Gore Toastmasters

23/06/2026

A fabulous way to send Lindsay on his way to Dunedin! Thank you to everyone who shared stories and reminded Lindsay of his contribution over 38 years of Gore Toastmasters and all the wonderful people along the way🌟🌟🌟

15/06/2026

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From Stuttering to District Champion and District Director ~ Meet Rob Woolley

Why does someone who stutters and dislikes public speaking join Toastmasters?

That’s what Rob asked himself in 2000 when he reluctantly visited a Toastmasters club and left two hours later relieved that it was over.

But seven years later, a different Rob walked back through those doors and joined.

At first, Rob was content with life and the limitations that came with his stutter. But when those limitations began affecting his livelihood, he knew something had to change.

After completing an intensive stuttering course that unexpectedly involved a great deal of public speaking, Rob discovered something powerful: the only way forward was through the discomfort.

Toastmasters International became the place where he could continue that journey.

Through regular practice, Rob tackled impromptu speaking, prepared speeches, leadership opportunities, and every challenge in between. He learned to move beyond embarrassment, avoidance, anxiety, and self-doubt, replacing them with confidence, capability, and courage.

Since joining, Rob has given speeches of every kind, led teams and clubs, served across areas and divisions, and ultimately went on to serve as District 72 Director. More recently, he added another remarkable achievement to his Toastmasters journey by becoming the District 72 Table Topics Champion.

Not only is Rob a champion speaker, but he is also a respected district leader who has helped countless members grow their confidence, communication, and leadership skills.

Toastmasters taught Rob how to tell stories, make people laugh, chair meetings, lead people, and most importantly, find his voice.

Today, Rob still stutters from time to time.

The difference is that he no longer lets it define what he can achieve.

Toastmasters gave him a place to practice, grow, and prove to himself that he could do it and continues to at Oaklands Toastmasters - Halswell, Christchurch.

If someone who once avoided public speaking can become a District Champion and District Director, imagine what might be possible for you.

Find your voice. Discover your confidence. Transform your future.

👀 Keep an eye out for Rob featured on a District 72 billboard on Carmen Road in Christchurch this week, as part of our campaign celebrating real member journeys across Aotearoa.

Find your local Toastmasters club and embark on your own speaking journey today.
www.toastmasters.org.nz

09/06/2026

31/05/2026

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From Liffey to Lifelong Growth ~ Meet Marie and Harry Fox

Marie and Harry both began their Toastmasters International journey at Liffey Toastmasters Lincoln, each walking through the doors for very different reasons.

Marie joined hoping to build confidence and connect with others in her local community. Speaking up had never come naturally, but she was ready to challenge herself and grow.

Harry’s story came full circle. After being a Toastmaster more than 30 years earlier, curiosity brought him back to see what had changed… and whether Toastmasters still had something new to offer.

What they both discovered was far more than a speaking club.

They found a supportive community where encouragement is constant, growth is celebrated, and every member is given the opportunity to find and strengthen their voice.

From those first meetings at Liffey, Marie and Harry embraced the many opportunities Toastmasters provides:
🎤 Building confidence and speaking with purpose
🎤 Developing communication and leadership skills
🎤 Challenging themselves through speech contests
🎤 Presenting both online and in person
🎤 Taking on leadership roles at club and district level
🎤 Discovering strengths they never knew they had

Today, Marie is a proud member of Foveaux Toastmasters, Invercargill NZ, while Harry continues his journey with Oaklands Toastmasters - Halswell, Christchurch, soon to join Foveaux Toastmasters as well ~ both continuing to grow, contribute, and inspire others along the way.

As a Toastmasters couple, their shared passion has taken them across New Zealand and around the world; visiting clubs, attending conferences, and connecting in person with the global Toastmasters family.

Their journey is a powerful reminder that Toastmasters is about so much more than public speaking.

It’s about confidence.

It’s about connection.

It’s about leadership.

And sometimes… it’s about discovering a whole new world of opportunity together.

👀 Keep an eye out for Marie and Harry featured on a District 72 billboard on Tay Street in Invercargill, as part of our campaign celebrating real member journeys across Aotearoa.

Find your local Toastmasters club and embark on your own speaking journey today.
www.toastmasters.org.nz

20/05/2026

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15/05/2026

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Today we have Year 6–8 students from Heddon Bush School & Drummond Primary School building confidence and communication skills through our ‘Public Speaking for Leadership’ Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) cluster session.

Across our GATE clusters in rural Southland - Central, Western, and Eastern - we work alongside schools to identify and nurture the unique strengths of each learner. Together, we design programmes that stretch imaginations and spark curiosity through Art, Robotics, Problem Solving, Maths, and Hands-on Science.

The students have been exploring pitch range, projection, volume and tone, face and mouth movement and even tackling a few tongue twisters. They then put their new skills into practice by speaking in front of the class, all while growing in confidence and learning to share their ideas clearly. What a great day of learning!

A big thank you to our G.A.T.E tutor Mrs Livingston and to Community Trust South for supporting GATE programmes across rural Southland. 🌱

15/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BfWCvRJkK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Today we have Year 6–8 students from Heddon Bush School & Drummond Primary School building confidence and communication skills through our ‘Public Speaking for Leadership’ Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) cluster session.

Across our GATE clusters in rural Southland - Central, Western, and Eastern - we work alongside schools to identify and nurture the unique strengths of each learner. Together, we design programmes that stretch imaginations and spark curiosity through Art, Robotics, Problem Solving, Maths, and Hands-on Science.

The students have been exploring pitch range, projection, volume and tone, face and mouth movement and even tackling a few tongue twisters. They then put their new skills into practice by speaking in front of the class, all while growing in confidence and learning to share their ideas clearly. What a great day of learning!

A big thank you to our G.A.T.E tutor Mrs Livingston and to Community Trust South for supporting GATE programmes across rural Southland. 🌱

07/05/2026

Looking to improve your speaking and confidence skills? Check out Gore Toastmasters We can help you feel your best at your next work presentation, wedding speech OR employment interview .

From Encouragement to Empowerment: A Mother-Daughter Toastmasters Journey ~ Meet Kathryn Duncan and Imogen Duncan

What started as a simple nudge became something far more powerful.

Kathryn first walked into Toastmasters with one goal - to build confidence as the MC for her parents’ wedding anniversary. She stayed for something deeper: the stories, the growth, and the unexpected joy of stepping into the spotlight herself.

“It became a place where I could listen to others’ stories… and yes, become the storyteller too.”

Along the way, she discovered leadership opportunities, witnessed life-changing growth in others, and brought someone very special along for the journey.

Her daughter, Imogen.

Imogen joined because her mum encouraged her to. But she stayed because she found her own voice.

Since becoming a member in 2015, Imogen has:
• Built confidence as a speaker
• Competed in multiple contests
• Grown her communication and leadership skills
• Found joy in watching others rise too

“My favourite part of Toastmasters is seeing other people grow in confidence.”

But the real magic?

It’s in the moments between meetings

🚗 Car rides filled with ideas, laughter, speech planning, and reflection
💡 Conversations about the highs, the lows, and everything in between
🤝 A shared journey that’s strengthened not just skills, but also their bond

“I love how close Toastmasters has brought us.”

This is what Toastmasters is all about - growth, connection, and transformation… sometimes across generations.

Now Imogen serves as Club President and VP Public Relations at Wavecrest Toastmasters, where Mum Kathryn is also a member, as well as Cyber 5 and Table Talk Toastmasters Clubs and if you're passing by the Forsyth Barr Stadium Billboard in Dunedin this week, you may just spot them!

Ready to start your own journey?

Whether you come alone or bring someone with you, your story starts with one meeting so take the first step and visit a local Toastmasters club today.
www.toastmasters.org.nz

07/05/2026

Everyone’s worst nightmare! What would you do in this situation? Comment below, you’ll help someone else out🎤🎤🎤

Friendly reminder: you’ve got this. 💛