Anyone
willing to act as an area representative for the Southern African
community in other areas is invited to forward their name. The SINZASA email is: 
- A J Rossouw (Chairperson & Immigration Enquiries)
- Colin Cross (Webmaster)
- Linda Klok (Convenor Parents and Kids Group & General SINZASA enquires)
- Sharon Baverstock (Convenor Nibble & Natter)
As many of
you may already know, SINZASA committee member Priscilla Gage died on Monday
8th February 2011, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was a stalwart member of
the SINZASA committee and organiser of our Friday morning coffee group at
Mona Vale.
One of the regulars at the coffee morning who cares for a dependent family
member told me that for her the coffee morning is the highlight of her month
as it is the only ‘time out’ she is ever able to take. To meet with people
once a month who understood where she came from and did not have to explain
anything, lifted her spirits and helped her continue her caring role. The
credit goes to Priscilla for making this group so successful and so
meaningful to members of our community.
Priscilla epitomised the Christian virtues of kindness, love, selflessness
and service to others. She spent many hours quietly counselling and helping
numerous members of the Southern African community. She was an example for
us all as she lived her faith out in all her deeds and fought her illness
with great courage.
Priscilla will be sadly missed leaving behind Des and daughters Angie,
Shelley and Belinda and their families.
SINZASA was presented with a Christchurch City Council Civic Award on 17 December, 2009 by Mayor Bob Parker.
Rosanne Hawarden, Chairperson, received the medal and certificate on behalf of SINZASA. Read the citation here and more on the other recipients.
The Mayor said "It was a real honour to present SINZASA with the award. Your organisation has made Christchurch a better place to live. "
Civic Awards are awarded in
recognition of substantial service, usually of a voluntary nature
benefitting the city of Christchurch and its people.
Many of us have been involved with SINZASA for a very
long time and it is wonderful to have our work in our community recognised
this way, especially as 2009 has been a very hard year for new arrivals.
We have been able to be of great assistance to very many in providing social
and moral support and in a few cases cash and kind. It also recognises
the growing and positive influence our community has in Canterbury.
