Womens group news

The third Saturday of the month is looked forward to, by many, being the meeting date for the NZCA Women’s group.

On Saturday 18th May 2013 Rose Liang and a very helpful group of NZCA women demonstrated making Chinese Knots into bracelets.

Rose provided eager women with a set of instructions and a starter kit. Everyone had fun trying their hand at making the knots. Kits were available for sale, and Rose donated $123.00 to Kids Can. Thank you Rose. We had a great time laughing and chatting.

On Saturday 15th June 2013 Jean Griffiths gave a talk on Chinese adoptees.

During 1950’s & 60’s, due to extreme poverty in China and Hong Kong, many children were abandoned (on street corners) or sold by their parents in the hope of a better life for their child. At that period of time there was British influence in Hong Kong; many children were adopted to English speaking countries. During this time there was increased social awareness of the plight of these children. Families around the world opened their hearts and homes.

All children became wards of the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department. A search for parents or relatives was attempted. If none were located, then the policy of the Social Welfare Department was to try to find a family for each child through adoption. The International Social Services facilitated these adoptions. Children found families in Hong Kong, Canada, United States, England, New Zealand, and other countries some with Chinese families and others in transcultural adoption. In 1963 New Zealand families adopt 25 children, and both Jean and Vana were part of this group. http://www.fanlingbabies.com/fanling_babies_home_003.htm

Jean presented a slide show of photos that were taken at her orphanage in the early 1960s and the later coloured photos were taken at their reunion trip to HK and China in 2010. Many of the New Zealand adoptees were on the reunion trip, and fellow adoptee, Vana was a visitor at the meeting.

The meeting for July 20 2013 was the annual mid winter Yum Char, at New Lucky Star Restaurant, 125 Great South Road, Papatoetoe.

This year a strong contingent of women and men from the Hamilton branch joined in the festivities. This even is always a good chance for people to get together, catch up and enjoy a meal together. This year’s menu: Shiu Mai, Prawn Dumplings, Egg Tarts, Savoury Dumpling, Turnip Cake, Beef Rice Roll, Deep Fried Squid, Combination Fried Noodles, Fried Rice, Spiced Tofu, Green Beans, and steamed BBQ Pork Buns.

Please mark your calendar for the upcoming events:

17th August, will be Games Day - Bingo, Mahjong, Drafts.

21st September, Sushi Demo/ Ho Mei Fan with Pork, Chinese mushrooms, Chinese sausages, dried shrimps.

19th October, Lady by the name of Mee-mee Phipps lived in China and will do a talk about life in Jinan and the Kiwi corner. Mee-mee taught for 4 years in Jian, owned a kiwi restaurant, where she served Kiwi fare and the difficulties of starting a legit business in China. Also she will talk about Chinese attitude towards foreigners and how easy it was to be scammed, i.e. the dangers of doing business in China.

Also she will present "Memories in the Bone - He Who Pursues Revenge Digs Two Graves, a first novel inspired by the horrendous Taiping Rebellion, the greatest peasant uprising China had ever seen; and by hardships of Chinese in 19th Century Western world.
It is the first book in the saga of the Chinese Diaspora of the last 150 years."

16th November – Trip to be confirmed

* * * * * * * *
Obituary:
On 11 May 2013, we tragically lost one of our members, Mrs Young Jew Young (nee Loo), of Dai Dun village, Jungseng, China, aged 75.
She married the late Harry Gar Jung Young 楊嘉俊, (of Peng-Dei village), a past president of the Tung Jung Association. In 1962 she located to Strathmore, Wellington where they had a fruit shop for many years. After Harry passed away, she moved back to Auckland to be near her daughter Christine (Information from Tung Jung Assn Wellington newsletter).
Mrs Young’s funeral was held in Wellington, and is buried in the Tung Jung section of Makara Cemetery. A memorial service was held in Auckland, attended by family and friends.
Mrs Young leaves her children Christine, Lisa, Daryl, & Nathan; and grandchildren Harrison & Jennifer. She will be missed by all her family and friends. RIP.
* * * *
One of the many things no
One tells you about aging
Is that it is such a nice change
From being young. Ah, being
Young is beautiful, but being
Old is comfortable