Catherine McDonald
Catherine McDonald: Life Mem
ber September 2017
NZ Quilter Mag No 75 April 2011
“Catherine’s introduction to quilting came through a magazine quilt pattern and she attended her first classes at the Dunedin Symposium in 1991”
She found sticking to a pattern a bit of a problem, “so it didn’t take long for her to venture into doing her own thing”
Catherine has held a number of roles in the New Zealand Quilting community
- President of Christchurch Quilters – joined 1991
- President of Canterbury Patchwork Society
- Co- convenor of the 2003 Chch Symposium
- A member of a small Art Quilt group from which Catherineand 2 others of the group developed a small business – Distressed Threads. After running its course Catherine has continued as Mallee Textiles.
- SAQA
- President of NANZQ which was rebranded to Aotearoa Quilters . (April 2010) Catherineoversaw various changes designed to encourage membership and participation.
- Mentor, Tutor, Judge
This included:
- Rebranding NANZQ to Aotearoa Quilters
- Introducing a new look newsletter and e-news,
- Biennial challenge
- A website
- Trialled Regional days
- Continued the national exhibition. (against some odds.)
- An online challenge
- It was a close call for the Association to end on Feb 1st A nearly new committee got on with building up AQ with Catherine’s leadership.,
- In more recent years new initiatives included
- Touring Exhibition
- Education Seminar
- Working towards the National Association taking an active role as oversight supporting future Symposia Committee
- Silent Auction, Cosy Kiwi Kids, Regional reps
Catherine continued as President until September 2016 standing down after six year term and to focus on the role of Convenor of the Christchurch Symposium 2017.
Catherine is a woman of great passion and compassion, vision, and resilience. Her commitment both to her family and all things in the textile art world is admirable. I have enjoyed our times of working together.
Congratulations Catherine and thank you from all of us for all you have done.
