Operation Truffle inspires Kiwi Kids

Media Release : Strategy First Ltd

Operation Truffle inspires Kiwi Kids

‘That Blind Woman’, Julie Woods will be heading to Avalon Intermediate in Lower Hutt, as part of a nationwide project aimed at inspiring kiwi kids, on Friday afternoon at 1.45pm, 12 November, 2010. Approx 200 kids will be in attendance.

Named after her famous truffle recipe, “Operation Truffle” is Ms Woods’s project to visit the 119 Intermediate Schools around the country. Ms Woods, better known as ‘that blind woman’ is now speaking professionally and this year has already spoken to women affected by the bush fires in the Yarra Valley as well as NZ’s Prime Minister at Premier House.

Dunedin based Woods (44) went blind herself 13 years ago due to inflammation of the retina, with a big part of her drive for independence beginning in the kitchen. “I was married with two young boys so I had to get back in the kitchen” Ms Woods explained “Cooking Without Looking is how I approached my blindness, by focusing on what I could do rather than what I couldn’t.”

Inspired by a visit to Papatoetoe Intermediate School in South Auckland last year, Operation Truffle came about by all the positive responses Ms Woods found in her inbox when she returned home.

Papatoetoe Intermediate’s principal Brian Hinchco said “I am very pleased to hear that part of the inspiration for Operation Truffle came from Julie’s work with Alison Kroon and her class here.” He continued, “We’re very happy to be associated with her project.”
Lily from Oamaru Intermediate School said “your secret message was 'Why Not'. I thought that when you came to our school you were such an incredibly inspiring person to listen to. The fact that you made the most out of your life even though you are blind is really cool. You took so many opportunities, even though some of them may have been difficult to do being blind. I'm not a very brave person and like to stay inside my comfort zone, but I'm going to Stewart Island for camp, and there will be a lot of opportunities on that camp, and your speech at our school made me want to be able to take those chances and have fun doing them. So, thank you, Julie, for coming to my school and inspiring me, and a whole lot of other students, to take chances and opportunities when they come along.”
Julie’s visit to Avalon Intermediate School is made possible through another speaking engagement in the city at the weekend as well as RJ’s Licorice and Pams private brand label.

ENDS

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