What a marathon this project is. Ten weeks of hiking all over Wairarapa, interviewing, photographing, and telling these women’s stories.
Multiple people within the Wairarapa Times-Age team are involved with this annual production, now in its 10th year.
There are the salespeople, writers, photographers, designers, and proof readers all kept under control by our mighty admin team within the
Times-Age. The publication size has varied over the years but on average between 80-90 women are profiled and their businesses outlined.
This year the number of women we feature is 92. Many have been profiled before and report great feedback from being in our publication. They come fresh to this year’s publication, out the other end of covid and all its restrictions, with a new story to tell on how they survived, developed, and re-invented themselves, where necessary.
Others we introduce are new faces and their businesses are exciting and imaginative. Some are new to Wairarapa, and they bring a new perspective and skills which improve and add colour to our unique region, nestled inland and opening south out to the mighty Cook Strait.
Each year, I believe I have heard it all and then another amazing woman pops up with an innovative idea that she has turned into a business and a living.
There’s an overarching message that life and opportunities must be grabbed, and the only hindrance may be lack of courage and willingness to step out into the unknown.
This is certainly not the case with the women featured within. My thanks go to fellow feature writer Angela Yeoman and some of the women who are part of large businesses and councils who provided copy.
Otherwise for the 70-odd whom I had the pleasure to meet, thank you for your time and generosity.
Marlene Ditchfield
Profile Writer/Photographer
