Meet the Authors
Anne Manchester
Anne Manchester is a journalist and former editor of the national nursing journal Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand. In 2013, she co-edited, with Mary McCallum and Maggie Rainey-Smith, Eastbourne: An Anthology. She has since published two books for children and a memoir, Memory Stick, in 2020. Her biography of the New Zealand hymn writer Shirley Murray, called Peace is Her Song, The life and legacy Shirley Erena Murray, was published in September 2024. Anne is an actor and director for her local community theatre troupe, and, in 2023, directed and narrated the At the Bay photographic tribute and film. This marked the centenary of the death of Katherine Mansfield.
The stories Anne has written include Peter Matheson, Whare Kai, Have a Heart, Shirley Erena Murray, and Little Things Making Some Big Changes for Families.
Jill Kayser
Jill Kayser's first career was in public relations working for the largest consultancy in South Africa. After immigrating to New Zealand in 1988, Jill completed a degree in psychology and then joined the leadership team at St Heliers Presbyterian Church to develop a community centre and church that served a community of all ages, cultures and faiths. Jill then went on to establish Kids Friendly, a PCANZ national ministry. For 14 years she resourced and equipped churches nationally and internationally to effectively serve communities of children and families every day of the week and to offer 'kids friendly' worship.
