▲ Past OWLS Convenors at the gala dinner (from left) Stephanie Pettigrew, Kathryn Buchanan, Jonelle Williams, Debbie Ericsson, Judge Rosemary Riddell, Jo Hambleton, Pene Williams, Allie Cunninghame, Kimberly Jarvis, Kam Niak, Louise Garthwaite, Anita Chan QC, Judge Annis Somerville, Sally McMillian and Donna Buckingham.
OWLS celebrates 30 years The Otago Women Lawyers’ Society (OWLS) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a gala dinner at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin on 14 October. The judiciary, Queens Counsel, OWLS life members, past and present members, Otago University Law Faculty, and the local profession all attended in large numbers to help OWLS celebrate in style. Master of ceremonies Anita Chan QC helped the evening run smoothly, and guests were treated to extremely impressive speeches from Sally McMillan and Dame Silvia Cartwright. Ms McMillan shared some of the history of OWLS and played excerpts from oral histories of life members recorded in 1993, which was particularly special. Dame Silvia gave an engaging speech about her experiences as Governor-General and the various hats she wore in that role. Kimberly Jarvis, the present OWLS Convenor, presented owl brooches to three life members, Dame Silvia, Judge Annis Somerville and Judge Rosemary Riddell, after it had been discovered earlier in the year that the tradition of giving brooches to life members was a relatively recent tradition. The formalities of the evening were concluded by cutting a cake in the shape of a law report, which was made by the Slice of Heaven Cake Company and a series of formal photos including the first committee members, past convenors, and OWLS members. Once the formalities had concluded, guests danced
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▲ The gala organising sub-committee (from left) Kylie Hope, Rebecca Barton, Kimberly Jarvis, Lizzie McKenzie and Ruth Ballantyne.
❝ The gala was certainly a night to remember
the night away to live music from The Plus Ones. The gala was certainly a night to remember and was enjoyed by all in attendance. OWLS looks forward to doing it all again in another 10 years. A big thank you to the hard-working gala subcommittee for pulling it all together in such style. ▪