Awards to help fulfil duo's aspirations

New Zealand Federation Graduate Women's Award recipient Glenda Te Rito (left) with National MP Paula Bennett and Catherine Charman Memorial Award recipient Dena Hale. Photo / Paul Taylor

Dena Hale and Glenda Te Rito have big dreams, and the awards they won at last night's Zonta evening will help in making them a reality.

Ms Hale received the Catherine Charman Memorial Award of $2000 and Ms Te Rito was awarded the NZ Federation of Graduate Women - Hawke's Bay cash grant of $500.

The grants are to help with the women's education fees as they are both currently studying postgraduate degrees.

Both awards are to financially help women who are changing their career path and starting over.

After 25 years of being a quantity surveyor Ms Hale made the decision to study art. "I didn't want to get old and think - I wish I had. So I wanted to see if I had it in me to be an artist," she said.

Last year Ms Hale graduated with a degree in Maori Visual Arts and went straight on to her Masters degree.

She said she was "really privileged" to have been the recipient of the award as it would also help her to get another important project underway.

The Marewa woman is hoping to set up a forum for advancing young women called Taitamahine Toa, which means strong young woman. "The programme would help young women make choices about their lives, rather than falling into situations," she said.

"There are many programmes out there that capture young people once they are already in trouble, so I would like to initiate a programme that helps them make decisions before that happens."

Giving back to the community is important for Ms Hale as she is a volunteer member of Civil Defence, a volunteer at the museum and is involved with her children's sport and school activities. "If people don't volunteer, things don't happen," she said.

Ms Te Rito is currently undertaking a one-year Master's degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages with The University of Auckland.

Her ultimate goal is to set up a language institute in Hawke's Bay.

The mother-of-five said she was "grateful" to receive the award as it is difficult for older women to receive funding.

Dale Cowie, chair of judges for the awards, said Ms Hale and Ms Te Rito stood out to her.

"Dena's clarity of vision of what she wanted to achieve was amazing.

"Glenda is a very compassionate and committed woman, she is very passionate about what she wanted to achieve."

Ms Hale said she was "extremely grateful" to the women at Zonta and how they made the time to support and care for others. National MP Paula Bennett attended the award presentation at the Havelock North Community Centre last night, which was attended by 150 people.