Double rose for valuable duo

 

By Julia Wade

A worldwide annual award honouring the devotion and efforts of local women to their community has been divided this year between two special Mangawhai volunteers who juggle multiple roles. 

Gail Donald and Judy Langmuir are dual recipients of Mangawhai Zonta’s Yellow Rose Award for 2018, a global event the international women’s advocacy and human rights organisation holds every year on International Women’s Day, March 8. Volunteers are nominated by their peers for inspirational qualities of dedication and service. 

Zonta Mangawhai president, Isabel Hollis, and fellow member, Jan Fisher, presented a potted golden rose and certificate to the two nominees at a breakfast celebration with Zonta colleagues at Sandbar Cafe. 

Isabel says Judy and Gail were nominated by their peers for their long and enthusiastic contribution on social projects. The pair are renowned for working quietly in the background, often flying under the radar.

“They are lovely ladies,” she says. “Judy’s 13-year involvement with the Mangawhai Library has seen her instrumental in creating a living library, updated with the latest books, and the children’s section is a true delight offering a great selection of new reading material.”

“She works efficiently in all tasks she is asked to do and puts long hours into projects including travelling regularly to Dargaville to collect requests and reserved books. She also managed a very smooth turnover from training library volunteers from the old card system to the digital operation and upgrading of new carpet and shelves. Judy is also an excellent guide for the Walking Weekend and Garden Ramble – her knowledge of plants is outstanding!”

In her presentation to Gail Donald, Jan Fisher says many people work hard in the community to improve the lives of others, however, with Gail’s long list of involvement she proved to be ‘a real dark horse’.   

“If there’s a voluntary organisation, I think the people of Maungaturoto automatically put Gail’s name – and her husband Graham – on the board because they know they will get fabulous help,” she says. “She has been chairperson of Otamatea Community Service for nearly seven years, involved with Harbour Care Group since its inception five years ago, strong supporters of the Otamatea Repertory Theatre and also very active within the Lions community.”

Despite the recognition of their service to the community both women are reluctant recipients, deciding to only receive the award if they did so together.

“We want to acknowledge all the other hard working volunteers in the community who we feel deserve this award,” Judy says. “We’re just humble people really, getting on with the job.”

 If interested in finding out more about the wonderful work of Zonta, check out their website, Zonta International District 16, zonta.org.nz.


Pictured from left, Zonta President Isabel Hollis, Yellow Rose recipients Judy Langmuir and Gail Donald, and Jan Fisher. “How lovely it is to thank our own members for the work they do outside of our Zonta community,” Jan says. 

---