Making their mark with baking

Women’s Institute members were this week handing out homemade biscuits to pensioner flat residents. WI stalwarts Alison Crawford (left) and Judy Ball (right) hand over the goody bags to Sue Goodall and Mananui Brown. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

October was Women’s Insitute Awareness month and for Federation members of the Poverty Bay branch, it  was all about baking.

They gave out home-made biscuits to those attending the Barleycorn concert at the Salvation Army Citadel on the Day for Older Persons on Sunday October 1.

Fast forward to October 31 when  a big baking effort saw members filling 200 bags with at least two biscuits, a tea bag, mints and a card with WI contact details, all delivered to pensioner flat residents over two days.

Excess biscuits were donated to the Trust Tairāwhiti  Rescue Helicopter base at the airport, Civil Defence, A&E, the Fire Brigade and Tairāwhiti Hospice.

Around the Women’s Institutes this month —

The A&P show is over and members did well in the competitions with Tūranganui WI winning the judged articles in the courts and Puha WI winning the overall effect.

As part of  the month’s activities Poverty Bay and Wairoa members spent time over two days at the HB Williams Memorial Library, helping children  put artificial flowers  into inverted  glass jars with lids and decorating the outside of the jars with stickers; a simple but really effective use for  unwanted jars.

“The children and adults really enjoyed the activity,” said a WI spokeswoman. “Thanks to the helpful library staff who provided us with the space to share what we do and also with a screen to have a continuous display showing  WI events.”

Due to Awareness Week fewer members were welcomed by vice-president Christine Parkin to the October meeting of the Tūranganui branch. Members were pleased to win first prize for the Court at the Show and that Margaret Naden won Best in Show with her knitted blanket.

Tūranganui’s Christmas lunch will be at 11am in the Senior Citizens rooms.

Trish Engert won the raffle and Margaret Naden the points cup.

At the Frasertown October meeting the branch welcomed three guests who, after enjoying a jolly afternoon, all expressed an interest in joining next year.

It was the time of year for the plant swap and there was a good selection of  tiny orchids, succulents, lettuce plants and potted shrubs. Several members produced vases of flowers and the winner was Annie, a returning member. The raffle was won by a guest, to her delight.

The thought for the month was “The best way to predict your future is to create it”.

“We promptly did this by planning our birthday lunch next month and our Christmas lunch in December,” said a Frasertown member.

“This brought home how close the end of the year is and what can we  plan for next year.”

At their October meeting members of Puha WI enjoyed catching up with fellow members’ activities over the last month.

Betty and Bonnie had their birthdays acknowledged with a card and “scratchy” each.

A challenging quiz was held which members found rather difficult so next time, the members will be asked to provide the questions.

Members were told of a report in the latest Newsletter for Seniors which is be emailed from the Office for Seniors, that a woman is  setting up a group called CaringStay. This group offers a rented spare room with support for people coming out of hospital to an empty house. The providers are not nurses but can assist the person with walking etc until they are able to return to their own homes.

The Christmas meeting is to be held at the Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club.

Janette Gooch won the bud vase, Dunlop Cup and points cup. Delys Hollamby won the raffle.