Her bright pink and sparkly cast plaster pair, created as part of Rural Women New Zealand's Let's Get Plastered for Breast Cancer campaign, previously resided on her sideboard, where they proved quite a talking point.
For Mrs Kingan and 11 fellow members of the Under the Kakanuis group, whipping off their tops and plastering their breasts late last year was an enjoyable experience which raised money for a great cause - breast cancer research.
"It was probably quite liberating, for want of a better word," Mrs Kingan said yesterday.
The women later decorated the casts to their own personal tastes, some choosing Canterbury colours and others preferring flowers.
Mrs Kingan recommended the experience, saying it was not embarrassing or invasive.
She had even bought some of the plastering kits and given them away as gifts.
RWNZ has been recognised for the success of the campaign, receiving a merit award at the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand's recent excellence awards.
"This group of innovative, self-starters saw a need in the community and wanted to do something practical and memorable about it - and they certainly did," FINZ communications manager Susan Fogarty said.
"Respondents to their unique appeal became practically involved in the cause, in an intimate way that not only raised money but profiled the cause widely and extraordinarily." RWNZ members will present a cheque for $16,000 to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation during their national conference on Sunday.
The money will go towards research being undertaken by Associate Prof Susan Dovey, from the University of Otago, comparing breast cancer outcomes for rural women with those living in urban areas.
