Enid Brinkler

Born into a Rotorua family, Enid attended Ngongotaha Primary school and then later, Rotorua High School. After marriage and the birth of her first child she returned to study and completed Early Childhood qualifications, and a Bachelor of Arts through Massey University. She was employed in the Early Childhood sector and was passionate about her work.

In 1993 she became involved in the Women's Suffrage Centennial Celebrations and began to record the contributions and achievements of women in the Rotorua District. Her weekly articles in the Daily Post under the title of "Women to Remember" morphed into a book of the same name and, unexpectedly, she became a published author. The proceeds of her endeavour assisted in the erection of a beautiful statue commemorating Jean Batten, located in the small park area between the Rotorua Library and the Information Centre.

With the encouragement of Rotorua Writers Group members, Enid has been inspired to record her many travel adventures for her family to read and enjoy.

Enid serves on the Rotorua Writers Group Committee.

Marj Griffiths

Words - read, written, spoken or enacted - always the love of Marj's life! From the age of seven she had stories plays and poems published in the 1940's Labour Party newspaper, Southern Cross.

At age eight, she was entering speech and drama classes in the annual Rotorua competitions.

She often read the Edgecumbe School Library out of books and waited with excitement for Thursdays - School Drama Club day.

Marj's love of the stage has continued throughout her life and she has assisted in forming two amateur theatre groups: Edgecumbe Little Theatre and Rainbow Entertainers, Rerewhakaaitu.

Marj was a primary school teacher and then a dairy farmer's wife, later, a tutor in special needs and dyslexia, she has also been a Lifelink/Youthline counsellor, a survey interviewer and has run a farm-stay business with a friend - Gemini love variety!

For thirty-four years, while farming at Rerewhakaaitu with her husband, Mike, and their three sons, she was the rural reporter for Rotorua's Daily Post, and co-authored two publications on the history of Rerewhakaaitu.

Now a 'city girl', she enjoys the company of family and friends, the inspiration of the Rotorua Writers Group, and her work as a 'bloomer groomer' (proof reader). In her spare time she writes humourous rhyming verse. She thinks retirement is just great!

Marj serves as Vice-President of the Rotorua Writers Group.

Peter Lindop

On a wet and stormy June day in 1975, Peter and his wife arrived at Princess Wharf in Auckland aboard the Chitral. They stayed there for three months and then made their way south to Rotorua, where they remained.

Peter's first attempts at writing were for a travel magazine about caravanning, a pastime with which he'd had much experience, and he had a wide knowledge of camping destinations. Some years later, the elderly editor of the magazine retired, and for the next eight years Peter was the editor. It was during this time that he joined the Rotorua Writers Group and found the members to be a most creative bunch. Even though the magazine Out and About eventually ceased publication, Peter continued to be and active member of the writers group. Peter has served in a number of roles: President, Club Accounts Auditor and Committee Member.

Peter is a Life Member of the Rotorua Writers Group.

Terry Newton

Now well past the age of seventy, Terry looks back on an interesting life with few regrets. A friend visiting from overseas once told him, "You should write a book about your life! Barry Crump has done nothing to equal you." Terry's thinking about it.

He had an ordinary life until aged ten, when he was placed on a welfare farm in Kaikohe. Going from a city boy who always wore shoes, to barefoot running flat-out on metal roads - he was changed. After two years he was removed from the farm.

One Christmas holiday, Terry's mother suggested that he apply for a farm job. Terry had six replies from which to choose. One farmer wrote six pages describing his property, and Terry chose him, because he obviously cared. Terry stayed for ten years.

Later, Terry travelled, visiting different countries, but always returned to New Zealand. He spent some time in the army, but left because he was bored. The following few years after that were very exciting, but Terry's not talking about them!

When he returned to New Zealand he joined the Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill in Kawerau and stayed there until retiring at Onepu.

Terry writes action adventure laced with crime and espionage.

Anne Potter

Anne Potter, also writing as Anne deNize, grew up on a farm in the Pongakawa Valley. She studied at Massey and Auckland Universities, as well as at the Auckland Technical Institute. After working briefly as a secretary/bookkeeper and legal clerk, she joined the trend into computing. At the same time, she co-authored Office Functions New Zealand, a text book for business studies students.

The 'Great O.E', planned for the usual two years, extended into thirty years, starting at UNICEF’s supply division in Copenhagen and then in the United Kingdom, setting up a new information consultancy with her partner. There she qualified as a Management Consultant and Project Manager and did stints with Glaxo Wellcome and Transport for London.

Forced by her health to consider retirement, she became a writer – a long-held dream. She has e-published five children’s science fiction books, a fantasy novella, and a historical romance under her pseudonym. Her two ‘how to’ books are under “A. D. Potter” which, thanks to Amazon’s search system, are virtually impossible to find (try the titles, How to Organize an Event and What Makes You Tick – a book on Time Management). Anne is now back in New Zealand continuing her writing career.

Anne serves as treasurer for the Rotorua Writers Group.

Mindy Singh

Mindho Kaur Singh was born in Malpur Arkan in the Punjab state of India. At the age of nine years [1957], alongside her mother and siblings, she migrated to New Zealand to join her father. She attended primary school in the Punjab but received majority of her education in New Zealand. Her love for reading and writing began at an early age. She later completed a writing course with the Writing School and joined the Cambridge Writers group and has been an affiliated member with both the New Zealand Authors Association and the Rotorua Writers Group.

Mindy lives with her family on a dairy farm in Whitikahu, near Hamilton, in the Waikato. Her life revolves around her husband, children, and in particular her grandchildren who energise and keep her young and on her toes. Apart from her writing, reading, art and her latest love, pottery, she loves to travel. She is involved with and supports various groups and Punjabi cultural activities—and is actively supportive of numerous charitable organisations.

Mindy writes as MK Bola. The Legacy by MK Bola was published in 2014.

Dolly Varden-Chambers

Dolly Varden-Chambers was born in Essex, England, the eldest of five children.

She has always written stories and poems and in recent years, stage plays, as well.

She has lived in New Zealand since 1967 and believes she has now become accepted as a New Zealander.

She acknowledges herself to be a ‘tad eccentric’ and during her lifetime has worn ‘many hats’.

An actress, Theatre Director, singer in a band for ten years, Pearly Queen in Old Time Music Hall, an acknowledged artist, teacher aide, reader for ‘Talking Books’ and a published author. Her publications include: Clara, the Story of a Snail, Story Time with Aunty Dolly, Nick Goes on Stage, According to Amy, The Book of Short Plays, Do You Come Here Often?, The Hedgehog in the Piano, and A Backward Glance.

She has four children and four grandchildren and lives in ‘Hobbiton’ (Matamata, NZ).

She enjoys being a member of Rotorua Writers Group.