Rural Women New Zealand is delighted to announce the winners of the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award 2012, following an award ceremony at the opening of the Rural Women NZ national conference in Hawera on Monday evening.

The Supreme Winner of the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award 2012 is Rose Voice of The Real Dog Equipment Company Limited.  Rose also won the Fly Buys Online Business Award category.

The Telecom North Island Award 2012 was won by Kylie Gibbard of Emkay Limited, a specialty bra manufacturing business based at Koputaroa, near Levin. 

The Access Homehealth South Island Award 2012 winner was Jenny Scott of Livestock Office, a stock agent brokering software company.  The business is based at Bannockburn near Cromwell. 

“The Real Dog Equipment Company is an example of what can be achieved when you have a passion and are willing to follow your dreams,” says Rural Women New Zealand national president, Liz Evans.  “We warmly congratulate Rose on her very deserving win.”

Rose set out on her enterprising journey making harnesses and collars for her sled racing dogs.  This has grown into a very successful business producing quality animal equipment designed by Rose and manufactured by her and her husband at the company’s purpose-built premises near Ranfurly.  It’s also home to the family and their 13 sled dogs.

“What started as a hobby has grown into an impressive venture producing a wide range of equipment for dogs, alpacas and horses.  The Real Dog Equipment Company even exports sled dog equipment to Alaska, the home of sled dog racing!” says Liz.

The judges were impressed by Rose’s innovation and dedication to producing high quality products with good growth potential. 

They also appreciated Rose’s community involvement, often repairing sports gear for children in the district, for example.

Most of her company’s sales are conducted through the internet, proving Rose’s point that with a website and a courier service she could build her business anywhere, which allowed her to move from the city back to her roots in Central Otago.  She also uses the internet to upload instruction movies on training dogs and using her equipment.

The judges were impressed by the winner of the Telecom North Island Award.   Kylie Gibbard’s drive and business acumen guarantee strong growth for Emkay Ltd, which evolved from Kylie’s need to find a comfortable support bra that she could wear all day on the farm. 

“Kylie has a strong vision and a can-do attitude that have helped her to take a problem, find a solution and turn the answer into an enterprise with huge potential,” says Liz Evans. 

Kylie started out wanting to design a comfortable bra for her own needs, but went well beyond a ‘number eight wire’ solution.  Emkay bras are the result of five years’ extensive research and product development, and use the highest quality Spanish lingerie fabric, which is laser cut for precision.  Originally designed for the 14DD+ niche market, the bras are now available in an 8B to 40HH sizes.

After launching the Emkay bra just two years ago, the company has already broken into the Australian market and is rapidly building its stockist base in New Zealand.  The Emkay bra is sold solely through stores, following retailer training.  This personal approach is an important part of the Emkay philosophy and one that translates into an impressive nine-six percent try on to purchase ratio.

The Access Homehealth South Island winner, Jenny Scott, has over 20 years experience in the market, a solid client base and a proven product,” says Liz Evans.  “The judges were also impressed with the fact that Livestock Office hasn’t stood still, and is meeting today’s market using e-sales and mobile phone technology.”

Livestock Office is used by livestock and grazing brokering firms throughout the country and is the only specialised livestock brokering software developed in New Zealand for local conditions.  It also has potential to be used internationally, which is the company’s focus for the immediate future.  The package includes debtors, creditors, cashbook and general ledger and can handle all types of sales including private, grazing and auction.

Rural Women New Zealand endorses the call by the chief coroner for it to become mandatory for coroners’ recommendations to be responded to by Government agencies.

“We agree with Judge Neil MacLean that coroners’ recommendations need to be considered and acted upon in order to save lives,” says RWNZ national president, Liz Evans.

“As an example, for the last five years Rural Women New Zealand has been advocating for more to be done to remind drivers of the 20km/h speed limit when passing a stationary school bus. 

“At least two coroners’ reports have recommended improved signage on buses as a way of reminding drivers of the need to slow down, as well as alerting drivers that a school bus has stopped ahead.”

In March Transport Engineering Research New Zealand conducted a trial of active 20km/h signs which showed encouraging results. However the signs are still not approved for use on school buses.

“The technology is now available and Rural Women New Zealand has evidence of a huge public support for such signs. It’s time for action,” says Mrs Evans.

Many school communities have indicated they would consider fundraising to cover the cost of the active 20km/h signs, but first they must be approved for use.

In the 23 years since 1987, twenty-three children have been killed in New Zealand when crossing the road to or from school buses, while 47 have been seriously injured and 92 have received minor injuries.

Last year 35 children and the bus driver were injured when a logging truck hit the rear of a school bus near Ruatoki in the Bay of Plenty.

For the report on the 20km/h school bus signs trial Click HERE.

Rural Women New Zealand’s innovative aftersocks™ fundraiser for Canterbury earthquake victims has achieved the highest accolade at the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand’s (FINZ) annual awards.

At the ceremony held in Auckland on Friday evening, aftersocks™ was first announced as the winner of the FINZ Online Campaign category.

But the highlight of the evening came with the announcement of the night’s top award.

Aftersocks™ was named as the joint winner, along with Ronald McDonald House, South Island, of the Premier Fundraising Award for Excellence 2012.

FINZ CEO, James Austin, said the Premier award is only made if in the opinion of the judges it is truly merited.

He said, “[aftersocks™] was one of those rare campaigns – and award entries – that has ‘winner’ written all over it from go-to-whoa.”

The inventiveness and ability to think laterally were winning aspects of both aftersocks™ and the Ronald McDonald ‘Supper Club @ Home’ event. 

“Both organisations are thoroughly deserving of jointly receiving the Premier Award for Fundraising Excellence for two extraordinary but very different campaigns.”

Rural Women NZ’s national president, Liz Evans, says she is thrilled with the wins, which recognise the efforts of Rural Women NZ members and office staff in marketing and selling the socks.

The reach of social media played a large part in the sales success of the funky red and black striped socks, which incorporate the seismograph graphic of the 22nd February 2010 quake. 

“Our national office was transformed into a packaging and dispatch centre, with thousands of courier bags sent out all over the world.

“We aimed to sell 1,000 pairs, but through social networking aftersocks™ caught people’s imaginations and sales rocketed. We’ve now sold close to 19,000 pairs.”

The socks are manufactured in Ashburton by the NZ Sock Company, and are made from a New Zealand merino wool blend.

Over $110,000 has so far been raised for the Christchurch Mayoral Fund, with a final wash up payment to be made once remaining stocks are sold.

Socks can be purchased at www.aftersocks.co.nz

Photo: Belinda Coyle and Emma Barker from RWNZ's national office with the FINZ Awards. Belinda is RWNZ's office administrator who packaged and couriered the 19,000 pairs of aftersocks. Emma Barker is RWNZ's marketing officer, who promoted the socks through social media and other promotional events.

Rural Women New Zealand members and friends walked the length of New Zealand yesterday, then turned round and walked halfway back again!

The collective effort was part of the global Women Walk the World challenge to raise funds to help women in developing countries step up out of poverty.

“The day was a huge success,” says Liz Evans. “Our members held 26 events around the country from Southland to Franklin.”

“Our local challenge was to walk the length of New Zealand, or approximately 1600 kilometres. Our members did that and more!” 

Some four hundred walkers clocked up a total of 2,856 kilometers to raise funds for Associated Country Women of the World projects.

The challenge saw several generations taking part, from babies in prams to at least two women in their mid-80s who walked more than five kilometres each, with the oldest walker aged 87!

The distances covered were tallied up on pedometers supplied by the NZ Walking Access Commission.

It’s Chief Executive, Mark Neeson, said the Commission was proud to be part of the the event.

“Women Walk the World is an outstanding idea. Not only does it raise money for a worthy cause, but it also promotes healthy lifestyles, greater awareness of walking opportunities in rural settings and better understanding of life outside urban centres.”

Money was raised through gold coin entry fees, sponsorship and raffles. 

Visit our Facebook page to view all the photos!

• Where they walked:
  
  • Old Wanganui Coach Road – 341 kms – 22 walkers
  • Lions Reserve Blenheim – 125 kms – 15 walkers
  • Waitanguru – 85 kms – 17 walkers
  • Te Awamutu Walk of Fame and Pioneer Walk – 78.75 kms – 9 walkers
  • Te Awamutu street walk – 78 kms – 13 people
  • Bulls river walk – 85.5 kms – 15 walkers
  • Wharepapa South, Hobbit film area – 90 kms – 15 walkers
  • Kainui Lake Walk – 39.6 kms – 6 people
  • Hamilton Lake – 130.1km – 30 people
  • Lawrence, Gabriel’s Gully – 230kms – 28 adults, 7 children
  • Pakawau, Golden Bay – 8 people
  • Onewhero School, Franklin – 100.6 kms – 16 people
  • Rapaki Hillside Walk, Martinborough – 61kms – 11 people
  • Carrington Walkway, Stratford – 200 kms – 35 women
  • New Plymouth, North Taranaki – 96kms – 16 people
  • Lake Rotoiti School walk – 152kms – 24 children, 16 adults
  • Queen Charlotte Walkway – 211 kms – 18 walkers from Kenepuru branch
  • Queen Charlotte Walkway – 222 kms – 14 walkers from Mahikapawa branch
  • Taihape Triangle – 94.34 – 20 walkers (oldest aged 87!)
  • Marton walk – 47kms – 9 people
  • Caroline Bay Walk, South Canterbury – 70kms – 18 people
  • Skyline walk, Orana Park Oamaru – 148 kms – 32 people
  • Mount Maunganui – 20 kms – 6 people
  • Daffodil Bay to Sandy Point, Southland – 125 kms – 45 people
  • Gore walk – 15 kms – 15 people
  • Omokoroa – 12 kms – 3 people
• Franklin – Pukekohe walk – 45 kms – 11 people
• Ashley Clinton – Napier, Ahurere, Westshore – 112 kms – 6 people           
• Oparure – Te Kuiti town walk – 97 kms  
• Kaikohe Rail Trail – 35 kms – 13 people + 40 Kms various
• Hatea River Walk – 16kms – 8 people
• Forest Reserve Branch – 30 kms – 15 people
• Tirau Waihou Springs walk   – 24 kms – 5 members plus one husband and grandchild
• Te Aroha Waihou – 11.5kms – 1 member.
• Aoroa walk around Dargaville Streets – 43kms
• Wyndham bush reserve - 13.5 - 5 people
• South Taranaki - 120kms - 18 people