Soroptimists celebrate 50 years

It has been 50 years since a group of Waimea women concerned about the welfare of other women and girls formed Soroptimist International of Waimea, and they have a lot to celebrate.

Though the main goal of the club is to better the lives of females, the group has also been doing its bit for the environment with a project that has been recognised by the Soroptimist International Southeast Asia Pacific Federation.

The project instigated Waimea College’s annual graduation planting beside the Waimea Inlet and the federation shared it with other clubs for World Environment Day as an example of environmental stewardship.

This year was the third graduation planting and club members were on hand to unveil new signage about the project.

Club secretary Annette Smith says the site beside the Richmond Deviation is recognised for its importance to migratory birds and unique biodiversity, while the project enables each student to plant a tree for the environment.

The club’s involvement stemmed from money it received from a trust with the provision it was used for an environmental project. The project is also related to education which is close to the club’s heart and the reason it awards an education grant to women in tertiary training each year.

While the Waimea club is turning 50, Nelson’s club has just celebrated 60 years. The oldest soroptimist club in the country is about 80 years old and Annette says the youngest club is one in the Wellington area that is just five. years old for members under 35 years of age.