April Newsletter
2023 

What is Ramadan? This month is observed by millions of Muslims around the world. Join us to learn a bit about how different countries celebrate this month. 

*Free to all paid members. Entrance fee of $5 for non-members.
 

This coffee group meets at Café Narnia at 10.30 am, EXCEPT for the last Thursday of the month, when they gather at 11.30 am and have lunch together at the same venue.

Let's have a chat over coffee and have an amazing start to the weekend! 

​Look for the WINGS sign on the table.

​If you choose to stay after 11:30 am, please transfer to an individual table.

At the March meeting of WINGS, one of our members, Dawn Spence, shared some stories, customs and history of her home of Kirkwall in the Orkneys. Not many of us would have been able to find these islands just north of Scotland on a map before her interesting and illuminating talk.

The Orkneys are a group of about 70 islands only 20 of which are inhabited. They are wild and beautiful with stunning beaches and windswept coastline. They have their roots in Viking and Norse culture having been settled over 5,000 years ago. Ancient standing stones and buried villages are some of the most complete European relics of the late Neolithic period - now designated a Unesco World Heritage site.

Dawn told us about the main occupations of fishing and farming. Puffins and Orcas inhabit the seas around. Over centuries many Orkney islanders have left and made their new lives overseas.

There’s also a rich cultural heritage of music, storytelling, and arts and crafts. A Christmas Day and New Year’s Day traditional game is ‘The Kirkwall Ba’, a raucous street festival between the Uppies and Doonies where the opposing teams compete for control of the leather ball. Maybe a very rough, medieval form of Rugby!

In Kirkwall, the capital stands the magnificent Magnus Cathedral was built by Norsemen in the 12th century. Another famous church is the Italian Chapel constructed during WW2 by Italian prisoners of war. It consists of two Nissan Huts lavishly decorated by artist,  Deomico Chiochetti and fellow Italians. 

The British navy was stationed in Scapa Flow, a massive natural harbour. It is the site of the historic sinking of HMS Royal Oak and the scuttling of the German Navy fleet. 

Perhaps some of us from WINGS will take the ferry across to Orkney in the future and see this beautiful place for ourselves.

WINGS celebrated International Womens Day along with Multicultural Whangarei. A nice lunchtime was spent in the company of wonderful women. All of them making a difference in our community. We had some delicious home-cooked food from different countries. Thanks to all the women for empowering one another. 

It was a fine sunny day. With sunglasses and hats on. Some of the WINGS ladies and 2 gentlemen, drove down to Matakana for the Harvest Festival. The vibe was very festive, with kids running around with their faces painted, and amazing sculptures from all around the world stood to show off their creators' creativity. From the sculpture park, we went into the gallery. Another astonishing world of wonders. We saw art work from all around the world and how the artists used various mediums to create a single piece of artwork. 

A day well spent. Some of us headed home whilst some stayed behind for wine tasting. There were 3 different wines, Rose, Chardonnay & Red blends based on a cabernet. All from the Sculpturerum Winery. They explained about each wine, especially about the serving temperature. That was very interesting. It's always good to learn and taste new things.