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What we do » Our organisation » New Zealand Councillors
New Zealand Councillors
The New Zealand Council comprises 18 members, with one councillor elected to represent each Plunket area.
The Council ensures that local area voices and governance concerns are raised at a national level. New Zealand Councillors participate in area planning and liaise between volunteer service leaders, branches, areas and national representatives.
They chair their area committee, ensuring the board policy is implemented at area level and provide a feedback loop to board members. They also monitor the performance of the board.
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Dorothy (Dot) Johnson
NZC Northland
Show more informationDorothy lives in Waihue, 10km North of Dargaville, with her husband John. They have two children, Jesse and Rebecca.
Dorothy graduated with a Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing in 1992 and worked as a Plunket Nurse from 1997 until 2000, which is when she had Rebecca and became a volunteer for the Dargaville sub branch.
Dorothy began the role of NZC in May 2007 and still works at Dargaville Hospital three days a week. She is also involved in the local Toy Library and Victim Support.
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Tina Coombes
NZC Waitemata
Show more informationTina moved to New Zealand with her husband in 2006 from the UK. Whilst Tina spent most of her childhood in England, she was born in Malawi. In addition, her mother is Samoan and father English. This has lead to a very multi-cultural family. Currently Tina and her family live in Birkenhead on the North Shore.
Soon after the birth of her first son Blake in 2007, Tina joined her local sub branch and once hooked, quickly became involved with the Area Society, initially with Grants and then as New Zealand Councillor. During 2010 Tina had another little boy called Felix.
Tina and her family are committed to Play centre and its philosophies, taking an active role in the pre-school.
In a life before children, Tina has an Honours Degree in Engineering and over five years Equity Research experience as an Associate with Citigroup in London.
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Samantha Newby-Whybrow
NZC Auckland City
Show more informationSamantha was born in England and emigrated to New Zealand with her family in 1977. She currently lives in Onehunga Auckland with her husband, Steve and their two pre-schoolers Noah and Cassidy.
Samantha is a primary-trained teacher and has been involved with Plunket since her son was six weeks old.
She has been the President for Onehunga Sub-Branch for the last three years.
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Sharon Almond-Bryant
NZC Waikato
Show more informationSharon harks from North Wales in the U.K and moved over to New Zealand 6 years ago. She lives in Hamilton with her husband Phillip and three year old son, Zachary.
Sharon began her work with Plunket two years ago when a friend that was volunteering at a Hamilton Branch asked if she would like to be involved.
Starting as a volunteer in the Week of Annual Appeal it wasn’t long before she became President of the branch before starting as a New Zealand Councillor.
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Karen Eagles
NZC Taranaki
Show more informationKaren was president of the Parents Centre New Zealand from 1987-1990 and has since moved into the role of New Zealand councilor within Plunket. She has four adult children and one grandchild.
In 1990 Karen travelled to Chicago to investigate childbirth education with the aim of setting it up a similar programme in New Zealand. She has previously lobbied for parent education funding, seat belt usage and child car restraints.
Karen also serves on the Taranaki District Health Board and is standing for re-election at the 2010 elections. She is an active Soroptimist International member.
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Sandy Coley
NZC Bay of Plenty
Show more informationSandy grew up in the small community of Katikati in the Bay of Plenty and moved to Auckland after getting married. After the birth of her two sons, Sandy became involved with Plunket and helped set up a new clinic and play group in Mangere East in 1989.
In 2002 Sandy had another son, an extremely premature baby 600grams at 25 weeks, and moved back to Katikati. And joined the Katikati Plunket realising the best place to make new friends was on the Plunket committee.
As President of the committee, Sandy spent the next four years working with the community. After attending an Area Society meeting in 2007, Sandy was voted in as New Zealand Councillor.
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Sue Baker
NZC Gisborne
Show more informationSue joined Plunket in 2005 as Treasurer for her local area, becoming New Zealand Councillor in July 2008.
In 2001 Sue first encountered Plunket after the arrival of her youngest daughter. Her older children had been born either in England or Ireland, where there is no equivalent organisation providing well child services.
Sue’s other great passion is rugby. She is lucky enough to work 20 hours a week for the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, and volunteers at a local rugby club. A huge change for someone who is a qualified Radiation Therapist.
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Margaret Bourke
NZC Wellington/Wairarapa
Show more informationMargaret is a mother of seven children and has been involved with the Lansdowne Plunket Sub-Branch since 1981, including President from 1993.
She served four years as Wairarapa Branch President, and has been honoured with Merit and Long Service awards and Life Membership.
Before Plunket, Margaret was part of the Kindergarten movement for 30 years. Margaret has also served for 20 years as a Trustee of the Chanel College Board, and is currently a member of the Board of Wairarapa REAP.
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Wendy Wadsworth
NZC Nelson/Marlborough
Show more informationWendy has held a number of roles within Plunket since 1994, when her oldest was just little. This includes car seat co-ordinator, annual appeal co-ordinator and sub-branch secretary. She joined the New Zealand Council because she wanted to be part of the team to help children under five.
Wendy lives in Wakefield with her husband and five children ranging in age from 17 years to six and a half months old. Wendy has worked in a number of jobs in between being a busy mum and her work for Plunket including driving a school bus and being a Playcentre supervisor.
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Diane Van Diepen
NZC West Coast
Show more informationDiane started with Plunket in 2004 after her eldest was born and has held a number of roles: Treasurer and President of Westport Branch, Area Appeal Coordinator and Area Treasurer for four years.
Currently Diane is a member of the Board of Trustees at the local school, Treasurer of Westport Toy Library, Board Member of Tai Poutini Whanau Po Kite Ata Trust (Family Start) and a leader for the local Girl Guides.
She lives in Mokihinui, half hour north of Westport and is the mother of two girls and a boy. She is proud to be part of Plunket and is very passionate about ensuring that children in New Zealand have the best start possible.
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Bobbi Campbell
NZC Mid-South Canterbury
Show more informationBobbi lives near Pleasant Point, 20k north of Timaru, with her farming husband John. They have two children, Noelle and Genene.
Bobbi is a Registered Nurse and Registered Nutritionist and has spent most of her work life in the Community setting with a health promotion focus. She is currently working on a nutrition project relating to Crohn's disease.
She is also involved with volunteer work with Diabetes South Canterbury, Alcohol Action SC,and the Salvation Army. She took up the role of NZC for Mid South Canterbury December 2010.
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Georgina Dunstan
NZC Otago
Show more informationGeorgina lives at Lake Mahinerangi, over 70 kms out of Dunedin, with her husband Bruce and son William.
She has been involved with Plunket for 12 years. In this time she has had a variety of roles starting with Sub Branch President for Lee Stream, Branch President for Taieri Branch and has been involved in many Plunket activities over the years.
Georgina holds a variety of volunteer roles in her small community. These include Lee Stream School PTA, West Taieri Cubs and Scouts.
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Nicki White
NZC Southland
Show more informationNicki is trained as a primary school teacher but is now dairy farming with her husband Bob and their three children.
Joining the local Plunket mothers group in 2000 shortly after son Joshua was born, she quickly realised what a support Plunket groups are, especially when away from family and moving districts often.
Nicki is also involved with Farmsafe, and is on the board of trustees at the local school.
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