Now recognised as the country’s strongest branch of Voice for Life (formerly the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child), the Whanganui branch has celebrated its 35th birthday. 
The branch started in 1972 when 350 people gathered in Whanganui’s Memorial Hall Concert Chamber, to hear the late Sir William Liley speak, and show slides of the stages of a developing baby in the womb.
Patron Mrs Joan Morrell was honoured at the birthday celebrations as a special friend of the society. This internationally recognised sculptress was an earlier committee member.
As the then local secretary, I recall clearly her growing awareness of the need for a separate group to offer practical and pastoral assistance for women with unplanned pregnancies, quite distinct from the political focus in securing the legal rights of unborn children the organisation was taking.
‘We care about you both,’ was her one-liner in the personal columns of newspapers.
After the election of officers, the guest speaker Bob McCoskrie, director and founder of Family First, encouraged the 60 who attended to continue to speak up for issues they believed in and to enter into debate with other groups.Now recognised as the country’s strongest branch of Voice for Life (formerly the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child), the Whanganui branch has celebrated its 35th birthday.
The branch started in 1972 when 350 people gathered in Whanganui’s Memorial Hall Concert Chamber, to hear the late Sir William Liley speak, and show slides of the stages of a developing baby in the womb.
Patron Mrs Joan Morrell was honoured at the birthday celebrations as a special friend of the society. This internationally recognised sculptress was an earlier committee member.
As the then local secretary, I recall clearly her growing awareness of the need for a separate group to offer practical and pastoral assistance for women with unplanned pregnancies, quite distinct from the political focus in securing the legal rights of unborn children the organisation was taking.
‘We care about you both,’ was her one-liner in the personal columns of newspapers.
After the election of officers, the guest speaker Bob McCoskrie, director and founder of Family First, encouraged the 60 who attended to continue to speak up for issues they believed in and to enter into debate with other groups.
The photo shows Joan Morrell, local chairperson Karen Raaymakers and secretary Joan Sullivan about to cut the cake.
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