Colleen Edward 1933-2025

Colleen Edward was a member of BPW in both Huntly & Districts and Hibiscus Coast and BPW NZ Executive (several roles). Our condolences go to the family and friends. May she Rest in Peace.

Jenny Brittain, President NCWHBC and past member BPW Hibiscus Coast, spoke on Colleen Edward's contributions at a meeting that inducted her as a life member in May 2022. She described how Colleen during the 1980’s represented the Business and Professional group at NCW meetings in the Huntly and Districts area.

After attending a meeting where the then national NCWNZ president spoke of how one of the organisation‘s strengths lay in its membership of around 200,000 diverse women and women’s groups, Colleen felt inspired to encourage local organisations to join their closest NCW branch.

Colleen well remembered the amazing step forward for New Zealand women when in 1984 the Labour Government appointed Dame Ann Hercus as the first Minister of Women’s Affairs.

During the early 1990s Colleen initiated forming a branch of BPW on the Hibiscus Coast and continued representing this organisation at NCW North Shore, shifting her representation to the NCW Hibiscus Coast branch when it was formed. For over four decades Colleen has been a President, Secretary (1991-1992), Treasurer, committee member and a gracious, patient, knowledgeable mentor to many women within the branch networks of NCW.

Colleen is remembered as an amazingly warm kind person with an ethic of hard work who, along with husband Max, hosted BPW sisters in her home.