KiwiParent from Parents Center NZ Test Volume | Page 46

PARENTS CENTRES NEWS
n

2013 sees
Auckland
East Parents
Centre
President
Kerri-Anne
Frewin
having been
a committee
member for
her Centre
Kerri-Anne Frewin
for 10 years,
carrying out many roles including
Parent Education courses, running
the toy library, and her current
role as President. Her committee
says that Kerri-Anne always goes
the extra mile to give practical
support to others, such as helping
Committee members to fulfil their
roles, making meals, and calling
or visiting Committee members
needing extra support. She’s a true
gem in Auckland East!

n Christchurch Parents Centre
have loads of plans for Parents
Centre Week, running from June
16–22, including a ‘Mum of the
year’ celebration, battle of the
coffee groups, a dads’ morning
out, volunteer dessert night, loads
of special interest classes and a
Teddy Bears’ Picnic. They will be
out and about in their community
throughout the week with loads
of giveaways and prizes, so, if you
are in Christchurch, keep an eye
out for them!

n Parents Centre and HRV
joined forces over the summer
to raise much needed funds for
Parents Centres in the Otago
and Southland region. Both
organisations took to the sidelines
of local HRV Cup cricket matches
and ran a series of good old

n Rachel Goodchild, a wellknown facilitator of ECE
Professional Development,
recently ran a session for Nelson
Districts Parents Centre called
“Raising Resilient Children”.
Centre President, Bev Hamilton,
says "Rachel was great in that
she made the evening very
light hearted and relaxing for
all those who attended, yet got
her message across. She was
also very easy to work with prior
to the night and is a big fan of
Parents Centre. I would highly

n Gore Parents Centre ran a
‘Walk in Wardrobe fundraiser’
recently, with pre-loved women’s
clothing and accessories market
as well as goods and services
for women on show. There was

Alexander Barnett waving the
flag at the ‘Outdoor Explorers’
meeting point.

fashioned barbecue fundraisers,
selling sausages to hungry
spectators. “We were thrilled to
be working with HRV again – we
are both so passionate about
happy, healthy families in our
region. It was great to be out in
the community speaking to locals

44 kiwiparent – supporting kiwi parents through the early years

n

Christchurch South Parents
Centre recently was awarded
$1,000 from SBS Bank. The
money will go toward funding
one of their non-funded
antenatal classes.

Rachel Goodchild speaking to
the crowd in Nelson.
recommend to other Centres
to use Rachel to run a similar
evening as a fundraiser."Check
out Rachel’s website here:
www.rachel-goodchild.com

entertainment and a supper
to follow and the event raised
around $620 profit. The Centre
is planning expand the event
in future years and use a larger
venue.

n Manukau Parents Centre run
an ‘Outdoor Explorers’ walking/play
group, started by Centre President
Emily Harrop-Smith. They meet
every Friday at the local Botanic
Gardens for stroll, play and toddle
around the lovely surrounds. Centre
Vice President, Belinda Barnett,
says “It’s a great way for parents
to meet others, for the children
to get some outdoor play and for
us to raise the profile of Manukau
Parents Centre with these really
cool flags!”

and raising money for our centres,”
says Bernadette Hunt, Regional Coordinator for the Southern Region.
The ev ent raised $770 which will
go towards helping Balclutha,
Taieri and Dunedin Parents Centres
support families in their local
communities.

Centre President, Caroline Hutchison, receives the cheque from
SBS Ferrymead Branch Manager, Alexa Heatley.

n

Upper Hutt Parents Centre now has a playgroup. Centre
President, Sarah Kitchen, says, “We've been looking to establish
a weekly event that our members could come along to but an
opportunity to take over an existing group which was already
very popular (even has a waiting list) presented itself and
we've snapped it up!” The
sessions began in April
and are free for members,
with non-members also
welcome. Check out their
Facebook page ‘Upper
Hutt Parents Centre
Playgroup’.

Children at Upper Hutt Parents Centre’s playgroup

n

Taupo Parents Centre
have also started a new
playgroup. Says Centre
President, Catriona Eagles
“Our new playgroup meets
weekly and makes use of
the new sandpit, toys and
trolleys in our new shed.

Recent activities include
playdoh, popcorn making
and a visit by a police car.
Playgroup costs $1 per
family – a cup of tea and
cake and good company are
guaranteed!“

National

Parents
Centres
Week
is on from

16-22 June
go to our website to
see an up-to-date list
of events happening
at a Centre near you!
www.parentscentre.org.nz

Children at Taupo Parents Centre’s new playgroup

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