16 September 2004
Plunket "angels" receive national Eyebright Awards
Two-week-old Phoebe Manthel of Wellington was weighed in at 3.750 kg (8lbs 4oz) by experts when three award winning
Plunket staff and Prime Minister, Helen Clark, put her on the scales. From left: Julia de Weck, Nelson Community
Karitane; Helen Clark; Erin Barrett, Bucklands Beach Plunket Nurse; and Sally Wäst, Invercargill Plunket Kaiawhina, with
Phoebe.
On the strength of parent tributes, the three Plunket staff achieved national Eyebright Awards. They received a Pounamu
gift from the Prime Minister at a special ceremony in her office yesterday (subs 15 September).
Twenty other Plunket carers are receiving regional Eyebright Awards around New Zealand.
Plunket's NZ President Kaye Crowther says: "The Eyebright tributes pinpoint the things parents value most about Plunket,
and highlight how special the two-way partnership between parents and Plunket is. We are thrilled that the practical and
emotional support of Plunket continues to make a positive difference to families as we enter our 98th year. And we are
grateful to Wattie's and Huggies for providing a mechanism which honours Nurses, Kaiawhina and Karitane who are assets
to their communities."
ENDS