Interview with Karl Nolte & Rosanne Donaldson -SIF members new & old

When Karl Nolte and his late wife, Elaine, and their young son arrived in Australia from Seattle, USA, in 1982, one can safely assume that becoming a member of the now 100+ year old, worldwide, women’s service organisation Soroptimists International, was the last thing on Karl’s mind.

Well, in June 2024, 42 years later, Karl was inducted into the Soroptimists International Fremantle chapter of the organisation by its President, Rosanne Donaldson. Not only that, but Karl thereby became the first Australian male to be inducted as a Soroptimists’ member. And one of very few male members anywhere!

Karl Nolte and Rosanne Donaldson with Michael Barker

Rosanne said SIF were very proud to welcome Karl as a member of the Freo chapter, especially as he was already an active member of I-Spy Quilts, and upheld the principles of Soroptimism to empower women.

As you will gather, Karl is an active quilter and, with fellow I-Spy quilters, produces many quilts that SIF distribute to needy folk around the State of WA.

Here’s a nice shot of Karl and I-Spy quilters at work.

If you’d like to know more about Soroptimists in Western Australia, look here.

Our Editor, Michael Barker, was very pleased to catch up with Karl Nolte and Rosanne Donaldson recently to make this podcast where we discuss the Soroptimists’ history and objectives, I-Spy quilting and Karl’s introduction to it, and Karl’s induction as a member of Soroptimists International Fremantle. It is a lovely story.

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* All photographs by Ali Biddiscombe

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