Frankie is a long-time resident of Hamilton with an adult family.   She has been a sufferer of ME/CFS since 1992 when she caught a very virulent flu from a sick baby, but has improved to the point where she now has no real symptoms.
Frankie gained a degree in history and Maori, studying as a mature student.                                                                               Since then she has worked as a high school teacher and as a Community Development officer with Hamilton City Council. She is active in the Hamilton ME Support Group, which she founded in 1992. While she is now enjoying life after have lost so much time to ME/CFS, Frankie is keen to contribute to the quality of life of other sufferers.

Phil an accountant, joined the ANZMES committee in 2008 and is serving as Treasurer. He lives in  Hamilton with his wife Frankie the Vice President of ANZMES.

Rosamund has been on the ANZMES committee a number of years, serving as President from 1997 to 2001.  She is a GP in Auckland    and 80% of her practice is involved with diagnosis and management of patients with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, hyperventilation syndrome, and sleep problems. Many GPs throughout NZ refer their patients to Rosamund because of her expertise in this area.                         She has gained a high degree of knowledge about the particular needs for New Zealanders relating to CFS/ME, and was a member of the team which reported to the MOH on "The international guidelines for the care and treatment of people with ME/CFS."     Rosamund  who lives with her family in Auckland was awarded the MNZM in the 2008 New Years Honours awards for her services to the New Zealand community in the field of ME/CFS

Ken has been on the ANZMES committee since 1995 and serves as a medical advisor. A sufferer of ME/CFS since 1971, he tries to be involved in as much ME politics as possible, both through ANZMES and elsewhere, and researches news and articles from around the world to keep  up to date with  the field of ME/CFS.                   Ken, a GP who gave up his general practice in Nelson twelve years ago because of his illness also has a degree in biochemistry and is a Fellow of The Royal NZ College of GPs. He was a member of the team which in 2003 reviewed and reported to the Ministry of Health on "The international guidelines for the care and treatment of people with ME/CFS" for applicability of use in New Zealand.                 Ken lives In Nelson, where his wife also a GP, runs a general practice; and he writes the regular 'Medical News and Views' article in the Meeting Place magazine.

Libby formerly lived in the USA and moved to NZ in 2002 with her Kiwi husband, Ron Ngata, and has been a member of the ANZMES committee for some years.                                                          A gradual onset of ME began in 1994, reaching a crisis level in 2004 at which point she considered herself very fortunate to have found Dr Ros Vallings and ANZMES.                                                      Prior to moving to New Zealand, Libby worked for 20 years as a professional actress, mostly in America's regional theatres and also served as a volunteer technical writer and editor for a publishing house in Los Angeles.                                                           Libby lives with her husband in rural Waikato and very much enjoys gardening when she is able to.  Her aim is to do whatever she can to bring hope, help, and a sense of caring community to those who are living with this illness

Eleanor, who joined the committee in 2007 has many years experience working in the charitable environment.                       She was District Commissioner for St John (UK), a magistrate judge for 6 years in the UK, served on many types of church council and is currently joint editor of Meeting Place.                                  Eleanor completed her Masters degree in Law at Auckland University and decided to remain in New Zealand, where she now specialises in employment law in the corporate arena of health care.  She lives with her family in Auckland and following her time in The UK National Youth Theatre continues to enjoy the theatre and English Literature especially the William Shakespeare tragedies.

Suzanne who joined the ANZMES committee in 2007 ran the North Otago support group for many years and remains the contact person while the group is in recess. Suzanne lives in Waimate.

David O’Hara joined the ANZMES committee in May2009 and is a current member of the Christchurch ME support Group and served on their committee until recently when he and his family relocated to Rangiora. He was diagnosed with ME/CFS in January 2008, soon after his third stay in hospital and a year of ill health. As a result, he retired early from full time employment managing security companies in Wellington and Christchurch but continues to work as an electronic security advisor, in a consultancy role.                      A family man, David is married to Stephanie and between them they have 5 adult children and "almost" 9 grand children. He has an interest is Trams, holds a tram drivers license,  and hopes to find time for rail modelling and to get back to radio controlled yachting.

Gerda Smit

Gerda, who joined the ANZMES committee in 2008 was diagnosed with ME/CFS in 2004. She is a member  and the representative of the Wellington Support Group.                                                 Gerda lives with her family in Wellington after moving from South Africa eight years ago.                                                             She works as an art teacher ME permitting.

Dan, who is an honorary life member of ANZMES, has the distinction of being the longest serving committee member, joining the committee in 1983! His wealth of knowledge on the history of ANZMES is invaluable, as is his experience in the development of ME/CFS in New Zealand.                                                         Dan who has been an ME sufferer since 1981 lives in Auckland and has a hope that one day research into ME will be carried out in New Zealand.

Elizabeth, who joined the committee in 2010 was for many years involved in assisting young people who had very few work skills and minimal school qualifications to gain work experience and find employment: until recently she was the manager/coordinator of the Adult Literacy Programme in Hawkes Bay.

Born in Nelson, Elizabeth lives with her husband Alan in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand; they have two daughters one of whom has ME/CFS, which prompted Elizabeth to start the Hawkes Bay Support Group.

Most of her spare time is spent with her extended family and getting involved in trying to be an artist.

Colin and Eleanor Robinson, E Mail editor@anzmes.org.nz