My Account
Hibiscus Coast Zonta Club president Janet Hope.
The way in which women make connections in the community came through strongly at a ceremony held in Orewa on March 6 to mark International Women’s Day, which is also Zonta International Rose Day.
The rose ceremony is held annually by Hibiscus Coast Zonta Club, which presents yellow Zonta roses to women who make a difference in the local community.
This year’s recipients are Suzanne Booth, executive director of HBC Youth Centre, Helen Harford of Quilts for Hospice, Anita Hinton, founder of I Got Your Backpack, Cherylle Wood of Bright Bears childcare centre in Whangaparaoa and Love Soup director Julie King.
Receiving her rose, Anita Hinton thanked Zonta, which had, it turned out, helped support her in the past, when she was in need. Zonta Hibiscus Coast works with Hestia Women’s Refuge – including donating buckets of cleaning products. Anita, herself a survivor of domestic violence, once received one of those buckets.
“That was where I started my journey to help others,” Anita told the group. “Receiving the bucket, and other support from Hestia, gave me the idea that someone had my back.”
Love Soup’s Julie King could not be at the ceremony, but the Youth Centre’s Suzanne Booth already knows her well, as the centre is one of the recipients of food rescued by Love Soup. The Youth Centre then distributes the food through its network.
A further connection was made between Zonta Hibiscus Coast president Janet Hope, who has worked with hospice, and recipient Helen Harford, who makes quilts to donate to hospice with her group.
And finally, there was the fact that Cherylle Wood of Bright Bears was recognised with a Zonta rose after the organisation spotted a story about the work Cherylle does in the community, in Hibiscus Matters.
