woa Presenters and Committee

 Ruth Todd - Co-ordinator:
After a long career in secondary & tertiary education, Ruth had the opportunity to initiate women on air at the end of 1992 & plan a stimulating radio programme for Suffrage year in 1993. Ruth is still enjoying the challenge 15 years later. In 2000, Ruth was made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for services to women & New Zealand writers. Ruth & Morrin are currently planning The Press Christchurch Writers' Festival for September 5 - 7 2008

Joanne Clarke has been with women on air for over 14 years now. Well known for her cookbook "Never Trust a Skinny Cook!" and her passion for sequins and all things sparkly, Joanne works full time as a Patternmaker and Graphic Artist for an international clothing company, was one of NZ's first Civil Union celebrants and also works as an after dinner speaker, cabaret performer, compere, makeup artist, food writer, sometimes TV reporter and is Chair of Agender Christchurch Inc, Co-chair Q'topia and a trustee on the "Working OUT" the Youth Mentoring board. Her own radio programme for the transgendered community "TranSister Radio" was a finalist in the NZ Radio Awards in 2000 and after 8 years is back on air. In 2000 the Gay and Lesbian Community named her Female Icon, Joanne has been voted Woman of the Year and received a Lifetime Achievement Award by the same group. Joanne has finished her second book yet to be published. "Spare time, what spare time!"

Victoria Wynn Thomas
Victoria Wynn Thomas joined woa in 2002 as a presenter and brings a fresh voice to the programme. Victoria graduated with a Masters degree in Journalism from the University of Canterbury in 1999. While at university she was involved with Canta as both assistant editor and writer. After graduating Victoria worked as a news reporter for local television before the birth of her son, William, in 2001 and now the family has been extended with the arrival of wee Hugo. With undergraduate majors in English and Classics Victoria still retains an interest in things literary and old!
 

Helen Lowe
Helen Lowe won the inaugural Robbie Burns Poetry Award in 2003 and the national A2O competition (Australia) in 2007.  She was the recipient of a NZ Society of Authors / Creative New Zealand award for emerging writers in 2005 and has since had poetry and short stories published and anthologised in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.  Helen has poetry in the current editions of Takahe and Foam:e and forthcoming in Poetry NZ and Blackmail Press.  Her first novel, Thornspell, will be published by Knopf (Random House USA) in September 2008. 
Helen has been presenting a monthly poetry feature for Women on Air since March 2007.

Elizabeth O'Connor Elizabeth O'Connor is a Christchurch-based theatre practitioner who has worked in the arts all over Aotearoa (and in a few other places) for about 30 years.  She is literary manager at the Court Theatre, arts editor for Te Karaka magazine, project director for Operate Performing Arts Trust, drama teacher for Skillwise (adults with intellectual disabilities), occasional reviewer for National Radio and freelance researcher, writer, director, editor, dramaturg and coach for heaps of other people. She has a great interest in visual arts, music, dance and literature as well as theatre. On the last Saturday of each month she will invite a Guest Artist to join her in conversation on Women on Air.  The two will discuss the Guest's current and upcoming work, the arts in Aotearoa, society, politics, wish lists and "ain't it awful" lists, life, the universe and everything.  All in 12 minutes or so.

woa trustees

Noeline Keeling
Treasurer: Noeline Keeling is a keen walker and has just joined an "over 40's tramping group. Noeline also enjoys skiing and like most of the other trust members is an avid reader. Fortunately for women on air Noeline is very competent with figures. She is adept at keeping us within budget. Noeline says that the main highlight for her is meeting the diverse group of women who are on the trust and those women who attend our events. "It has taken me out of my small boxed life and opened up a whole different world for me, I love it".

Secretary: Pat Penrose been on women on air since March 1997 and is self-employed as an Early Childhood and Parenting Educator. Pat enjoys working with groups, running courses for parents, working with early childhood services and being a grandmother. Pat is also a trustee on Fathering the Future Trust and recently written a Course for Fathers, which will be run by a man. Has written 'Take Another Look', a book about observing children used as a text in early childhood training, also written a series of 12 pamphlets 0-3 years, a regular column in the local newspaper and a booklet called 'Choices in Early Childhood'.

Sarah Ayton
Sarah Ayton has worked in community access radio since the conception of Plains FM in 1987. She was the Plains FM manager from 1991 to 1997. Since then she has been advising community access stations around the country for NZ On Air. Has co-written the Handbook for Community Access Radio in New Zealand. She is secretary of the Association of Community Access Broadcasters' (NZ/Aotearoa) - ACAB, and also of the governing body of Plains FM, the CCT. And surprise! Sarah is an avid reader, enthusiastic tramper, and would travel forever if she could.