On 3 October 2009 the Trust hosted its Awards ceremony in Old Government House, The University of Auckland. During the week leading up to the ceremony a special display of Academic Regalia was set up in the building and created a lot of interest from both University staff and those who attended the ceremony. Many of the awardees commented that it was an inspiration to them to succeed in theirchosen courses.

Dr.Louise Nicholson

After the guests had arrived they were welcomed by Dr Louise Nicholson, a Trustee, who introduced the Guest Speaker, Professor John Morrow, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). he spoke of the achievements of Auckland Graduate Women and the Trust whose awards were assisting women to achieve their educational goals.

Barbara Delany

A second speaker was Barbara Delany, a New Start Awardee from 1999, who graduated BA/LLB and is currently on the staff of a large Auckland law firm. She spoke of the encouragement she felt in being granted the award and how it assisted her in gaining her qualifications. She felt that people had confidence in her and that had a very positive effect on her and her family.

Isabel Haarhaus Mitchell

Isabel Haarhaus Mitchell thanked the Trust on behalf of those who had received awards.

Dame Dorothy Winstone and Dr. Charmian O'Connor

Dr Charmian O'Connor, Chair of the Trust, spoke of the work of members of the Auckland Branch of New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women who had worked tirelessly over past years to establish and maintain the Regalia Hire business which had provided funds for awards. Academic Dress Hire has become a well-established business administred by the Trust and now employs staff rather than relying on volunteers . Income earned from the business is invested and still provides finance for a large number of awards.

In speaking of the many women who had made a contribution over the years from the time when gowns and hoods were borrowed, made and repaired by women in their own homes, Dr O'Connor said the Trust wished to recognise three women in particular by naming awards in their honour.

Jill Smith, Rae Hammer, Joan Metge

New Start Awards are to be named the Dame Dorothy Winstone New Start Award and the Rae Hammer New Start Award and the Post-Doctoral Research Awards are to be named the Dame Joan Metge Post-Doctoral Research Awards.

Dame Dorothy Winstone had been instrumental in establishing the business of hiring of regalia and had organised and encouraged many members to borrow, make and repair items and had helped establish the early awards. Mrs Rae Hammer had been Chair of Academic Dress Hire and had set up the Regalia Boutique, a very successful venture that hires regalia to University of Auckland staff. Dame Professor Joan Metge, one of the earliest women to hold a NZFUW Fellowship and a former Trustee, had worked tirelessly as Awards Co-ordinator to promote the awards and to establish the current application forms in a common format.

The afternoon concluded with afternoon tea when awardees, their proud families and other guests were able to mix and mingle. The occasion was a very happy and positive one and gave all present the chance to learn more of the work of the Trust.

We congratulate you all and invite you to view photos ofthe evening below.

Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

Award	Name	Institution	Degree
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Angela Dimery	University of Auckland	LLB
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Teresa Moore	Massey University, Albany	M Management
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Lee-Anne Waddell	Manukau Institute of Technology	B Nursing
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Helen Anderson	Auckland University of Technology	B Health Sc (Midwifery)
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Michelle Brock	University of Auckland	Grad Dip Teaching
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Cheree Cowsill	University of Auckland	B Ed
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Mamta Kirin	UNITEC	B Nursing
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Jo-zanne Owen	Massey University, Albany	B Communication
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Belinda Tankard	University of Auckland	Grad Dip Teaching
Tressa Thomas Retraining	Catherine Whyte	UNITEC	Grad Dip Counselling
Millennium Undergraduate	Talia Koifman	University of Auckland
Millennium Undergraduate	Rushika Mukerjee	University of Auckland	BE
Millennium Undergraduate	Ardeena Scott	University of Auckland	BA
Millennium Undergraduate	Susan Wells	University of Auckland	BFA
Millennium Undergraduate	Olivia Armstrong	UNITEC	B Nursing
Millennium Undergraduate	Sherryn Aslani	UNITEC	B Nursing
Millennium Undergraduate	Morgan Byrt	Massey University, Albany	BA
Millennium Undergraduate	Karen Du	Auckland University of Technology	B Health Sc (Oral)
Millennium Undergraduate	Louise Edwards	University of Auckland	B Optometry
Millennium Undergraduate	Phillipa Norman	University of Auckland	BA/LLB
Millennium Undergraduate	Nichola Trudgen	Massey University, Albany	B Design
Millennium Undergraduate	Miriam Whitton	Auckland University of Technology	B Health Sc (Physio)
New Start	Ulamila Kukuabola	University of Auckland	BA/LLB
Final Year First Degree	Erin Donell	University of Auckland	B Sc
Postgraduate Diploma	Shireen Tresslor	UNITEC	MA Counselling
Bachelor with Honours	Renee Handley	University of Auckland	B Sc
Vivienne Cooper Masters	Kathryn Johnson	University of Auckland	M Sc
Post Doctoral Research	Isabel Haarhaus Mitchell	Massey University, Albany	A New Approach to the Work of Janet Frame
Post Doctoral Research	Amy West	University of Auckland	Television and the Power of Dirt