NEWSLETTER of October 2019 Issue 121 Spring
The Friendship Force of Wellington Inc. www.wellington.friendshipforce.co.nz
President: Lynnda Bouzaid 43 Chapman Street Johnsonville Phone (04) 478 5963 Email: [email protected]
Secretary: Jenny Wigley 13 Chilton Grove Lower Hutt Inside Phone (04) 972 5170 Email: [email protected] President’s message
Travel quote Editor: Heather Salmon Recent events 29 Hinau Street Membership Woburn Upcoming events Lower Hutt Just for fun! Phone (04) 569 7975 FFI News & Information Email: [email protected]
Facebook & Websites Inward and outward journeys for 2020 A few final reminders Upcoming other Club exchanges Committee 2019
Recent I
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Hi everyone
What a busy time we have had since our last newsletter. Wonderful to see we had seven members at Nuts ‘n Bolts, which is a small workshop run for our clubs to share ideas and for the NZ Exec to keep us up to date with Friendship Force matters. Our club will be organising the 2020 Nuts ‘n Bolts. Six of us continued up to share their 36th birthday dinner with Wanganui. They were the first club founded here in New Zealand. It was lovely sharing ideas with them.
Our visit from Birmingham Alabama, was fantastic! A big thank you to Tony and his committee for running such a great and varied programme. It was great to see so many of our members being involved in various parts of the week.
Our committee/financial year is ending, and our AGM is looming up on 1st December at 4.30pm at 1841 Bar & Restaurant. Voting forms will be sent out next month. If any of you are wishing to join our wonderful committee, please let us know as we would love to have you on board. We are looking for a Vice President and will be keen to fill this place. There will be a dinner after the AGM – an RSVP to me will be asked for closer to the time. In the past this has been a great chance to catch up and wish everyone the best for Christmas and the New Year.
There is a small visit coming from Xalapa, Mexico 14 October. Erica and Ian Speden are Host Co-ordinators for this exchange. It will be very low key as there is only six members coming.
Rhys and Lyn are taking a group of our members on an exchange to South Africa, Perth and Albany, Western Aust. Most are going to a game reserve first and leave on 12 October. We wish everyone a very happy and safe journey.
Please remember to get in touch with Ngaire for the Operatunity Event 6 December.
In friendship Lynnda Bouzaid President October 2019
This month’s travel quote:
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. ” Unknown
RECENT EVENTS
Nuts ‘n Bolts Day and Wanganui Club Visit 24 August - 26 August
After an interesting day of listening and talking at the Nuts ‘n Bolts day, six of us travelled on to Wanganui to join in the Club celebrations for their 36th Birthday. Their wonderful hosting included taking us up the 66 metre underground elevator to the Durie Hill War Memorial Tower, and visiting the 2002 Handspan Peace Sculpture, with 600 ceramic hand sculptures, from new-born to elderly, promoting a culture of peace and non-violence for the children of the world. And of course a lovely birthday dinner!
Our representatives at Nuts ‘n Bolts Cutting the cake to celebrate Wanganui’s in Fielding 36th birthday
With hosts at the top of the Handspan The newly painted tunnel leading to the Peace Sculpture 100 year old Durie Hill underground elevator
And while the group was having coffee together Jenny and Graham spotted their long-time Morris Minor in a passing parade of vintage cars! Great excitement reclaiming their past!
VISIT FROM BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, USA 19th to 24th September
We have just ended the exchange with 10 ladies from Birmingham. It was a fantastic exchange. They were so nice to host.
On Thursday we met Birmingham off the plane – thank goodness we found they were not on the plane they had advised.
Friday was a “Cultural” theme. After morning tea at Capital Rodders rooms, Lynnda taught everyone flax waving. Then after a buffet lunch the group visited Titahi Bay Intermediate for a Powhiri. Many Ambassadors had tears in their eyes with joy watching the students performing. They were then shown around the
school like celebrities. That night it was dinner at members’ homes.
Saturday was the “Wellington” theme day, with Joyce and Judith taking the Ambassadors to Weta Workshop - they said it was fantastic. Then to the underground market - they loved the waterfront in the sun so much they just wanted to stay there.
That night was “Bring Your Favourite Pie” and “Dress Up Your Table”. What a fantastic function our club put on for the Ambassadors. The tables, and the pies, looked amazing. Top tables went to Bernie & Eddie, and Heather & Jim. Top pies were the Steak and Kidney by Kate, and the Lemon Meringue by Heather. Tony presented a challenging quiz and we all learnt something about Alabama and NZ. Other challenges included teams competing for the America’s Cup Yacht Race; and Hide the Balloons in Lynnda and Reba – so funny. Our band of Rhys, Graham & Bob had everyone up dancing. That has to be one, if not the best, Friendship Force nights at the clubrooms.
Sunday was a day for Hosts to take their Ambassadors to other places in Wellington.
Monday had a “Sporty” theme with indoor bowling at Naenae - so much fun. It was then lunch at the Remakery, and a visit to Epuni School gardens. That night was the Farewell Dinner at the 1841 - Reba and Tony said how good the exchange had been and they wished both clubs all the best.
Tuesday saw us having lunch at the Chocolate Fish Café (yes, we all got a chocolate fish) and saying our goodbyes as they prepared to leave NZ. Lots of friends were made, which is exactly what Friendship Force is about.
Our farewell dinner to our new-found friends from Birmingham, Alabama, was a very genial evening
September Coffee Morning
Our September Coffee Morning doubled as a bowling tournament with our Birmingham guests at Naenae Bowling Club. We delighted in the homemade offerings some members had brought, and then demonstrated our skills – or lack of skills! – on the inside greens. Great fun!
Repeat Sunday Roast
On Sunday 15 September a large group of us attended the repeat Sunday Roast evening at Boulcott Farm Golf Club. We even shared in the award ceremony for a major golfing tournament held that weekend at the Club, as well as celebrating Margaret and Jaye’s birthdays, which happened to both be on that day – more cause for another toast. Thanks to Jaye for organising this lovely evening.
Notice our new bumper stickers! Lots of members for lots of fun. Happy birthday Margaret and Jaye!
Membership
We are delighted to welcome to our Club two new members, Gwen and Bruce Levick, who are unable to host, but happy to day and dinner host. We wish you many good times in the Club, and also on journeys and visits with other NZ and International Clubs.
Members, please introduce yourselves to Gwen and Bruce at our Club gatherings and help them get to know who we are and how to get the most out of their membership.
Please note, we now accept as members people who are unable to host visitors to stay at their home, but who are willing to act as day hosts or dinner hosts for our visitors. If you have friends who fit this category, please feel free to invite them to join us.
Club Profiles
Mieke Wensvoort and Tony Green
Tony and Mieke joined the Friendship Force in August 2019 after ‘meeting’ Graham Wigley at the Petone Fair sales stand. They enjoyed their first hosting with the ladies from Alabama USA in Sep 2019.
Tony loves the Hutt Valley and wouldn’t live anywhere else despite having travelled the world over the years. He grew up in Havelock North and was sent to boarding school at St Patrick’s College Silverstream for 5 years. After completing a degree in chemistry Tony worked as a winemaker in Hastings for 20 years. On moving down to Lower Hutt Tony co-owned a distillery and a Ned Kelly Liquor Price Bandits retail store in Porirua. Through manufacturing, importing and bottling we were able to ‘bust’ the Porirua Licensing Trust’s stranglehold on liquor sales in the Porirua Trust area. The business restructured in 1999 when the Radiola building, out of which we were operating, was taken over to build the Mega Centre in Porirua.
After moving the bond store licence to the Hutt Valley, Tony formulated and produced the original 42 Below vodka until production moved to Auckland in 2000. Apart from importing and bottling a range of spirits, we were also was involved in the production and exportation of the Zumwohl range
of German Schnapps. Zumwohl won awards worldwide. A number of Sydney bankers got involved in 2011 and unfortunately over-extended the company into receivership.
Tony then spent a number of years teaching chemistry and math and worked part-time as a tutor in both Mt Crawford and Rimutaka prisons. We now operate a small bond store supplying a select number of massage parlours in Wellington. This involves making deliveries around midnight, but being practically retired we have more time during the day to enjoy the view from high on the Belmont Hills. We love sitting on the deck with the 2 cats looking at the harbour and the heads and watching a big black southerly front roll in. Apart from tennis Tony’s interests and hobbies include chemistry, mixology, math, computing, skeptics, reading, cooking, cats, golf and news.
In 1964 Mieke’s family landed in NZ from the Netherlands. They settled in Pinehaven and Mieke started at Pinehaven School. After college, Mieke worked at General Motors in Trentham before moving to Dunedin for a number of years. On return to the Hutt Valley Mieke purchased her 1st home and worked in the insurance industry whilst completing an economics degree at Victoria University.
In 1978 she commenced an OE which culminated in her working for the Labour Dept in Holland for 6 years before her return to NZ. Mieke then had her current home built on the Belmont Hills in 1988. Tony and Mieke married in 1989 in Havelock North. While in Hawke’s Bay, Mieke had a 5- year stint working for the Napier City Council and IHC. Mieke and Tony returned to live in Lower Hutt in 1994. There was much work to be done in the Belmont house designed by Mieke and she became a proficient plasterer and painter.
Around this time, Mieke took up a number of government career roles with Stats NZ, MAF and finally the Ministry of Education where she managed an annual publication covering New Zealand’s tertiary education system.
Mieke enjoys tennis, travel and playing cards.
Sally Doig
Born and raised in Christchurch, I was the youngest of three siblings. After leaving school I trained as a shorthand typist before going to work for a large legal firm in the city and later, when I moved to Auckland, I had a fabulous job working for a Barrister.
I met my husband-to-be whilst playing in a squash tournament at Mitchell Park. We travelled independently, met again three years later, married and I moved to Palmerston North where we spent most of our married life. Andrew worked as a Chartered Accountant and before our first daughter was born I worked for the NZ Police. When I returned to work after our second daughter started school I worked as a High School Administrator, which allowed me time off during school
holidays. Upon retirement we moved to Taupo and were introduced to Friendship Force by one of Andrew’s golfing friends. Whilst living there we thoroughly enjoyed lots of fun and friendship with the local members.
At the end of 2017 I moved to Wellington to be closer to family. I have a daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren in Wellington and another daughter who lives in Melbourne with her partner and two boys.
I love travelling, tramping/walking, movies and sport, and I have spent many years researching my family history.
October, November & December Birthdays
Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns to:
OCTOBER Christina Macfarlane Judith Clarke Bernie Blackwell Anne McMullin Jill Vrede Tony Green
NOVEMBER Dorcas Kilmartin Jan Peek Mieke Wensvoort
DECEMBER Eddie Blackwell Heather Salmon Stephen Godfrey Garry Peek
(Please let us know if we have overlooked your birthday so we can get it right next year!)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Coffee Mornings October and November
October Coffee Morning
- will be held at Kanteen Café, 7-11 Waterloo Quay, just down from the Wellington Railway Station, on Friday 11 October at 10.30am.
November Coffee Morning
- will be held at Cuffs Café, 22 Kings Crescent, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday 13 November, at 10.30am.
Bring your friends and potential members for friendly and relaxing cuppa and conversation.
Notice of our Wellington Friendship Force AGM, to be held at 4.30pm on Sunday 1 December at 1841 Pub, 1 Disraeli Street, Johnsonville. Put it in your diary now!
Would you like to join our Committee? It’s a fun group and it’s not onerous. We would love to have you join us!
RSVP to Lynnda if you intend joining us for dinner and/or if you would like to put your name forward for the Committee. [email protected]
Christmas at the Proms
Friday 6th December 2019
This will be our FF social event in December. A fun and relaxing way to end a busy year.
I have tickets put aside for FF members to attend CHRISTMAS AT THE PROMS, an Operatunity daytime concert held in Lower Hutt.
Operatunity is a group of professional artists performing informal variety fun concerts for seniors throughout NZ.
This Christmas concert includes some Proms songs, some favourite famous songs, some music hall skits, Christmas carols and most importantly lots of singing together.
Date: Friday 6 December 2019 Time: 11.00 am - 1.00 pm Where: Hutt City Church 22 Marsden Street. Lower Hutt.
Price: $31.00 pp for groups of 10+. Price includes programme, concert, a light lunch, tea and coffee.
Please let me know if you are interested in attending this concert (no definite commitment until November).
Contact: Ngaire Durnford. 970 0858 or 022 134 5281 or [email protected]
Just for fun….. And the winner (by a very narrow margin!) of our last newsletter’s quiz is……Lynnda Bouzaid, who found 60 words in the letters of Birmingham Alabama! Congratulations, Lynnda. You will receive your prize at our next Club function.
This month’s question is not a question, it’s an invitation. We are currently designing a new Wellington Friendship Force brochure to give to prospective members. We would like to include a “fun or fabulous story” about someone’s travel experience. Do you have a good one?
Send us your story, told in less than 250 words. We’ll give a prize to the story selected for the brochure. Note, sending us your story means you accept that we may use it for publicity purposes!
Give it a go!
We’ll name the winner in our next newsletter!
FFNZ NEWS AND INFORMATION
Notes from our Field Representative, Graham Wigley
Field Rep meeting notes, 23 August 2019:
We currently have about 800 members throughout NZ, in 21 Clubs from Whangarei to Invercargill.
We are all actively promoting Friendship Force to extend our membership. Our NZ Tool Kit was presented at the World Conference and was very well received. Our Club will discuss this at a meeting and BBQ of the Club on 2 February, 2020.
The Nuts ‘n Bolts Day focused on “Being Visible” at every opportunity. Our bumper stickers are now available (see below) and we hope everyone will find a place to display them, eg on cars, suitcases, letter boxes and fences.
As you are probably aware, NZ has now introduced a NZ Electronic Authority (NZeTA) entry authority for inward travellers (excluding Australia) who do not need a visa. Host Co-ordinators will need to ensure incoming journeys are aware of this requirement. The cost is $12, in addition to the $35 per head International Visitor Levy. Go to https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand- visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/nzeta for more information.
Keep being visible.
Graham Wigley
Bumper Stickers
The FFNZ bumper stickers have now arrived and you can buy them from Lynnda at our next function. Cost $3. Please make sure you all have at least one of these. It’s all part of making Friendship Force more visible.
These are the two designs to choose from:
How’s this for promoting Friendship Force?
An extract from the Boulcott Farm Gold Club August newsletter:
We recently had club member Graham Wigley and the Friendship Force Band entertain us.
Graham managed to get groups of men and women to get up and sing.
FFNZ National Conference
in
Beautiful Blenheim Wednesday 19 February - Friday 21 February
Time to plan to join our Club
at what promises to be a great conference
Theme: Be visible!
Registration fee: $170 if paid by 30 November ($190 late fee)
Accommodation: Join other Wellington Club members at
Colonial Motel, 66 Main St, Blenheim Phone: 03-578 9284 (For other options, see the website below)
For more information and Registration Forms go to http://friendshipforce.org.nz/2020-marlborough
Travel opportunities
1. Did you peruse FFI’s September Journeys Catalogue? For a full list of upcoming journeys, go to www.friendshipforce.org/journeys. Endless opportunities!
2. The latest edition of South Pacific e-flyer was sent to you at the beginning of September. If you haven’t read it, go to http://friendshipforce.org.nz/south-pacific-e-flyer It gives full details of Inbound and Outbound journeys of Australian and New Zealand Clubs in 2020. These are available for you to join, so check them out to see if there are any that interest you.
FACEBOOK PAGE
Remember to check out and Like our postings on our Facebook page. When you click Like it spreads the word of who we are and what we do. Go to https://www.facebook.com/FriendshipForceWellington We update this regularly and you will find more photos and other items of interest there.
We need to know if you don’t wish your photo to appear in any of our photos. Email Jaye at [email protected] And please make sure you don’t get in any of our group photos.
WEBSITES
Wellington Club’s Website
We update our website regularly, not only with this newsletter but also with other information. Take a moment to check it out often so you can keep up to date with what’s happening. Go to www.wellington.friendshipforce.co.nz
Friendship Force International Website
A reminder too that FFI regularly updates its website with current updates and information, including upcoming journeys and events. It also has a video which explains how Friendship Force can change people’s lives and be a force for good in the world. It’s a great video, and a great site to introduce to friends who may be interested in knowing more about us and possibly wanting to join.
Go to https://thefriendshipforce.org/
INWARD AND OUTWARD JOURNEYS FOR 2019
New terminology – Exchanges now Journeys ED – Inbound – now Host Co-ordinator HC ED - Outbound – now Ambassador Co-ordinator AC
Outbound
Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Perth Australia and Albany Australia.
It’s nearly time for our group to head to Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Perth Australia and Albany Australia. The pre-tour starts on 14 October, and the FF visits start in Cape Town on 27 October 2019, then Perth (5 November) and Albany (12 November) . The Ambassador Co- ordinator is Rhys Morris.
We wish them all a safe and enjoyable journey.
INWARD AND OUTWARD JOURNEYS FOR 2019-2020
Toronto, Canada 19-23 March 2020 – will be staying in Wellington for a few days. We are looking for two more people to assist HC Joyce Gibson with this stop over. We also need tentative hosts for this time. If you can help, email Joyce at [email protected]
Nova, Lima Brazil early April 2020 – The Nova club have had to postpone this visit, but are hoping to be able to visit instead in 2021. Watch this space for further updates.
Great Lakes Journey May 2020
Our club has been allocated three North American clubs to visit in May 2020. At this stage I have been in contact with the three clubs and dates have been established.
There has been a good response from our club and few from another club. If you have not already spoken to me, please contact me now. [email protected]
Dates:
Meet in Hotel in Toronto 6 May 2020 Gtr Hamilton & Burlington FF, Ontario, Canada, 7 May for week, perhaps a night Niagara Falls
NE Ohio FF, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 14 May for a week
Gtr Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 21 May for a week
At the end of the exchange, perhaps some Ambassadors may wish to spend time in Chicago, or possibly cruise from Vancouver to Alaska.
For more details of these visits, see our July newsletter http://wellington.friendshipforce.co.nz/userfiles/newsletter/1907.pdf
Tony Bouzaid, Ambassador Coordinator
Follow the Faultline
We are part of the NZ team offering this as a Global Journey, 3-23 September 2020.
This journey has been accepted by FFI as one of our two inbound journeys for 2020. The other two New Zealand clubs involved in this journey are Napier and Christchurch.
Lyn Morris has agreed to be the Co-ordinator for the Wellington Club during negotiating arrangements. Offers to be part of a Wellington committee are welcome. Email Lyn at [email protected] if you would like to be involved.
…. AND A FEW FINAL REMINDERS
Save the dates
Put them in your calendar and add an alert to make sure you don’t overlook them!
Friday 11 October October Coffee Morning 10.30am Kanteen Café 7-11 Waterloo Quay, just down from the Wellington Railway Station
Monday 14 October Xalapa, Mexico visit
Wednesday 13 November November Coffee Morning 10.30am Cuffs Café
22 Kings Crescent, Lower Hutt
Sunday 1 December AGM, followed by dinner 4.30pm 1841 Pub, 1 Disraeli Street, Johnsonville
Friday 6 December Christmas at the Proms, with Operatunity 11am – 1pm Hutt City Church 22 Marsden Street, Lower Hutt
2 February, 2020. Club BBQ and discussion of our promotional Toolkit
Wednesday - Friday FF National Conference 19 – 21 February 2020 Blenheim
19 – 23 March 2020 Toronto, Canada visit
WELFARE
If you know of any club members or their family with sickness or bereavement, please contact
Joyce Gibson at [email protected] or phone 389 2188
UPCOMING NEW ZEALAND EXCHANGES
Outward Exchanges from New Zealand Date NZ Club Overseas Club November 2019 South Taranaki and Taupo Outdoor Adventure: Global Journey March 2020 South Taranaki Mount Barker and Perth, Australia
For a full list of 2019-20 journeys see https://www.friendshipforce.org/journeys and https://friendshipforce.org/our-catalog-of-upcoming-journeys
The Friendship Force Pledge
As a member of the Friendship Force, I recognise that I can make a difference.
I recognise that I have a mission. That mission is to be a friend to the people of the world.
As I embark upon this adventure, I know that others are watching me.
I know that through my example to my own fellow citizens and the people of other nations, the cause of friendship, love and peace can be furthered.
I can make a difference
2019 COMMITTEE
Lynnda President 43 Chapman Street 478 5963 Bouzaid Johnsonville 021 596 632 Wellington
Jenny Wigley Secretary 13 Chilton Grove 04 972 5170 Lower Hutt 027 484 7446
Garry Peak Treasurer Hinau Street 04 5669522 Woburn 021 669 522 Lower Hutt
Bernie Committee 9 Edwin Street 565 4428 Blackwell Belmont Domain 021 046 2644 Lower Hutt
Sir John Clarke Committee 109 Seddon Street 567 8167 Naenae 021 714 556 Lower Hutt
Lady Kathleen Committee 109 Seddon Street 567 8167 Clarke Naenae 021 714 557 Lower Hutt
Jaye Howey Committee 7 Summit Road 938 5508 Fairfield 027 249 2508 Lower Hutt
Heather Committee 29 Hinau Street 569 7975 Salmon Woburn 027 245 8694 Lower Hutt
Non-Committee roles
Joyce Gibson Almoner 2/3 Coromandel Street 389 2188 Newtown 027 672 7128
Tony Bouzaid Auditor 43 Chapman Street 478 5963 Johnsonville 027 243 8350 Wellington
Graham Wigley Field 13 Chilton Grove 04 972 5170 Representative 027 484 7446