Beryl Anderson OMNZ presented a biography of Dame Miriam Dell

On the 30th August 2023, The Hutt Valley Branch held a dinner in the honor of Dame Miriam Dell celebrating the contribution she made to gender equality.

The funds raised from the evening went to support a Lower Hutt Suffrage Centennial Charitable Trust (SHE Trust) Scholarship.

Paula Tesoriero, Chief Executive of Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People was going to speak on gender equality for disabled people. Due to illness, we had the very capable Loren Savage, Senior Advisor to Paula, who stepped in on her behalf delivering her speech. 

Caroline Ariaens with Madison Goulden - with her tongue out doing her grandmother Dame Miriam's pose.

Loren spoke of her life growing up with achondroplasia and her mother’s expectation that this was no impediment to doing anything. However, to her sister’s annoyance, she was excused from cross country running. We heard of some of the barriers faced by disabled people, especially around access (both physical and electronic access), and of pay disparity issues.

It was a most entertaining night, lots of discussion, good food, drink and a wonderful speech.

In attendance we had local Hutt City councilors, Suzanne Manning, President Of NCWNZ, and Madison Goulden (Dame Miriam Dell's granddaughter).

Loren Savage (guest speaker, Ministry of Disabled People), Suzanne Manning (NCWNZ), and Margaret Cousins (SHE Trust) with other guests in background.

To read more articles from The Circular (September-October 2023) issue 643, click on the tag below.