The reconvened Annual General Meeting occurred on the 27th November 2021, the Centre’s have had their voices heard and we head into 2022 with a mix of old and new Trustee’s.
The outgoing Trustee’s being Tiso Ross, Char Martin and Gill Morgan have worked unselfishly for Playcentre Aotearoa and unfortunately we were unable to give them the farewell that they rightly deserved and that has been afforded to those that came before them.
Tiso Ross first came onto the Trustee Board in 2018 pre amalgamation and her term was reset in November 2019 when the High Court accepted the amalgamation of the organisation. Tiso’s contribution as a Trustee Board member has been meticulous in the way that she works. She is an analytical thinker and approached our tasks with vigour and thoughtfulness. Active listening and reflective communication to a broader audience is one of the traits that Tiso brought to our table.
Char Martin came onto the Trustee Board in November 2019 at the Annual General Meeting held in Christchurch. Char’s previous Playcentre experience had been predominately in the Education portfolio participating as a team member that reviewed our education training programme that is being implemented today. She also held the Education Co-Convenor position. Char is a member of Puriri Whakamaru o Taranaki and Te Whare Tikanga Māori. Char has shared her extensive knowledge at the Trustee Board table allowing us greater understanding of processes as we transitioned through the amalgamation. Char is a methodical thinker and requires honesty in everything she does. She is happy to give and receive honest feedback and will treat people equally.
Gill Morgan was identified at Tāngata Tiriti hui 2020 as the incoming Trustee and we duly set about inducting her onto the Board in May 2021, as per our normal process. At the AGM in July 2021, no Trustee’s were endorsed, however the Board continued to embrace Gill as an incoming Trustee. During Gill’s time on the Board she has displayed her thoughtful communications and empathetic nous. A different perspective and approach were welcomed as she enabled partnerships to be displayed and nurtured.
All three Trustee’s worked tirelessly over their respective terms on the Board, especially over the last 6 months. The Trustee Board had met 5 nights a week plus one day per weekend, every week, over this 6-month period. The dedication and commitment displayed to Playcentre Aotearoa is nothing short of outstanding. As a group we went from strength the strength, holding each other up and most of all Centre’s. Our families impacted greatly over this 6 month period and we were all stretched to some degree. Sadness and loss are emotions that cannot be dismissed and we acknowledge the manaaki, aroha and kotahitangi that was given and received during your time on the Trustee Board
Our vision remained as Whānau Tupu Ngātahi / Families growing together and how to achieve Less Admin, More Play by keeping Centre’s open and getting service to Centre’s so that whanau could play in the sandpit with the tamariki.
Our sincerest thanks to Tiso Ross, Char Martin and Gill Morgan.
Avis Stewart, Michelle Hutton and Ranee Davies
David McLay – Honorary Legal Advisor
With great sadness, the Trustee Board received the resignation letter of David McLay in November 2021.
David’s involvement began when his children attended the local Playcentre. Children never attended by themselves and the McLay family quickly became involved at Centre and Association. David’s wife became a Life Member of Wellington Playcentre Association and in 2019 she became as Associate Member of Playcentre Aotearoa.
The benefit of David’s contribution to Playcentre saw him give his time, commitment, passion and profession to the organisation spanning over 25 years. David is highly respected and appreciated by many and there have been many relationships that have blossomed over the years. David’s tenure in Playcentre was given freely and it needs to be acknowledged that only one payment was given to David McLay and that was to file the papers in the High Court for the amalgamation of the 31 Associations and Federation, in essence no payment has been taken by David.
This appreciation post is brief and in no way justifies the magnitude of service and assistance that David has given our organisation. We are extremely grateful to David McLay and his family for all that he has given to Playcentre. This short post seems inadequate for all that he has given and on behalf of the previous Trustee Boards and Standing Committee’s we would like to thank David for his integrity, guidance , sage advice and friendship throughout the years. Playcentre has been enriched with David’s presence, and we sincerely thank you.
Playcentre Aotearoa Trustee Board up to November 2021,
Avis Stewart, Michelle Hutton, Char Martin, Tiso Ross, Ranee Davies and Gill Morgan