Life Membership Award for Joyce Hogg

Joyce with Mike Armour, Coordinator Martinborough Red Cross Group.

Joyce Hogg, a well-known personality in Martinborough was recently awarded a Life Membership Award by the NZ Red Cross, an achievement that eclipsed even her 50-year service award in 2015.  Joyce Hogg first joined the Red Cross Youth in Form 2 (Year 8) at Martinborough School having previously helped her mother deliver Meals on Wheels.

 Some years later while working as a teacher aid, Joyce began organising Red Cross activities for children, and has continued to be an active member of the Martinborough Red Cross group, helping at the annual fund-raising event, street raffle and baking for Cake Day in honour of Henri Dunant the founder of the Red Cross.

Peter Saba, Regional Humanitarian Development Manager for Wellington & Wairarapa, and Kathy O’Neill, Humanitarian Development & Engagement Manager from Timaru presented Joyce with a Lifetime Membership Award with a badge and certificate in recognition of Joyce’s sustained service to the work of the Red Cross.  “It has always felt good being part of an organisation that works throughout the world to help those in need” Joyce said, and there are many others in our group who have been Red Cross members for 20, 30 and 40 years.

Congratulations on your achievement and award Joyce – you are an absolute gem! … Continue Reading

A Day in the Life of a Rotary Member on Martinborough Fair Day

Everyone looks to be enjoying the atmosphere and the buskers are doing a good job with entertainment.

Our recent February Martinborough Fair was the fifth that I’ve participated in as a Rotary member.  

It’s never easy to get up at 4.30am in order to be at our base – the Martinborough Fire Station – by 5.30am for an early morning briefing.   Nevertheless, I feel a frisson of excitement upon arriving in Martinborough when I see that there are already stall holders setting up for their day.

After parking my car and entering the fire station the atmosphere is full of energy – fellow Rotarians are also getting ready for their day.  Everywhere there are members wearing their Rotary attire – white coats, hi viz vests and yellow caps.  

The weather is forecast to be very hot but at this time of the morning it is still cool and the sunrise was beautiful.  I checked in and left the fire station to begin assisting the traffic marshals and/or the stall holders in whatever way I can.  Sometimes it is just helping a stall holder find their stall site, put up a gazebo or look after a stall while the stall holder removes their car from the square.

It is a busy time for the stall holders as they set up their gazebos and stalls and generally there is good-natured banter between the stall holders.  I am always amazed at how much work is put into setting up the stalls and ensuring they look enticing. … Continue Reading

What’s on at Aratoi

Print Council of New Zealand: Celebration 3 March 2023 – 4 June 2023 The exhibition brings together the work of printmakers across the country to honour 20 years of Print Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and celebrate the bright future of printmaking in this country.

Burn it all down 18 February 2023 – 14 May 2023.  Burn it all down brings together the work of seven artists who use fire, destruction, and obsolescence in their work to highlight the fragility of our world, ourselves, and our memories. From domestic objects to black holes the final artworks reveal that it is the very fragility of these things that make them precious and in need of our care.  

Alice Vallance Hosking and Kirsty Gardiner: Conversations through Time

18 February- 2 April Alice (nee Vallance) Hosking (1860 – 1920) and Kirsty Gardiner converse across time. After seeing Alice’s sketch books and carvings, Kirsty was inspired to create her own ceramic works in response.

Current exhibitions

Print Council of New Zealand: Celebration 3 March – 4 June 

Burn it all down 18 Feb – 14 May

Alice Vallance Hosking and Kirsty Gardiner: Conversations through Time 18 Feb – 2 Apr

Masterton Museum: A Cabinet of Curiosities until July 2023

Becky Bateman

Wairarapa Inner Wheel Club

Brae’s Brae’s and more Brae’s.

Here we go another New Year for Inner Wheel Wairarapa. Our year has started off busy with our committee and some of our members spending the day at Martinborough Fire Station providing food and most importantly cold drinks to members of Rotary who were working very hard keeping the Fair running smoothly.

We have also been busy washing Brae’s which were donated to us. They have been sorted and washed ready to be delivered to different charities and to the Pacific Islands. These Brae’s are always gratefully received.

Our first Members dinner for the year will be held at the Offering on Wednesday 15th February. Will Be great to catch up with everyone after the Christmas break.

New members are always welcome. For further information phone 022 6533 510

By Maureen Mortensen