In September 1988, a group of women decided to establish a health centre for the women of Kapiti. The next few months were spent gathering information, resources and considering the community needs. The Kapiti Women's Centre opened in Raumati in April 1989. Although over time we have moved location, changed and evolved, twenty-one years later the Kapiti Women's Centre continues to provide a haven for the women of our community, still abiding by those original core philosophies, aims and objectives.
It all began at a strategic planning meeting on the 30th March 2008. The renewal of our lease was being discussed which then led to a discussion of our age and the significant milestone we were approaching. Carol Cassidy and Mel Sutch had attended a 20 year celebration at the Lower Hutt Women’s Centre and returned enthusiastically resolute that the Kapiti Women’s Centre would also have a suitable event to mark our birthday.
The collective unhesitatingly agreed that we needed a celebration. And the planning began! A group of women keen to be involved in the organisation volunteered to be part of the planning group. There was a myriad of suggestions on how we could celebrate and acknowledge this milestone.
In June that year, the date for our celebration was set for 21st November 2009.
The group was ably led by Betty Carpenter (Hub) the team was Carol and Mel along with fellow Centre Workers Gennie Barton, Felicity Fox and Faye McMillan. Our Treasurer Esther Lee-Lawrence, Marie Gibson (Hub) and Coordinator Rae completed the group.
The plan was to have a ceremony during the day followed by an open day with a dinner dance in the evening. We planned to have a commemorative sculpture, develop a KWC song, have a birthday cake, banners to display the logos from over the years, publish a book on the history of the KWC and a picture show for the evening.
Mel and Carol searched out suitable restaurants, Betty developed a planning timeline, Rae created the budget, Fliss sought out suitable bands and speakers, Carol mobilised the harakeke weavers. Over the Christmas holidays, Alison began the research for our book. What a task she had trawling thought twenty one years of documentation.
By March 2009 all was in action. The financial recession was having its impact, sponsorship and funding to support our celebration was impossible to obtain. Plans were reviewed – we needed to be frugal. Major fundraising was necessary! There would be no sculpture; instead the women of the collective would create their own artwork in the form of a mosaic for the garden. The KWC “girl band” was not able to muster instead we asked our wonderful Sara Reeves to sing for us.
The plan was consolidating. There would be a ceremony at midday at the Centre. This would begin with a powhiri followed by speeches, tree planting, unveiling of the mosaic before cutting our birthday cake and sharing in a celebratory afternoon tea. In the evening we would meet at Southwards Restaurant to celebrate some more, share food and be entertained.
There was a flurry of preparations. The harakeke weavers (Marguerite, Carol, Glen Lee, Sharon and Sheila) met every Tuesday to create beautiful purple puti puti for our table setting. At the same time in Tami’s garage the mosaic team was busy. Michelle led this group of Fliss, Glen, Helen, Kerry and Sue and they created an awesome mosaic of our logo to grace our garden which is carefully attached to the posts Carine installed.
The banners of the logos past and present were a challenge for Glen; she was delighted to learn new skills in the process of their creation. The biggest issue for Sue was to find affordable fabric for our “21” banner.
Michelle investigated suitable table arrangements to dress our tables at the dinner.
Trudi and Laura (previous members of WEL) had donated a sundial; Helen took on the challenge to place it in the garden adorned by geckos. Pete helped with his handy compass. Anne worked hard re-painting the children’s play area fence.
Betty, apart from leading the organising group, decided our entrance way was messy and pulled up with a trailer loaded with pebbles and proceeded to put them under the ramp. She was also on a mission with her hose and scrubbing brush to ensure the house was sparkling clean.
Faye was a marvel – she picked up, donated, organised and was generally anywhere where there was work to be done. She also organised Dixon to dig holes and move compost. Jane created wonderful menus and had Carine tying bows for the finishing touches.
Dot, Gay, Gennie, Marie, Marguerite, Roma and Tina were preparing for their speaking roles during the celebrations. Evotia took wonderful photographs. Faye was in charge of afternoon tea and what a spread it was. Alison, Carol, Clara, Kerry, Fliss, Louisa, Helen, Marguerite, Sharon, Sue and Tami prepared a wonderful feast.
The birthday cake was a combined affair; Helen coordinated production between Fliss and Toni Downie.
There was no available dining table in Trish’s house as it was covered for months by KWC archives used in the creation of our book.
Gill Allen wanted to make a presentation to the collective and spent all of her spare time creating a “magnificent KWC mirror” for the bathroom.
Esther laboured over old photo albums, scanning photographs for our picture show and Aaron put them altogether for us.
Before we knew it the day was upon us!
The day did not dawn with warm sunshine, but drizzly rain, a reframe of the plan for the day was hastily made. Gennie and her team greeted our visitors. Tina called them onto “our place” and Gaye led them through our beautiful archway to greet the waiting collective. Marie welcomed everyone and while the weather was reasonable Winnie Laban and Hekia Parata planted shrubs in our garden. Rae unveiled the beautiful mosaic before we all adjourned to the Community Centre for our ceremony.
Marie ably facilitated this gathering and spoke about the establishment of the Kapiti Women’s Centre, Winnie gave an uplifting address, Laura spoke on behalf of the original core group, and Aratahi sang her song of celebration. Gennie spent some time updating everyone on the collective today. And Sara Reeve inspired us all with her rousing rendition of “Stand tall women stand tall” before we all partook in a scrumptious afternoon tea. The Centre was open for those staunch enough to brave the weather.
Dixon was in the background with his video camera recording events for those who will come next.
There was another flurry of activity – collective women cleaning up the Community Centre and KWC and others racing off to Southwards to prepare the space for the evening gathering.
Welcomed with a glass of bubbles, the excited chatter of the guests filled Southwards Restaurant and Dot set the scene for the evening with her warm welcome followed by Marguerite’s karakia and our favourite song, Te Aroha. Roma Potiki, MC for the evening entertained with the story of “Kate” as she has grown through the years to become this proud and giving woman call the KWC. Our Mayor Jenny Rowan gave an opening address before Sara completed the formal part of the evening with another rendition of “Stand tall woman stand tall’ this time accompanied by all those present.
A yummy dinner was enjoyed by all. Pinky Agnew entertained us as our main meal settled to make room for our dessert. Rae acknowledged and thanked the current collective members for their efforts to ensure that a wonderful time was had by all. The microphone was then open. Gill Allen presented her Magnificent Mirror, Debbie Ferrere and Di Glennie performed their signature song, Carol Cassidy spoke, the women of Lower Hutt Women’s Centre also sang and others also heaped praise on our celebration and our much loved Kapiti Women’s Centre. Formalities over, Lee Hudson and Blanche gave us dancing music which had us all on our feet dancing away until sadly it was time to close.
So this is what happened. What also happened was an enormous amount of passion and dedication of the current collective women who worked hard to ensure our day would be glorious and special. There was emotion on the faces of the original Core Group members as they received a standing ovation from the gathered crowd. As old friends and workmates re-connected there was joy and excitement.
It was a wonderful day of celebration, acknowledgement and recognition of the work of the Kapiti Women’s Centre and the women, who have worked, do work here and will work here in the future to ensure our haven for women is a caring and nurturing place for all women in our community. A day of overwhelming delight, pleasure, recognition, enjoyment.
