Centre co-ordinator retires

FAREWELL: Retiring coordinator of the Kapiti Women's Centre Rae Lutman, left, with her replacement Louise Waterworth.

After 15 years as co-ordinator of the Kapiti Women's Centre, Rae Lutman retired from the position on Monday last week.

Over that time she has seen huge changes in the activities of the women's collective and its Ngahina St home.

"When I started we would have about 2000 women contact the centre in a year, now we have approximately 8500.

"We had two counsellors and six volunteer centre workers - there are now seven counsellors and 24 centre workers."

Rae described the building extension and refurbishment, completed in 2012, as a "fantastic adventure".

"Working with the collective, we were well outside our comfort zone and working with the community was just amazing."

Being part of the development and evolution of the centre had been an amazing journey, she said.

"I've loved working alongside the women who have volunteered here and sharing their journeys and their dreams.

"It's been a privilege to support the volunteers to provide services to the tens of thousands of women who have come through the doors, knowing how important we are to the women in our community.

"I value the heritage of the women that began the collective here 34 years ago with their founding documents, their philosophies, aims and objectives that still guide the work of the centre today."

Rae will pass that baton to the new centre manager Louise Waterworth, who says her goal is to carry on the heritage and tradition.

Louise first connected with the Kapiti Women's Centre in 2011 when she helped with fundraising. In 2012 she became one of the centre's counsellors, completing the hours she needed to gain her counselling qualifications, then continued on seeing clients two days a week and is now proud to be in the manager role.

She was born in Nigeria and grew up in the United Kingdom where she trained as a paediatric nurse. She has worked in that profession in New Zealand and is also the treasurer of the Kapiti branch of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

As she takes on her new role Louise will continue to have Rae's support as she is contracted to provide training to new volunteers.