Raewyn WEGGERY
Secretary, Treasurer and Examination Secretary
Mrs Weggery began to learn Highland Dancing at the age of six with
Mrs Andrea Quinn after being encouraged to ‘give dancing a
try’. Her love of dancing grew and at the age of twelve she
began learning from Mrs Sherilyn Hall.
Mrs Weggery successfully competed at all levels all over New Zealand,
in Daylesford Australia and in Scotland including several years
in the eighteen years and over New Zealand Championships. During
this time her love for the Scottish music, dance and culture grew.
Mrs Weggery is a qualified teacher and adjudicator and enjoys passing
on her love of highland dancing to her pupils and watching them
succeed.
Mrs Weggery holds a Bachelor of Business Studies degree and is
the Examination Secretary and Assistant Treasurer.
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Glenys GRAY
Representative elected from the North Island Members
Miss Gray has studied various types of dance however her main involvement
has been with Highland and National Dancing. For most of her dancing
years she was a pupil of Mrs Tui Downie and under her tutelage was
successful both in competitions, twice winning the New Zealand Champion
of Champions title, and Academy Examinations which she passed with
Honours in all grades before progressing on to pass the Academy’s
Solo Seal Examination. She has also been a demonstrator for the
Academy and has studied Highland and Hebredian dancing in Scotland.
As well as her Academy qualifications, while living in Scotland
Miss Gray also obtained Teaching and Judging qualifications with
the Scottish Official Highland Dancing Association.
Miss Gray is a qualified Accountant and member of the New Zealand
Institute of Chartered Accountants. She currently works as Financial
Accountant for an Auckland Local Authority, and has previously worked
as an auditor both in New Zealand and Scotland.
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Kay GROUT
Representative from the Piping and Dancing Association of New
Zealand
Mrs Grout is at present the President of the Piping and Dancing
Association of New Zealand (Inc). She is retired. Prior to her retirement
she was a Principal Lecturer in law and Programme Leader at the
Auckland University of Technology.
Mrs Grout became involved with Highland and National dancing when
her daughter, Sarah, began taking lessons.
Mrs Grout is one of two Liaison Officers who act as intermediaries
between the New Zealand Academy (the examining body) and the Piping
and Dancing Association of New Zealand (the competition body). She
is therefore a member of the Executive Committee of the Academy
and at the same time President (Councillor) of the Piping and Dancing
Association.
Mrs Grout is also the present patron for the Auckland National
Dancing Teachers and Judges Association (Inc) and a committee member
of the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand (Inc) - Auckland
Centre.
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Adrienne HABERFIELD
Representative elected from the South Island Members
Mrs Haberfield commenced Highland, Ballet and Tap dancing with
Betty Carnochan (the first Director of Technical Committee). When
Miss Carnochan moved overseas Mrs Haberfield studied and completed
her examinations with Miss Muriel Waugh and Mrs Jeanie Paton.
Mrs Haberfield has served as Secretary and President of the Balmoral
Club (the Christchurch Highland and National Dancing Teachers and
Judges Association), President of the Canterbury West Coast Centre
of the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand, is a Life
Member of the Canterbury West Coast Centre and the Canterbury Caledonian
Society. She has also adjudicated at many Championship meetings
around the country and has tutored at a number of Summer Schools.
Mrs Haberfield runs her own business as a full time Highland, Jazz
and Tap teacher, and has been an examiner in Jazz, Ballet and Tap
dancing for the New Zealand Association of Modern Dance.
Mrs Haberfield is a Justice of the Peace
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Sherilyn HALL
Technical Director
Mrs Hall commenced Highland Dancing on Doctors advice after having
polio as a young child. She was taught by Mrs Emma Brown (nee Maye)
in her early years and later by Mrs Edna Moore, returning to Mrs
Brown on occasions for further lessons in her teenage years. She
also learnt ballet and piano.
Her competitive achievements were renowned throughout the country.
In her early twenties Mrs Hall became a demonstrator for the Technical
Committee and later a Technical Committee member. She assisted the
Research Committee, again in a demonstrating role, while the current
Highland and Step Dance Syllabuses were being compiled.
On Mrs Brown’s retirement Mrs Hall was appointed the Technical
Director. As Director she has overseen the development of the Academy
Initial to Grade 1 video, the preparation of the Let’s Dance
and Getting Started syllabuses, the restructuring of the Medal Tests
and the revamp of the Refresher (Dance Development) Course. As well
as undertaking examining duties, she has conducted workshops and
seminars throughout New Zealand, and tutored at Summer Schools.
In 1999 Mrs Hall represented the New Zealand Academy of Highland
and National Dancing at the International Highland Dance Conference
in Las Vegas, conducting Step Dancing workshops and speaking on
an international panel.
Mrs Hall was accomplished in netball and gymnastics and represented
New Zealand in Volleyball in the early 1970’s. She currently
owns and operates a ladies fashion boutique in Palmerston North
and when not involved with dancing in her spare time enjoys travel,
boating and deep sea fishing as well as a good book!
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Avalon MOFFATT
Representative from the Piping and Dancing Association of New
Zealand
Mrs Moffatt commenced ballet at the age of 4 and Highland and National
dancing at age 6. She was taught Highland dancing by her mother
Mrs E McLeod, in Hamilton, until the age of 16, when she moved to
Wellington. On arriving in Wellington she learnt from Mrs E Wooller
and completed her final exam under her guidance. Avalon attained
Honours in all grades and she competed very successfully throughout
New Zealand winning many North Island, South Island and New Zealand
championships. She is currently teaching dancing and has a small
school of pupils. Past and present pupils have been successful both
in competitive and examination work.
Avalon is currently a vice president of the Wellington Centre of
the Piping and Dancing and President of Wellington Provincial Highland
Gathering – a society that runs seven competitions annually.
She has been a member of Wellington Provincial Highland Gathering
for over 20 years.
Avalon has a great love of dance and wishes to serve all dancers
in New Zealand for the betterment of Highland and National dancing
and retain the heritage that has been handed down through the years
in New Zealand.
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Barbara TAIT
Representative elected from the North Island Members
Mrs Tait commenced dancing at the age of five years after being
seduced by the beauty of the tartan socks at the local A and P Show.
She passed all Academy examinations under the tuition of Mrs Jeanie
Paton and after a successful competitive career which included winning
numerous New Zealand, Island and Centre Championship titles under
the guidance of Mrs Jeanie Paton and Mrs Emma Brown, she became
an Executive Council member of the New Zealand Academy of Highland
and National Dancing Association. This position she has continued
to hold until the present day.
Mrs Tait is also a teacher and judge of Highland and National Dancing.
She is an active member of the Piping and Dancing Association of
New Zealand and currently holds the position of President of the
Taranaki Centre of the Piping and Dancing Association. A secondary
School teacher, Mrs Tait has three children, two of whom are Highland
Dancers and all three of whom are involved with the local Pipe Band.
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Jackie McBRIDE
Representative elected from the South Island Members
Being born into a household where Highland Dancing was a major
part of life certainly helped when I commenced dancing lessons with
Helen Jones-Sexton, as I could already dance the Highland Fling,
Sword Dance and Irish Jig - this from watching my mother, Enid Weir,
teach from an early age. As a senior, my teacher was past Technical
member Mrs Janice Wood - both of my teachers and my mother instilled
in me a love of dance, taught me the Academy history and the importance
of where our technique has come from.
As an elected member of the Executive Council my wish is to see
the Academy grow stronger and to ensure that future members all
have the opportunity to understand and maintain our technique.
Over the past 11 years, I have been Competition Secretary for the
Otago Centre and have held the positions of President, Secretary
and Treasurer for our Otago Teachers and Judges Club (The Ghillie
Callum Club). I am an active adjudicator and enjoy adjudicating
at all levels through out New Zealand.
I work for The National Bank as a Banking Consultant in Corporate
and Commerical Banking and bring financial and administration skills
from this and previous Bank roles onto Executive.
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