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Projects
Women of The Year
This year, All Women’s Day was held in Port Glasgow Town Hall.
Previous events have been held in Greenock Town Hall but, with the
event being aimed at women from all around Inverclyde and with Port
Glasgow undergoing a major regeneration, the organisers decided to
try a change of venue.
During this event the Woman of the Year award is given. Each year,
in conjunction with the Greenock Telegraph, unsung hero’s are
nominated in recognition of the fact they always put others first,
give unselfishly of their time for others, and/or campaign
tirelessly on behalf of others, or may have achieved something
remarkable against the odds. Previous nominees have been from all
walks of life ie businesswomen, volunteers, carers etc
Manager of the voluntary centre Dianne Noctor
with other organisers Lesley Thompson, June McFarlane and Karina
MacDonald.
Diane
and her team are given the task of organising the programme for the
Woman’s day event. It included drama, workshops on various topics
and a fashion show. The event attracted hundreds of women.
Here is the lowdown on the present and previous winners…
This year’s winner Moira
Bradley
Greenock gal Moira has
raised £50,000 for charity. She said: “I want to thank everyone who
voted for me and I would like to thank all the finalists. You are
all so nice and deserve this, not just me.”
Moira vows to continue fundraising. She said: “I am not going to
give up fundraising. Not ever. This will raise my profile. I have
this for a year and I can work with this title. I can’t believe it.”
All of the finalists were taken to Port Glasgow Town Hall courtesy
of ABC Limo Hire and received flowers and chocolates.
Moira was nominated for the award by her young son, Lee, eight, who
wrote in with the help of big sister Amanda, 18. The young
Highlanders’ Academy pupil said: “My mum has raised thousands of
pounds for charity and I am very proud of her.” Moira’s first task
when she left All Women’s Day yesterday afternoon was to pick her
son up from school. She said: “He was very excited this morning.”
Amanda, who attended All Women’s Day, to support Moira said: “I knew
my mum would win, although she kept saying she wouldn’t. She doesn’t
look for any recognition.”
Moira’s fundraising crusades are made all the more impressive by the
fact she has a heart condition and a rare genetic disorder that
increases the risk of her suffering potentially fatal blood clots.
Her first fundraising event was a fashion show featuring colleagues
from T-Mobile. It raised £2,000 and Moira was hooked on the buzz of
raising cash for good causes.
Moira was embarrassed at being short-listed for woman of the year,
as she does not do her charity work for recognition, but simply
because she enjoys it. She is now planning to raise cash for
Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Sneaky Lee managed to get his entry to us without his mum knowing
and she only found out when she got a phone call to say she had been
short-listed for the finals.
Lee said he was very proud of his mum for raising £40,000 for Cash
for Kids and a further £10,000 for Ardgowan Hospice — and our
readers agreed.
Annette McIntyre, last
year’s winner, presented the Woman of the Year Trophy, sponsored by
James Watt College, to Moira, who also received chocolates, wine,
flowers, Top Deck membership from Inverclyde Leisure, a meal for two
at the Chartroom, Inverkip, and hair vouchers from One Union Spa.
Ruth Cooper, of James Watt College, assisted Annette with the
presentation. Annette donated a kidney to her best friend, Helen
Giff.
Annette, 54, received
her award in March 2007 at the event in Greenock Town Hall. Thanks
to Annette, Helen now lives a normal life.
2007 winner Annette, left, and Helen
Last year, Annette received her trophy from Ina Miller, who was
crowned Woman of the year in 2006. Ina, who is in her 60s, was
nominated for the award for her sterling efforts to raise money for
people with asthma.
2006 winner Ina Millar
Way
back on 12 September, 1983, she set up a support group for people
with asthma — and, today, more than 25 years on, it is still going
strong.
Gran Ina, has lost count of the number of people she has helped over
the years. She has raised more than £200,000, which has enabled her
to buy 3,000 nebulisers to help adults and children with respiratory
ailments.
Despite her stalwart efforts, Ina never looks for recognition,
running her charity without fuss. And she takes great pride in the
fact she has never turned down a request for a nebuliser.
Ina received her award from Margaret Barry, who was Woman of the
Year in 2005. Margaret, who is in her 50s, secured hundreds of votes
from Tele readers who were inspired by her ability to look after her
two teenage daughters, who have special needs, while still finding
the time to work tirelessly in the community. At the time, Margaret
was a member of the PTA at Lilybank School. She was also helping set
up a centre for young adults with autistic spectrum disorders.
Over these past few years, having been asked to sing by Morag
Wilson, I’ve had the pleasure of attending the Woman’s Day. I’ve
even got my daughters involved. All women are made very welcome.
There’s the opportunity to get pampered from James Watt College
staff and students, get info on various topics and events in and
around Inverclyde and be entertained with dancing, drama etc. It’s a
great day!!
Singing at the All Women’s Day 2008
Photos by Arlene Rodgers
Singing (and dancing) with my girls
All Women’s Day 2007 in the Greenock Town Hall
"Woman of the Year" Article
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