SI INVERCARGILL
Est. 1975
SI Invercargill members have been proudly serving the Invercargill and wider Southland
communities for almost 50 years. We look forward to celebrating our charter anniversary
in March 2025.
We are a small team of friendly and passionate women committed to making a difference
in our community. We provide support at a local grass roots level, as well as supporting
national and international projects that benefit women and girls around the globe. We
encourage members to expand their knowledge and opportunities are available for the
development of leadership and other skills.
Club Details:
Invercargill based club -
siinvercargill@siseap.org
Meeting Details:
1st Wednesday of the month at the Kelvin Hotel, Kelvin Street, Invercargill from 5.45 to 8.00pm. This time includes a meal, guest speaker and/or social time.
Members collecting for Daffodil Day – an annual event.
MYPLC Graduate Board.
White Ribbon Marae 2024.
'One Million Stars to End Violence' kaupapa.
Members collecting for Pink Ribbon – an annual event.
Key Projects and Initiatives
Annual Walk the Talk for 16 Days of Activism
From November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day) each year, Soroptimist International Invercargill members and whānau come together to raise our voices for the 16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls.
This campaign is a call to action to confront and end violence in all its forms, ensuring that women and girls everywhere can live free from fear, harm, and injustice.
Our annual Santa Parade in Invercargill is held during this
period so we use this opportunity to ‘walk the talk’ and raise awareness of White Ribbon Day.
Creative Arts Competition
In May 2024 Soroptimist International Invercargill partnered with Verdon College, to pilot a Creative Arts Competition.
The timing was planned to fit in with the SISEAP Creative Arts
Competition (with the winning entries being forwarded). The key event coincided with the Invercargill Night of the Arts event, generating good interest. In our inaugural year, we were
delighted to have Jazlyn, our winner in the 13 – 18 years section, also gain 1st place at Federation level.
With the success of the event, we are planning for this to remain an annual event on our calendar.
Pink Shirt Day and One Million Stars to End Violence
Soroptimist International Invercargill organised an event at Southland Hospital – members and staff at Southland Hospital enjoyed an afternoon of weaving stars to tautoko 'PINK shirt day' and the 'One Million Stars to End Violence' kaupapa.
Sausage Sizzles and Movie Evening
Soroptimist International Invercargill has raised funds over many years through sausage sizzle events and Movie Evenings.
Jubilee Budget Service
Supporting the Jubilee Budget Service to help families in need is an annual event on the Soroptimist International Invercargill calendar.
Every year we assist a minimum of two families by contributing a grocery hamper and gifts for the families in need.
Murihiku Young Parents’ Learning Centre (MYPLC)
Soroptimist International Invercargill has a long-standing and ongoing relationship with the Murihiku Young Parents’ Learning Centre. Funds were raised through a movie evening to donate a graduation board and annually members attend the prize giving and donate a prize for the most improved literacy student – trophy and prize money. We also provide a book for the child of the recipient of the prize.
New Zealand Aluminium Smelter
Southland Science and Technology Fair
In August each year, Soroptimist International Invercargill provides prize money for four prizes in the following categories - “most environmentally friendly science project by a girl”; “most innovative science project by a girl”; “most practical science project by a girl” and “most original science project by a girl”.
Jingo Night
A Jingo evening was held on 3 July 2024 to raise funds for our Ovarian Cancer National Project. Members approached local businesses for the donation of prizes, which were used
for raffle prizes and some auctioned on the evening.
Celebrating Christmas and Acknowledgement of Members
Members hold annual mid-winter Christmas dinner and end of year Christmas dinner events and invite past and present members and members of key groups within the community. We take the opportunity to acknowledge years of service for our hard-working members.
Suffrage in Stitches
In 2018, Soroptimist International Invercargill created a suffrage in stitches panel to commemorate 125 years of Suffrage in New Zealand. The panel was forwarded and became part of a much larger NZ collection that has been on display at various museums and galleries around NZ.