Age Concern New Zealand's national president combines a concern for careful research with empathy for older people.
Evelyn brings a lifetime of community service to the role. Executive positions in the Society for Research on Women and Statistics New Zealand have given her an overview of the position of women and older people in our society and the changes that are happening.
"My vision for older people is the three 'V's - Older People are visible, valued and vital".
Evelyn is particularly keen on strengthening Age Concern Councils across the country so that the benefits of Age Concern involvement can be spread to all older people.
She brings an intergenerational view to Age Concern. In her teaching career she worked with every age group, from early childhood education to tertiary, from rural to urban settings and has served in voluntary roles supporting every age group throughout her career. Her interest in good governance for the not-for-profit sector led her to participate in an Institute of Directors Development programme last year.
Evelyn began her involvement with Age Concern as a employee of Hamilton City Council when given the task of setting up Hamilton's Celebrating Age Centre and working with organisations using it. Impressed with Age Concern Hamilton, she became involved working with them, leading to five years as Age Concern Hamilton President.
"The balance in my life is family," Evelyn Weir says, "a celebration of forty years of marriage, to a husband who having turned 65 remains fully employed with the organisation he joined 40 years ago; a daughter who has been appointed Consultant at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney, and a son and daughter-in-law in business in Christchurch."
Other interests include walking, gardening, cuisine and fashion and as a keen convert to golf.