33 minute read
Paul Muir & Bruce Cotterill’s big ride
The "Blokes" do the business!
By Aidan Bennett
Raising over $200,000 for Farmstrong and Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry
Having recently driven the length of the country in a motor vehicle, I am in awe of those who cycle the whole length on a normal pedal bike – without the assistance I get on my own recreational ebike! So I am indeed in awe of Takapuna locals Paul Muir and Bruce Cotterill who cycled the length of New Zealand – from North Cape to Bluff (2600km) – during March, in the process raising over $200k for charity.
These guys (the “Two Blokes” as they labelled themselves) are no youngsters. I’m guessing both around the 60 mark, but they knocked the country off in 22 days, raising the money for Farmstrong – the charity that supports farmers' mental health – and the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry. I caught up with Paul Muir in early April to congratulate him for the effort and to find out all about the experience.
AIDAN BENNETT: Paul, I firstly just want to say what a fabulous achievement – both you and Bruce. After driving pretty much the length of the country doing a ‘roadie’ in March myself, I really understand the achievement. You must be thrilled?
PAUL MUIR: Thrilled? It’s one of many things I feel about our achievement. It’s really only started to sink in recently to be honest. I’m quietly blown away with the fact we actually did it. I used the word surreal a lot initially because I couldn’t get my head around what we’d done. But now, well, I’m stoked because it was a real achievement personally. I got to have an epic adventure with a mate and it was a great result financially for the charities.
AB: What made you and Bruce decide to do it?
PM: The ride itself has been on Bruce’s bucket list for a decade or more and he finally managed to convince me it was something I really wanted to do as well. I wasn’t actually aware I wanted to do it until he told me I wanted to do it, so I guess it’s an example of the power of persuasion. I’m forever grateful that he did though. Once we decided to get serious about it the next part kicked in where we wanted to raise some serious money for charity. We’d had some experiences prior to the ride starting, good mates with prostate issues and a personal family situation around mental health, which clarified the charities we wanted to raise money for.
AB: You’ve made over $200k for two charities, which is fantastic. Do they get half each?
PM: Yes, they do, and we’re looking forward immensely to handing the cheques over to two worthy charities that need funds and use what funds they do receive to maximum effect.
AB: What were the challenges for you personally during the 22 days?
PM: There is a really long answer to that question that would fill pages but the shorter answer is the mental challenge of getting up and riding again especially after a bad day the day before. I had a couple of times on the road where I really wondered, seriously wondered, how I was going to ride the next day. While we didn’t encounter any rain on the entire trip (hard to believe in New Zealand) we did have some horrible headwind days and they really tested us. We also had a few route deviations that meant longer days, more kilometres and unexpected busy roads. Tiredness and soreness weren’t ever really a factor, but the mind… that’s a different gig altogether!
AB: What was the route you took?
PM: We started from Cape Reinga, came down the West Coast through the Hokianga and the Waipoua Forest, Dargaville and back to Takapuna. Then out of Auckland via Great South Road and into the Waikato. Glen Murray, Otorahanga and Te Kuiti, then climbed up to the Central Plateau via Taumarunui to Ohakune. Down into Whanganui, Bulls and then across to Palmerston North, Pahiatua and into Greytown. Over the Rimutaka Hill into Wellington.
Over on the ferry to Picton, then Kaikoura and Rangiora, then we started inland and rode alongside the Southern Alps through Rakaia, Geraldine, Burke’s Pass, Tekapo, Omarama, the Lindis Pass to Wanaka and the Crown Range into Queenstown, Lumsden, Invercargill then the signpost at Bluff.
Gee, reading back through that (and I’ve missed many places out), I may have to go back and give you a new answer to your first question!
AB: What were the highlights of the adventure?
PM: Well, we live in a beautiful country and I’ve seen just about all of it over the years driving at 100kms per hour so it was awesome to actually see it properly at a far slower pace.
That said, the real highlight was the people we met: sponsors, fellow riders, hosts, motel owners, hospitality crew, truckies, etc. They were amazing and their stories were our stories and they were the making of the trip for me.
AB: In terms of support, did you have a crew behind you during the trip down the country?
PM: We had an awesome support network behind us. But there are a few that need to be recognised. A mate of ours, Nino Cassin, took time off to drive the van and support us during the first week as we were finding our feet and our riding legs, so it was a tough start. But the bonus was he got to see a part of the country he’d never been to which was fantastic. The support of Bruce’s wife Rose (the Road Captain) who was supposed to be with us for a few days but because of the Omicron outbreak in Auckland stayed for two and a half weeks,
was off the chart. My wife Annette who was also supposed to be with us a few days but wound up being there for the bulk of the trip. She became driver, accommodation organiser, videographer, sponsors advocate as well as comments and content guru. Really stoked that she got to share the journey with me.
For those who followed us on the (Bike for Blokes) website, you may have seen the daily videos that were posted. We need to thank another mate, Chris Booth, who edited, at all hours of the night, all those files into a presentable format to post each day. It was a mighty effort.
AB: Any particular sponsors or special people who helped you achieve the goals?
PM: Aidan, that list is a long one. But, we need to thank again Rick Armstrong from Armstrong Motor Group and his people at Armstrong’s Botany. Rick, as well as being our main sponsor, also provided us with a support van for the duration of our journey. We found out later, that being a car dealership, they had sold the van to someone prior to loaning us the vehicle. The purchaser kindly held off taking possession until we got back… after adding about 5,000 kilometres to the clock.
Additionally, we had 19 gold sponsors who came on board and contributed significantly to getting the charity figure rolling. To each and every one of them we’re eternally grateful and to two in particular, Glenn at Pak’n Save Lincoln Road and John at Heco Group, who went far and beyond just being financial sponsors. Pretty humbling to know all these people.
Finally, to everyone who donated through the Give-a-little page from $10 to a whole lot more than that, you’re all amazing and you have no idea how much seeing that donation amount increase each day helped motivate Bruce and I to keep riding.
AB: At the end of the big adventure what were you looking forward to most?
PM: Simple really. Seeing the sign post at Bluff. That meant we’d done it…!
AB: Are you going to do it again next year, or what is the next challenge for Paul and Bruce?
PM: Too soon Aidan, too soon. But stand by and we’ll come back to you on that. Interestingly, we’ve actually had people express interest in joining us in whatever we might do next. We’re going to keep the ‘Bike for Blokes’ charitable trust going so there will be something happening in that space I’m sure.
You can still add to Paul and Bruce’s efforts by visiting their website… https://bikeforblokes.co.nz/
Speedy Signs Takapuna - helping grow your business faster
Speedy Signs Takapuna has come a long way from 18 years ago in a small shop on Lake Road, Takapuna. Recently, they moved to their new location at 127 Sunnybrae Road, Glenfield.
Jeff Sawell, Managing Director, is really excited about the new larger location which increases their capacity to output a full range of signage needs for their customers. "Since moving into our new location on Sunnybrae Road, we have noted the increased interest in signwriting of vehicles, both full and partial wraps," comments Jeff. Speedy Signs Takapuna also continues to see new startup businesses, requiring a full range of signage needs as their businesses grow. "This is an ideal customer for us. We can really help them grow their business faster through effective signage to promote their business."
New location for Speedy Signs at 127 Sunnybrae Road, Glenfield.
"Our point of difference for nationwide brands is to make and install signage all over New Zealand via the Speedy Signs franchise network, from Whangarei down to Invercargill, 26 locations and growing," he adds.
One point of contact for a consistent brand throughout the country is a compelling reason to use Speedy Signs Takapuna.
Fleet Vehicles can be handled easily with the extra warehouse space available. For your next signage project, call into our showroom or contact us: Phone 09 442 4425 takapuna@speedysigns.co.nz www.speedysigns.co.nz/takapuna Speedy Signs Takapuna is a founder member of the Business Builders North Shore established in 2011.
Grow your Business through Networking
What Business Builders can do for you:
• Grow your business through word of mouth referrals • Build a network of services and specialists that you can rely on • Gain knowledge, advice and insights from your peers • Be informed and inspired by our regular guest speakers • Meet new people and expand your network
Rochelle and Brian.
Venue hire, facilities and full catering service for private and business events.
39 The Strand,Takapuna Beach, Auckland Phone: 09 489-6941 info@takapunaboating.org.nz takapunaboating.org.nz
By Simon Watts, North Shore MP
A Vision for Auckland
Simon Watts.
A winning strategy for Auckland recognises that much can be achieved through purely local initiatives even if the government needs to take the lead for some aspects.
For example, Auckland’s transport woes are due largely to poor local decision making. Money is squandered on safety projects like constructing roundabouts and installing traffic lights instead of focussing on the core business of transporting people and goods efficiently. The safety record in Auckland is actually very good while traffic congestion is very bad – it’s obvious where the money should be spent.
There’s also a budget problem. Council selling off assets to fund services is like selling off the family silver to pay for groceries – it’s unsustainable. When public land or buildings are sold, that money should be reinvested in infrastructure, so the value isn’t lost. If you can’t get people to and from work efficiently the nice stuff has to be cut; you can’t afford to do both so concentrate on what’s important!
Auckland also needs smart thinking for its transport vision to provide a comprehensive and responsive transport solution. This should encourage partnerships that bring a range of transport options into play, with Uber, shared vehicle providers and eBike/ eScooter mobility included in a unified system. By integrating all available options we allow people to make their own journey decisions rather than being forced onto a bus that doesn’t go where they want to go, when they want to go.
The next major issue is housing and the lack of certainty for the next generation. More intensive residential development around public transport nodes is smart, but the implementation is hampered by boxed-in thinking. Demolishing existing homes to build more homes in established neighbourhoods is counterproductive. Unfortunately, Auckland Council can’t afford the infrastructure to develop land on the urban boundary, so the Council heaps stress on already built-up areas. To help, government could invest in the infrastructure, similar to the National Party’s policy of providing councils with around $50,000 for every housing consent issued.
Finally, we need a plan to tackle inflation and the cost of living, which is out of control. This needs solutions from a government that’s unfortunately been distracted by Covid and let the economy slide. Labour’s actions to date have been short-term political moves that have left people struggling to cope.
At a local level, Auckland can move towards a higher wage economy that’s more able to withstand inflationary pressures by being a hub for higher paid jobs in technology and engineering. Creating an attractive environment for these types of businesses should be at the forefront of the city’s long-term strategy.
Make Auckland a great place to work and a wonderful place to live with clean beaches and a healthy Hauraki Gulf and we’ve got the city we know this is supposed to be.
Take care, Simon Watts. Email: simon.watts@parliament.govt.nz Call my office on 09 486 0005,
facebook: @simonwattsmp instagram: @simonwattsmp
By Sonia Thursby, CEO, Yes Disability Yes and I.Lead creating opportunties for people with disabilities
Sonia Thursby.
YES and the I.Lead team are continuing to work hard to create opportunities for young people with disabilities to gain their independence. I.Drive is still in full force with the monthly driving programme dates confirmed for the next few Learners Licence workshops (May 4th – 5th , June 1st – 2nd , July 6th – 7th).
The previous workshops have been for Learners Licence. We are excited to launch our first Restricted Licence workshop in May (dates TBC). The workshop will go through the requirements needed to pass the restricted test and some of the tasks drivers will need to do during their test. If you or someone you know is interested in attending the workshops please contact the programme coordinator Abdulla – abdulla@yesdisability.org.nz
YES is happy to say that our practice journey for our Duke of Edinburgh participants was a great success at Auckland Museum. The journey started from Devonport as the participants took a ferry to central Auckland and hopped on a train to the museum. The participants enjoyed the travel as going on a ferry and train was the first time for some of the participants. There were also some going to Auckland Museum for the first time. The tour was about going through some of New Zealand's history and enjoy a lunch to end the day. The participants learned new information about New Zealand history and experienced new travels. We look ahead to doing the qualifying journey next month; this will be similar to the practice journey but a bit more advanced.
At the end of March YES held a selfdefence workshop for women with disabilities at Shore Junction. The focus of the workshop is to provide women with tools to protect themselves from potential attackers. Female self-defence course at Shore Junction. The workshop was led by instructors who specialise in self defence. Some of the tools they taught are to use your voice as a form of protection, avoid going out late at night on your own, and use your hand to create space between you and the person approaching. The workshop ended with a lunch out with the group to discuss the session and gain some feedback. There will also be a follow up dinner in the coming weeks ahead.
Stay updated with our programmes and events through our social media and websites: Website: https://yesdisability.org.nz/ https://www.ilead.org.nz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ileadconferencenz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i.leadnz/
Supporting families with children and young adults with physical disabilities
We hope that you have enjoyed the recent long weekends. Autumn appears to be with us and I find myself reaching for extra layers. We were excited to be able to offer an online art programme during the school holidays; it was a great way to be able to offer activities to physically disabled children in the safety of their own homes.
The recent mum/grandma/ caregiver retreat was such a success so we have decided to offer some fun and action for our dads/grandads/caregivers. On Sunday 29th May, we are offering a fishing trip that will leave from Ti Point in Rodney. Spaces are filling fast but if you know of someone who might like to attend, please contact Felicity on 09 485 3461.
Other planned activities for later this year are more relaxation with clay, mindfulness and equipment demonstration days. Information about all our activities can be found on our website www.wilsonhometrust.org.nz.
We love seeing our families wearing their gorgeous knitted beanies. If there are any keen knitters, we would welcome more knitted beanies for our families. Please drop them off at the Trust Cottage at 1 St Leonard’s Road, Hauraki or call 09 488 0126.
It’s great to see that new wedding bookings are coming through, and a reminder that the gorgeous St Leonard’s chapel is available to hire for events, weddings, christenings and small concerts. Our beautiful heritage gardens are also available for hire too. If you would like to come and have a look or find out more, please contact Justine on 022 1211 477 or email weddings@wilsonhometrust.org.nz.
If you would like to know more about the Wilson Home Trust and the work we do, please check out our website www.wilsonhometrust.org.nz or Facebook page www.facebook.com/wilsonhometrust1/
By Teresa Burns, Doctor of Audiology. Director and owner of Teresa Burns Hearing Ltd.
5 Most Common Causes of Tinnitus
Teresa Burns.
If you don’t have tinnitus, you probably know someone who does. One in 10 New Zealanders report hearing tinnitus, the perception of sound when no external source is present. It impacts each person differently and is a challenging symptom to treat.
Part of the difficulty in treating and managing tinnitus is determining the cause, as there is rarely an exact source. However, there are a few factors that seem to be linked to the perception of tinnitus.
1. Hearing loss: About 90% of people who have tinnitus also have hearing loss. The most effective treatment for this is hearing aids. Hearing aids help make sounds easier to hear and can also help lessen tinnitus. Bonus – they can also reduce hearing exhaustion, the effort that comes from straining to hear. 2. Ear blockages: Sometimes tinnitus can be caused by wax in the ear canal or a blockage in the middle ear. Visit your audiologist to have this checked as part of an evaluation. 3. Noise exposure: Sometimes tinnitus goes away after a few minutes or hours after a loud noise exposure. Other times it can persist for weeks, years, or even indefinitely, especially if you have a noise-induced hearing loss. 4. Medications: Certain medications have been linked to tinnitus. Ask your doctor if you notice any changes to tinnitus with medication use. 5. Injury to the head or neck: Head and neck injuries can sometimes damage the inner ear and/or the auditory nervous system. Tinnitus resulting from these injuries tends to occur most commonly on one side. Considering all the varying causes of tinnitus, it's important to see a qualified audiologist to determine the next steps in your treatment journey. Get in touch with us to book a hearing evaluation and/or tinnitus consultation today!
Call us now to book in on 09 475 9849 or email admin@teresaburnshearing.co.nz www.teresaburnshearing.co.nz
By Dr Halima Maulidi, Specialist Paediatrician and owner of KIDZDOCTOR, a new paediatric telehealth service. Getting your child assessed for ADHD
Dr Halima Maulidi
What parents need to know.....
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the developmental and behavioural disorders. Each child with ADHD will present differently with their symptoms and challenges occurring along a continuum. A diagnosis of ADHD is made when established diagnostic criteria are met. Parents may become concerned when they notice that their child has a short attention span, is Photo credit: reckless, or is very active. Jonas Mohamadi.
A good starting point is to share your concerns with others who know your child well. This could be family members, class teachers, or early childhood educators. These people spend a lot of time with your child in different environments and can provide useful input. It is possible that their observations will differ from yours which can help inform the diagnosis. A diagnosis of ADHD requires that the child’s symptoms are present and cause impairment in more than one setting.
Not every child who is inattentive, impulsive and overactive has ADHD.
A medical evaluation starts with a discussion with your GP who can make a referral to an appropriate specialist. The best-practice medical approach to making a developmental-behavioural diagnosis involves several appointments to ensure that the correct diagnosis is made.
Symptoms of ADHD occur along a continuum. Often, a child will have associated deficits and co-morbidities. While some medical conditions such as sleep disorders, learning differences, mood disorders and anxiety can co-exist with ADHD, they can also produce similar behaviours on their own and be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Additionally other issues such as conduct disorders or oppositional defiance may co-exist.
It is important therefore to have a comprehensive assessment carried out by a paediatrician, psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist with experience in child development and behaviour. A comprehensive assessment will determine if your child meets the clinical criteria for ADHD, explore alternative explanations for the behaviour and establish whether your child has ADHD together with another diagnosis. .
Annie Whittle and George Henare in Driving Miss Daisy (2013).
Sir Roger Hall in his study. Lisa Chappell, Louise Wallace & Darien Takle in The Pink Hammer in 2016.
Whine and Cheese
Tadpole Theatre Productions partners with The PumpHouse Theatre at the beginning of June to celebrate its tenth anniversary with a special workshop reading of a new work, ‘Whine and Cheese’, by Tadpole Theatre’s patron Sir Roger Hall.
In his inimitable style, Sir Roger hones in on national foibles (and some of his own), in a retrospective that is part memoir/part theatre talk, and which incorporates scenes and songs from his previous plays.
Sir Roger will open anniversary celebrations with an introduction, before handing over to Simon Prast to read the part of Roger. Joining Simon are three other theatre luminaries, Darien Takle, Paul Barrett and Andy Grainger. The reading is directed by Paul Gittins, completing a line-up that pays homage not only to Sir Roger in its skill and experience but also to the achievements of Tadpole Theatre over the past decade.
‘Whine and Cheese’ is a retrospective of Roger’s lifetime in the theatre world, that started with television writing in the early days of television in New Zealand in the 1960s, shortly after he emigrated to New Zealand from England, and has included around 70 sitcom episodes for television, from ‘Gliding On’ to’ Spin Doctors’. His career also includes pantomime (his first theatrical love) and writing for film, as well as stage plays and musicals – almost one a year for many years, many acting as a guarantee to theatres across the country (and in the UK) of full houses and long seasons, such was their appeal. ‘Middle Age Spread’ ran in London's West End for 15 months.
Beyond writing for theatre, Sir Roger was responsible for the formation of New Zealand Theatre Week, and has been a Governor of the Arts Foundation, a Burns Fellow, a Katherine Mansfield Fellow and a member of numerous arts boards. He has won awards in every theatre field, including an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Victoria University, and a 2015 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement, and was knighted in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to theatre. He has also written over 20 books for children, as well as his 1998 autobiography, ‘Bums On Seats’.
Tadpole Theatre was formed in 2012, aiming to bring quality professional productions to the North Shore. Its founding board was John Antony, Lindsay Mouat, Robert Owens and Louise Wallace. The current board is Louise Wallace, Angela Antony, Janice Finn, Sam Irvine, Diana Petrie, Scott Wallace and Simon Woodard.
Tadpole’s first production, ‘The Lion In Winter’, was staged at The PumpHouse Theatre from 31st May to 9th June, 2012. That production was reviewed as “entertaining and surprisingly funny” and set the standard for others to come.
Since that first production, Tadpole has become a regular fixture at The PumpHouse, staging two productions a year – except during pandemic lockdowns. They have generally opted for plays with broad appeal, and have featured several of Sir Roger’s over the last ten years – ‘Social Climbers’, ‘The Book Club’ and ‘Middle Age Spread’ – alongside productions of ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, ‘Shirley Valentine’ and “Stones in his Pockets’. Ever aware of the financial fragility of live theatre, Tadpole has focused on highly successful plays with small casts (sometimes one-handers; often two), and has successfully navigated the vagaries of the last couple of years.
Whine and Cheese is on at The PumpHouse Theatre on Wednesday 1 June, with readings at 2pm and 7pm. All tickets are $20, and booking can be made online at www.pumphouse.co.nz or by phone 489 8360. Tadpole’s next full production is the delayed world premiere of ‘The Campervan’ by Kathryn Burnett, in September.
Core Aviation's Cessna Caravan is available for charter from North Shore Airport in Dairy Flat.
One of Core Aviation's VIP AS355 helicopters for charter and shares for sale.
Flying High with Core Aviation
Core Aviation is a North Shore based aviation company offering a number of services in the aviation industry. From aircraft charter and sales, to helicopter pilot training and aircraft maintenance, the Core Aviation group is a one stop shop for everything you’ll need to get up in the air and home safely.
Aircraft Charter and Management Services
Core Aviation owns and operates both fixed wing and helicopter charters. Their fixed wing offering is a Cessna Caravan EX. The Caravan is a large 9 seat turboprop plane capable of long range flight across New Zealand (think North Shore to Wanaka non-stop) in comfort and style. The Caravan is a versatile tool for Kiwi businesses and families wanting to get around New Zealand safely and efficiently.
Orbit Helicopters is in the stable of Core Aviation’s businesses and operates a number AS355 ‘twin squirrel’ VIP helicopters out of North Shore. The AS355s are a safe and stylish machine with a five passenger configuration. There are also shares in these and other machines available for purchase through the group’s syndication business, Helico.
Helicopter Pilot Training
If you think you might want to take to the skies yourself, North Shore Heli Training offers private and commercial pilot training courses. Their team of skilled and experienced training pilots teach students everything from the basics right through to the most advanced flying techniques, ensuring all students are equipped with the tools and awareness to become the safest and best pilots around.
Aircraft Maintenance
Airlift Engineering oversees the company’s fleet of aircraft while also looking after a number of North Shore Aero Club member’s aircraft and those further afield. From small defects and checks to major overhauls and detailed avionics, Airlift Engineering can look after it.
For more information on any of these services, contact Lachlan Jones on 021440819 or email hello@coreaviation.co
Harbour Hospice Commercial Kitchen in full swing
Just like the kitchen is the heart of the home, it’s also the heart of hospice. It’s where bread is baked, legs of lamb are roasted, fresh fish is fried and every description of cake whipped up – all with care and attention to detail by kitchen staff who join with volunteers to provide bespoke meals every day for patients and their whānau/families.
With Harbour Hospice’s North Shore facility currently under redevelopment the team has operated out of a temporary kitchen, serving meals created by the cooks at Hospice’s Hibiscus Coast facility.
But construction is now in full swing for North Shore’s new full commercial-grade kitchen, and excitement is mounting.
“The new kitchen will allow staff and volunteers to work seamlessly together,” Harbour Hospice Household Manager, Cathie Jack, explains. “There will be dedicated areas for food preparation, cleaning and cooking as well as a walk-in pantry and walk-in fridge, and it will give the cooks every resource they need to create and do what they do best.”
Meals are approached quite differently at Hospice, Cathie explains. “Enjoying a meal can be more about reliving a special memory than about finishing what’s on your plate, so it's all about the senses - the smells, the tastes, the visual impact. An aroma might take a patient back to happy afternoons spent in their grandmother’s kitchen. The look of a meal, to the place where they met their husband or wife. Sometimes it’s about simply holding the food to their lips so they can relish that taste again. Imagine a good old-fashioned apple pie with custard, or the sweetness of pavlova with cream.”
Harbour Hospice cooks make patients whatever they feel like eating and over the years the requests have varied from tripe to whitebait fritters to oxtail stew to a Sunday roast. One patient recently asked for a simple vegetable soup, and when Cathie produced it with a warmed bread roll to dip in, he was “absolutely over the moon”.
“That put a real smile on his face, and that made me feel warm in my heart.
“It may seem a small thing to do, to cook someone a favourite meal. But for our patients it’s more than a meal, and that’s why we love doing this. It’s a very unique experience.”
Thanks to an incredibly generous local community, Harbour Hospice has raised $8.9 million of their $10 million fundraising target to date.
Harbour Hospice Household Manager Cathie Jack with a morning tea offering from the temporary kitchen at Shea Tce.
To find out how you can help to support the redevelopment of Harbour Hospice’s North Shore facility, including the new kitchen, please email Capital Campaign Manager, Kate Thompson: Kate.Thompson@harbourhospice.org.nz. For more information on the project, visit harbourhospice.org.nz/shore-project/.
By Ursula Elisara, co-founder and CEO of Immerse Charitable Trust. Immerse: Foster Care
Ursula Elisara.
This edition of Channel celebrates outstanding young people, aged 13 to 25, who are achieving excellence in the Arts, Innovation, Music, Education, Sport and Service to the Community (AIMES). This is wonderful to see, but it also highlights one of the most heart-breaking aspects of my work. Seeing similar potential in the young people in our foster care system going unrealised for reasons beyond their control.
The philosopher Aristotle incorporated this concept into his theory of potentiality and actuality. In short, potential can theoretically be made actual by taking the right action. Children who come from hard places, who spend most of their time and energy just trying to survive, are robbed of the opportunity to ‘take the right action’ and unlock their potential.
You might be interested to know that there are several famous New Zealanders who grew up in foster care. Ex All Black, Liam Messam and politician the Hon. Ron Mark can be found amongst them. The right environment allowed them to take the right actions, ultimately unlocking their potential. I was surprised in my research to discover that Steve Jobs started his life in the foster care system in the United States, along with many other famous people whose names you will recognise.
A safe, stable, loving, and consistent environment is one of the most important things we can offer children at risk if we are going to see them reach their full potential. Whether this is inside their own extended whānau, or in a non-kin home, these elements remain critical to their long-term success in life. There is plenty of peer reviewed research to confirm that providing the right environment to children at risk can mean the difference between life and death at the far end of the spectrum.
Caring for children who have experienced early life trauma and loss can been challenging at times. There is no sugar coating that. However, based on my 18 years’ experience of this in our own home, I can say that the rewards far outweigh the costs. Every child has the potential to do well at something, we just need more people willing to provide the right environments for this to happen.
Can you nurture her, so she can nurture her own? If you are interested in applying, email info@immerse.org.nz Or visit www.immerse.org.nz
By Sonia Thursby, CEO, Shore Junction
Shore Junction
your second home
Sonia Thursby.
It has been a year since the official opening of Shore Junction and we have had the best time engaging with amazing young people, wonderful community stakeholders, and other wonderful youth organisations around Tāmaki Makaurau.
There is a Māori whakatauki (proverb) which says “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata he tāngata he tāngata!”. This translates to, “What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people”.
Over the past year, this has become more than just a beautiful saying at Shore Junction, it has become an anchor which underpins the way we work with the young people and the local community. At Shore Junction we welcome all young people from diverse cultures and ethnicities, from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, and from the full spectrum of life.
We’ve spent the past year building relationships with local young people through youth-led events, dance classes, music workshops, practice for a robotics competition, 3D design and printing, tech classes, study and tutoring support, computer refurbishment, arcade game designs and building, and lots of other exciting projects.
A highlight of the past year has been the design and implementation of our digital youth space on Discord which engaged 300 youth during the 100-day lockdown. This platform was the first of its kind in the world and led to in-depth conversations, fun games, exciting connection opportunities and most of all a way to engage with young people during a challenging time for their mental health. This platform is still operational even now and is monitored by one of our youth workers to provide ongoing support and help whenever the young people need it.
It’s only been one year since Shore Junction has officially been open and though we’ve accomplished many exciting and amazing things through this time, the success of Shore Junction can be encapsulated by this statement from one of the youth members here at the centre: “I’m so lucky that I get to come to Shore Junction, because for the first time that I can remember, I have a place in the world where I feel safe, comfortable and important, plus I get to have fun too. Shore Junction is kinda like my second home”.
Even a year after the centre being open, the Māori proverb still resonates with me every day. What IS the most important thing in the world? It is people, it IS people, it will always be people.
News from Co Chairperson Phil Taylor
New Trustees Introduced
Phil Taylor
In March we welcomed four new trustees to Life Education Trust North Shore. We are so fortunate to have these passionate and talented individuals joining our board as we continue to support Harold the Giraffe's work on the Shore. We introduced two new trustees last month and now we introduce you to the other two, Julie Hazelhurst and Max Woodhead.
Julie has lived on the North Shore since arriving in New Zealand in 2000. Originally from South Africa, she is a mother of two older children, a qualified yoga teacher and Nutritional therapist, avid runner and exerciser, and a lover of great wine, food and travel.
Julie’s areas of expertise include a broad range of people, strategy and wellbeing services including a one-on-one executive coaching practice, leadership development and coaching programmes, strategic planning and operating model redesign, employee experience, disruptive workforces, embedding culture change and off-site residential and wellness programmes. Her key interest is in inspiring people to live their best lives and she has a keen focus on educating our youth to enable them to realise their full potential through learning key life skills and holistic wellbeing toolkits.
She is keen to give back to our community in any way that adds value. Julie said “I am super excited to be a part of this amazing team after seeing first-hand the positive impact Harold and the Life Education programme had on my children at critical stages in their early education and life development journey.”
Secondly, we welcome Max as a shadow board member. Max is a new addition to the North Shore, moving into the area with his family in December last year. He has two young children and he sees the Life Education vision and purpose as key enablers to helping his tamariki and their peers navigate through life.
Max has 13 years experience in marketing and consulting across a range of industries, including a three-year stint in Sydney. We're excited to have Max’s social media and marketing skills on the board.
You can follow us on social media and we will be providing news and updates through our Facebook and Instagram channels. We encourage you to follow our Life Education Trust - North Shore pages (@lifeeducation_northshore) to stay up to date with Harold and our Educators as they go about their work educating and inspiring our North Shore tamariki to make positive life choices.
