Women off to Greenham

Press, 12 September 1984, Page 8

Women off to Greenham

Two Christchurch women and a Rangiora woman learned last evening that they may be flying to Britain in a week to attend a gathering of women from throughout the world at Greenham Common Air Force base. The three women’s names were drawn from a hat containing nine names. They will attend the gathering as Christchurch’s representatives, and will join a group from Waiheke Island which will also go.

The three women — Ms Alison Kagen, aged 26, Ms Anela Carroll, aged 24, both of Christchurch, and Ms Sue Morgan, aged 29, of Rangiora — are being sent to Britain by a Christchurch group, the Greenham Women’s Support Group, which was formed in response to a television programme about the Waiheke Island women’s plans. A spokeswoman for the group, Ms Jenny Heal, said the women would each have

to contribute $5OO towards the trip, and the group planned to raise a further $9OOO before September 20. This would be done mainly by telephoning interested peace groups, community groups, and individuals, and asking them for contributions. “Anybody who has got the cash for a ticket is welcome to join them,” she said. The women will spend at least three weeks in Britain, and Ms Heal said that they

might remain a further two weeks looking at the peace movement there and in Europe. They will send reports back to New Zealand while overseas, and will give talks to schools and groups on their return. “We are looking at the possibility of their making a video while they are in England,” said Ms Heal. Both. Ms Morgan and Ms Carroll said they were still “in shock” at the news they were to travel to Britain.