"None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." — Mother Teresa.
Together, with a bunch of enthusiastic colleagues, community friends and event partners, we have been working on some pretty fine projects and events over the last couple of months. Launching this weekend is our fourth Winter Wonderfest. With around 40 different activities running until 2 September, it starts at Space Studio and Gallery. Our event partner Sarah Williams has organised a neat range of activities there, including several that showcase the studio space above the gallery. Join us on Saturday from 5.30pm as we launch the programme with the opening of our Fresh Start exhibition featuring a stellar line-up of women artists. Immediately following that event is the first of two opportunities this weekend to enjoy original music up in the studios. Leonie Matoe and Ora Hohaia perform as Tai Uru, using taonga puoro and uniquely indigenous stories to form an original style of music that is spellbinding. On Sunday afternoon Taranaki-based performers Juliet McLean and Renee Millner bring a different duo flavour with their acoustic, folk and jazz styles. Festival favourites around the country, this will be the first time they have played as a duo in Whanganui. Grab a $10 ticket from Sarah at Space, or see both for just $20, a perfect way to begin your Winter Wonderfest experience.
Our team is also very excited to be bringing a screening of Gaylene Preston's enlightening documentary, My Year With Helen in the second half of the Winter Wonderfest. Helen Clark continues to be recognised as one of the world's most influential leaders in women's development and human rights. Her bid for the top job at the United Nations forms the basis of the documentary. Film reviewer Kate Rodger gave it a four star review, commenting that: "Ms Clark agreed to let filmmaker Gaylene Preston and her crew follow the campaign, giving unprecedented insight into the inner sanctum of the United Nations. This access is what makes this film feel so special, the opportunity to see what Ms Clark's uphill struggle there looks like up close and personal, while at the same time sharing in some of her smaller yet significant victories along the way. It's fascinating stuff."
The screening is at Embassy 3 Cinema on Wednesday, August 29, at 7.30pm. Tickets are $20, from the Royal Wanganui Opera House box office 10am-4pm weekdays, or online at royaloperahouse.co.nz
In the midst of all the busy-ness of our Winter Wonderfest planning, it's been a privilege to work in partnership on a special event commemorating the 125th anniversary of Suffrage Day. The Women's Network has long valued its relationship with members from the local branches of Zonta, the National Council of Women, and the Maori Women's Welfare League. Together we have invited seven diverse and dynamic local women to feature as inspirational speakers during a celebration dinner to be held in the elegant dining room at the Grand Hotel on Friday, September 14. Along with entertainment from members of the Male Choir, this is shaping up to be a pretty special evening. Whanganui women Jessie Williamson and Margaret Bullock played pivotal roles during the 19th century suffrage campaign which saw New Zealand leading the world and paving the way for global change with its ground-breaking legislation enacted on September 19, 1893.
