Events

When she's not working as a solicitor, Liz Henry, KSM, is busy being a community multitasker—splitting her time between parkrun fun, Age Concern initiatives, MacHen Gardens creativity, and the lively energy of Comic Book Day. She's all about connection, wellbeing, and adding a bit of playfulness to Invercargill life. Liz will give a light-hearted glimpse into what keeps her happily busy.

Dave McKissock, will share his incredible experience walking almost 800km Camino de Santiago with his son Mark in 2025.

Dave will share the 33 day journey  starting on 5^th September 2025 to 7^th October, from Saint Jean Pied de Port, South Western France  to  Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwest Spain,

https://camino ways.com/camino-de-santiago

I completed my apprenticeship, with MITO, in Heavy Automotive Plant and Equipment 20 years ago. I then moved to Christchurch for a short time prior to doing my OE. Upon my return I returned to the automotive trade in the parts department and started managing the apprentices there. The opportunity to work with MITO came up and I have now been a local Training Advisor for 13+ years. I founded the Wāhine in Trades Southland group about 18x months ago.

MIke is married to Anya, and they have three adult childern, Louise, Mason and Katie.

Mike has been involved with Koru Care Southland for about 17  years, after Koru Care took his son Mason on a “Trip of a Lifetime” to the Gold Coast when he was about 12 years old. Since then Mike has taken Southland children on trips to both Australia and America every year apart from a four year break over COVID when the group didn’t travel overseas at all.

Mike is employed as Police Officer and has just ticked over 40yrs with the NZ Police.  He is the Area Commander of Southland and has been in this role for about 7 years, and has worked internationally both in Namibia and Rwanda for the NZ Police.

Mike is heavily involved in the community with Koru Care Southland, was a rugby referee for about 20 years and has been involved with the Southland Cancer Society since about 1991.

Born and bred Southlander and no intentions of leaving!!!!!!!!

Sally Dobbs has been a reservist Nursing Officer in the New Zealand Defence Force since 2010. She has been lucky enough to be part of a contingent that delivered primary care in Samoa and Tonga, and represented NZDF at the centenary commemoration of Chunuk Bair in 2015. Prior to coming to New Zealand, Sally spent 16 years as a Nursing Officer in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps and served in Bosnia. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross (RRC) in the 1990 New Year Honours list for services to military nursing. Sally is passionate about nursing history and promoting the role that women play in global conflicts; her special interest is nurses in World War 1.

Jessica Huang

I'm Jessica and I'm in Year 13 at Southland Girls' High School. I like reading, playing piano and walking. Next year, I plan to go to the University of Otago.

Olivia Radka

My name is Olivia Radka. I am a year 13 at Southland Girls' High School. My favourite subjects are chemistry and biology, Next year I plan on going to Auckland or Christchurch for uni.

From Vicki............

"I worked at H&J Smith for 23 years in various buying and management roles, and after closure as an amateur archivist. Spending 8 months scanning, photographing, recording and packing the archival material was a unique privilege, and an insight into just how important the H&Js history is to the multitude of families who worked there, to Southland and to NZ retail. I now spend my time consulting on H&Js history, garden design and business consulting."

Stéphane Fabre is the manager of Windsor Wines in Invercargill.

With roots in the vineyards of southern France, Stéphane’s journey has taken him from being a sommelier in France to becoming a celebrated figure in Invercargill’s wine scene.

His passion for wines from around the globe is only matched by his zest for talking about them.

I’ve been retailing in Invercargill for over 15 years, coming to Smiths City to manage the store after plying my trade in Roxburgh, Wanaka, Cromwell and Queenstown. I moved to Farmers Trading Store on Dee Street for a few years before moving to the Warehouse, where I managed for 9 years before moving to ICL. I enjoy engaging with community and being part of the revitalisation of the entire CBD, both for its Retail focus and Safety of the visitors to it. I’m looking forward to meeting you all and am sure you have questions for me 😊 Kelvin