we had 34 members attend and 2 guests with 6 apologies received.  We met at 11.30am for mix and mingle in the lounge with every member given a free drink ticket.  We moved into the dining room which looked very festive with red and white Christmas decorated table cloths, a decorated gift consisting of a Christmas Mince Pie and shortbread, a small Christmas Chocolate Santa and bamboo boats filled with sweets.
 
After Grace was said by Pauline Hirst our two course lunch was served.

The Christmas cake made by a member's daughter was cut by one of our Life Members, Kath Wright. 

The donated chocolate from Chocolate Brown was presented to Joy Harper-Keeley our President for her birthday this month and also her efforts for our gifts.  We then joined in sing-a-long of Christmas songs with Linda on guitar.   A very enjoyable afternoon.
 
We meet every month on the first Tuesday and after the business section we usually have a speaker, except on Party days, we would welcome new members, please contact Marion Ross ph.4226996 if interested.
 
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Marion Ross
Hon. Secretary

At the November meeting of the Women's Section we had 30 members attend including one new member and one visitor.  After the singing of our Section Song, birthdays for the month and general business, we were entertained by another local lady, Sherrin Scelly who was a singer and a Director with the Auckland Music Theatre doing many shows at His Majesty's Theatre.  She told many stories of different shows and the unusual things that happened.  She ended by singing us "I could have danced all night" a great way to end a very enjoyable afternoon.
We meet every month on the first Tuesday and after the business section we usually have a speaker, we would welcome new members, please contact Marion Ross ph.4226996 if interested.
Cheers
Marion Ross
Hon. Secretary

At the October meeting of the Women's Section we  celebrated our 57th Birthday with 28 members, one new member and one visitor.  Our member Joan Ballantine spoke on her trip to Government House in Wellington to receive her QSM Medal along with her daughter Ali, they made history as the first mother and daughter to receive Queen Service Honours at the same time. The Medal was presented by Dame Patsy Reddy and the recipients were all women to celebrate 125 years of the Womens Suffragette Movement. She showed us her Medal and a photo taken on the steps of the very impressive staircase by the state banquet room with all her daughters and the Governor General.

Members were then invited to have a go at the baby photo guessing competition of the committee, peruse the memorabilia display, followed by a cup of tea or coffee and were treated to a piece of lovely decorated fruit cake, made for us by a member's daughter. An enjoyable birthday celebration.
 

We meet every month of the first Tuesday and after the business section we usually have a speaker, we would welcome new members, please contact Marion Ross ph. 422 6996 if interested.
 

We also run a Housie session every second Wednesday from 1.30 to 3pm. after the Seniors Lunch in the Gunners Restaurant - next session 24th October.
Cheers
Marion Ross
Hon.Secretary

The Women's Section held their monthly meeting on Tuesday 3rd July commencing with the business section first, followed by a mid-winter shared lunch consisting of lots of delicious finger food provided by the members. 

We then held an open forum on favourite memories with some very interesting and hilarious stories on travelling overseas.
We meet every month on the first Tuesday and after the business section we have a speaker, we would welcome new members, please contact Marion Ross 422 6996 if interested.

Our Support Services is under ever increasing pressure to deliver transport for members for Hospital and Specialist appointments.If you can help out driving one of our Vehicles (Mon to Frid daytime only) it would be much appreciated by Support Services Officer Joss and vehicle schedules organiser Sherryl.Email here office@warkworthrsa.co.nz or telephone 09 425 8568 if you can help.

Membership for the Women's Section:

$24.00 for the first year which includes, annual subscription, Womens Section Badge and Ribbon, Name Tag and Rule Book.

Thereafter $15.00 per annum.

The grants given in 2017 were Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade, Mauhurangi East Volunteer Fire Brigade and also our annual donation to the Auckland Medical Research of which we are Founding Members.

Our grants for 2018 are Leigh Volunteer Fire Brigade, Warkworth/Wellsford Hospice Warkworth, Warkworth St John Ambulance and our annual donation the the Auckland Medical Research.
With an additional $1000.00 to our local Warkworth RSA to assist with the upgrade of their internal sound system.

Our July meeting was a mid-winter shared lunch and an open forum on 'helpful hints' with several members giving suggestions for making cleaning products for the shower, clothes washing, removing red wine from carpet and tea stains from cups.  Also a recipe for scones, a cheap tool to help remove tops and a suggestion to sing a catchy tune when doing compressions!

Our bus trip to Silverdale with a drive around Millwater housing estate, a lunch stop at Kings Plant Barn plus a look around the garden centre with a few purchases being made and a lucky ticket prize was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Our President Joy Harper-Keeley, Maureen Stephen, Lorraine Lowden and Kath Wright travelled to Kaitaia to attend the Northland District Womens Section 60th Conference plus Far North's 70th Birthday celebrations on Saturday 29th July which was very enjoyable.

At our August meeting our speaker was Mary Davies who gave us an insight into being a policewoman 'On the Beat' in London in the 1950's relating several amusing incidents.
We also celebrated Sybil Gardiner's 100th Birthday, with a birthday cake which we all shared, a card and a presentation of flowers and chocolates by Joy.

Regards
Marion Ross, Hon. Secretary

Our President, Vice President and Secretary recently attended the 12th  National Womens Annual General Meeting/Conference held at the Swanson RSA on 13th June.  

Also several members will be attending the 60th Northland Womens Section Conference to be held at Far North (Kaitaia) RSA on 29th July.

We have planned an outing to Silverdale with a drive around Millwater and a lunch stop at Kings Plant Barn for Thursday 20th July leaving from the RSA at 11am returning around 2pm the more people we get the cheaper the bus will be, so if we get between 28-30 people the cost will be $10 each, but if we only get 20 people the cost will be $14 each with a smaller bus.     

Anyone interested can ring the Secretary, Marion Ross on 422 6996.

Phyllis Munro

27th December 1921- 1st June 2017
Service  No. 4337
W.A.A.F.
W.A.L

Phyl was a founding member joining in February 1962 then known as South Rodney Womens Section. She served on Committee for 2 years, was awarded her Long Service Badge in 1993 and was a very active member attending meetings until 2015.

What a remarkable lady, being a member of our Section for 55 years.

Our condolences to Karen, Russell and families.

The Women's Section run Housie every second Wednesday from 1.30 till 2.45pm as our major fund raiser to enable us to give annual donations to several local and deserving services.

This is a great way to spend an afternoon with the chance of a win, but unless we get more support, we will have to close this activity, which will be a shame for the small band of regular players who have been coming for several years.This is a very friendly group and open to everyone in the community and you can always come in around 12 noon for a Seniors lunch.

Cards cost $5.00 for 15 games.  Come along and give it a go and bring a friend!

Coming dates 10th & 24th May - 7th & 21st June - 5th & 19th July - then every following fortnight. 

Cheers Marion

At our recent Annual General meeting held Tuesday 7th March 2017, the following Officers and Committee were appointed:

Patron                             Sybil Gardiner

President                        Joy Harper-Keeley

1st Vice President          Pauline Hirst

2nd Vice President         Lorraine Lowden

Hon. Secretary               Marion Ross

Hon. Treasurer               Linda Anderson

Committee:                     Irene Coleman, Claire Kronfeld, Fay McNaught, Julie Robertson, Maureen Stephen, Kath Wright

Auditor:                           Brian Russell

Annual Donations of $200 each were approved for Auckland Medical Research (as we are Founding Members) Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade and Mahurangi East Volunteer Fire Brigade.

We meet on the first Tuesday of every month from 1.30pm to 3pm and have excellent speakers and also have some  'party' days.

Anyone interested in joining us can either enquire at the RSA Office or ring our Secretary, Marion Ross on 422 6996.

Regards Marion

Every second Wednesday from 1.30pm in the Committee Room.

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Women Section President Maureen Stephen presents Dorothy Vlaanderen with her Long Service award for 22 years service to the Women Section.

Lorraine Lowden receives her Life Member award from John and Maureen.

Jean Todd receives her Long Service award from President John Stephen and Women Section President Maureen Stephen