About ANZWG

Mission and Value of The Australian - New Zealand Women's Group

www.anzwgonline.org

The Australian - New Zealand Women's Group (ANZWG) is a non-profit, non-sectarian and non-political group consisting of Australian and New Zealand women and those with a close association with either Australia or New Zealand. The Group places particular emphasis on:

• supporting Australian and New Zealand expatriate women in Thailand



• fostering friendships between members of the Group



• promoting goodwill within the community through charitable and other works

ANZWG's origins

• 1954 - ANZWG formed when AWG (Australian Women's Group) invited a few New Zealand women to assist in a fund raising fete.
• 1958 - Bangkok's New Zealand community had grown large enough to support their own women's group, NZWG, so AWG existed once again.
• 1971 - The first Bangkok Guide is produced by AWG.
• 1975 - New Zealand Women re-join AWG as associate members and help with the 3rd edition of Bangkok Guide.
• 1983 - AWG and NZWG incorporate once again to form the ANZWG that exists today.

ANZWG's charitable projects

ANZWG members serve the needs of poor and disadvantaged Thais, especially women and children, through charitable works that are many and varied. Such work involves support of rural and urban development projects, scholarships for school children and helping with orphans and AIDS victims. Some examples of the projects ANZWG has assisted with include:

• Funding of the Duangkaew Foundation to provide corrective surgery for children with cleft palates.



• Thailand Hilltribes' Education Project - ANZWG donations have bought generators, fish tanks, and assistance for the construction of classrooms, canteens, school libraries and toilet blocks.



• ANZWG members also visit, support and work for orphanages and assist in slum areas around Bangkok.

Monthly newsletter

ANZWG members publish a monthly newsletter - "In Touch" which informs the Group about activities, social events and meetings. In addition the "Bangkok Guide" is produced every two years. This book is a "must have" for all new comers to Bangkok and will probably be the most thumbed volume in your family library. Thais and expats alike, look forward to every edition. The book is produced totally by members; advertising covers the production costs and all monies raised from sales support the charitable works of ANZWG.

ANZWG functions

As you can see from ANZWG's Mission and Vision statement, the Group has three major functions. The first two of these objectives are fulfilled through a number of activities that are organised through the committee. These activities include monthly coffee mornings at members' homes, various luncheons throughout the year and at least one excursion every month. The majority of the latter involve exploring a variety of Thai arts and crafts, visiting factories and exploring some of the Thai cultural heritage. Special celebratory days involve Mother's Day, a Games Day, the Melbourne Cup and the Australia - Waitangi Day brunch.

In addition to these functions there are weekly activities offered such as bridge, mahjong, tennis, golf, sewing, patchwork and book club. For young Mums Kiwala offers babies, toddlers and pre-schooler playgroups.

Join us

Having given you a brief spiel about our activities, we hope you will also want to join this dynamic Group of women and share the camaraderie and friendship that we have for each other whilst helping those less fortunate than ourselves in this wonderful country of Thailand.