Making it happen Pacific view of women’s concerns

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 12

Making it happen Pacific view of women’s concerns

Solidarity among women A hardAvorking member of the Presbyterian Church, Mrs Mary McGiven, is. president of the National Council of Women’s Christchurch branch. She is also acting convener of N.C.W.’s National Standing Committee on Social Welfare. Mrs McGiven has recently returned from an International Council of Women Sub-Regional Seminar in Auckland. It was attended by women from all over the South Pacific, including Indonesia and Australia. “Important topics such as health, education, immigration, peace, population, and aid projects as they affected women and the family were discussed. “Many male-dominated aid programmes are dealing solely with the head men of villages. As a result, cultivation has often been mechanised, and taken over by men, usually for cash crops for export. Yet this cultivation is often women’s work which provided food for the family. Now families are hungry while food is exported. “We in New Zealand need to listen to what Pacific Islands’ women say, so that this country does not repeat aid programmes that are detrimental to women and families. “There also were recommendations calling for the greater incorporation of studies on the cultural heritages of the Pacific Islands into New Zealand’s school system, and for broadcasting more to reflect Pacific cultures and needs.. “I think there’s a real lack of awareness among our New Zealand women of the

needs and achievements of women of other cultures. With more and more Pacific Islands’ families migrating to New Zealand, we must learn to listen to them, share with them — and learn from them. “What are women’s groups of both cultures doing about this? Are they extending the hand of friendship to each other? “I hope that N.C.W. will show the lead here." New approach at the Y.W.

When the Y.W. moves to its new premises at 85 Bealey Avenue on April 2; it will take with it new aims defined for today’s needs. They are (1) to enable all . women to be aware of their potential; (2) to provide resources enabling women to direct their own lives; and (3) to promote awareness in the community of the needs and worth of women. Elizabeth Sewell, the national executive director, and Kaye Weir, national president, recently made a special visit to Christchurch to help the branch reassess its objectives and services. New-look activitities include fortnightly lunch-time discussions, classes on selfdefence, and “Alternative Evenings” (to those offered by pubs). These are described as “Non-Sexist — for the 25 to 30-year-olds with a disco and disc jockeys and plenty of time for meeting, chatting, enjoying." They begin Friday, March 5. International Women’s Day March 8: Commemorated globally by women’s groups, particularly in New Zealand (in 1893 this was the first country to give women the J vote), this day is a public ■ holiday in some. socialist : countries. This year, I Christchurch groups, such as > the National Council of ! Women, the National Organ-; isation of Women, Centre- ; point and the Christchurch Federated Business and Professional Women’s Club are holding special celebratory events. The Canterbury Public Library; is also running a special display.

Decade for Centrepoint Centrepoint, the women’s social club in Cathedral Square, celebrates its tenth anniversary on March 27. A members' luncheon will honour founder-members, Jenny Heal and Jan Pluck, without whose vision and drive, this thriving club would not have been formed. Public meeting and dinner Parents and teachers in particular are invited by the Regional Women’s Decade

Committee to a public meeting on March 18, at 8 p.m, in the Great Hall, Arts Centre, to hear an address by a distinguished Australian educator, Professor Millicent Poole, of Macquarie University. She will speak on “Stereotyping and the Different Aspirations and Expectations of Adolescent Boys and Girls.” Discussion will follow (with floor microphones for audibility). Chairman: Mrs Judith Hay, Mayoress of Christchurch, who chairs the Regional Women’s Decade Committee. A buffet dinner will be held beforehand to enable people to meet Professor Poole. Time and place: Gilbert and Sullivan SocietyRooms, 6 p.m. For information and tickets, contact Mrs. Worrill, Phone 791-660.

Managing money Women’s lack of knowledge of how to use financial ihstitutions and the difficulties of sharing financial decisions in marriage are dominant themes in the Society for Research on Women’s recent publication, “Women and Money.” Being launched in Christchurch on March 25 at 7.45 p.m. in the Stringleman Room of the new Canterbury Public Library, the report provides a guide to money matters, and highlights areas where lack of-understanding handicaps women. "We found there’s a terrific need for further information, especially among older women,” says Alison Kuiper, a co-convenor of the study, who will speak at the function. The other speaker will be Dr Claudia Scott, a reader in economics at Vic-

toria University. All welcome.

Food, glorious

food Alison Holst will be guest demonstrator at Ashburton’s first Food Fair, March 18 (1 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and March 19 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Organised by the Ashburton Altrusa Club, it will be held at the. Sportsmen’s Lounge, Ashburton Racecourse.. Twenty-five to 30 companies or groups will exhibit products; all proceeds will be distributed within the mid-Canterbury area. Consciousness raising The' Canterbury Film Society is showing “Town

Bloody ' Hall ' on March 16 and 17. Described as an hilarious documentary on a panel discussion between four women (Germaine Greer is one)' and Norman Mailer, it should provide a shot in the arm for feminists.

Quote Children are the most important part of monkind for they are the nation of tomorrow. If they are allowed to grozv up stunted or neglected, or strangers to moral values, or . ignored in. their misery by the more - fortunate, they will in-3 evitably grow,up -to hate, , if not destroy, to-j morrow's world. — Lady Alexandra Metcalf? Items to be considered for. inclusion in Making it Hap-: pen, should be addressed to, Mrs Jacqueline Steincamp,? P.O. Box 237, Christchurch. \