Joan Manning is in the Hunterville Women's Institute, one of seven member groups aligned to the Wanganui Federation.

Each institute was given $10 worth of tea bags and coffee to grow to raise funds for Kidney Kids to refurbish Auckland's renal unit.

Mrs Manning said the Hunterville Institute had already held two fundraisers with 12 members in Marton and eight at Hunterville, and raised $200 between the two. Each member paid $5 for an afternoon tea and they also held raffles, with one of the prizes being a voucher from Paper Plus. She said this was an opportunity to inspire each other, and there'll be a lunch to follow. Mrs Manning said she's not sure what they'll have yet, but mentioned the national dish of South Africa, bobotie - a mixture of curried meat and fruit with a creamy golden topping. "We are sending our Marton delegate Jean Martin to conference so the extra money will replenish what we used."

The institute will hold a blind auction in August on its club day at the Friendship Hall in Marton.

Club days are held on the first Monday of every month and guest speakers are invited to address the members.

This month's speaker was fireman Terry O'Keefe on how to "keep themselves safe".

Mrs Manning came to New Zealand from South Africa 30 years ago where she was a member of a women's institute. A teacher, Mrs Manning taught in Pukerua Bay before moving to Hunterville.

She now also teaches the elective applique at Hunterville School when she is not organising institute events.

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