6 minute read
THE POWER IN THE SOUTH
In this issue, we meet the three Diabetes NZ Youth Coordinators of the mid-lower South Island: Victoria Wynn Thomas, Paula Fryer, and Melissa Kelly.
VICTORIA WYNN THOMAS – WAITAHA/CANTERBURY
Victoria’s turf runs from the West Coast to Kaikōura, then down to Timaru – a not insignificant amount of geography for one person to cover. As with both Paula and Melissa, Victoria is both Youth and Type 1 Coordinator for her region. (The West Coast has its own volunteer Youth Coordinator, and families from the Coast can choose to attend the Canterbury Youth Family Camp or the Nelson/Top of the South Family Camp.) Before Diabetes NZ: With a Master’s degree in Journalism and Communication, Victoria worked in local broadcasting and was a freelance writer. Victoria says that, when she saw the role for Youth Coordinator advertised, she knew that, as the mother of a teen living with type 1, she had the lived experience, empathy, and understanding that would help her connect with and serve her community.
An average week: A Youth Coordinator’s role is always varied, so her working week can involve everything from paperwork to connecting with families. Victoria enjoys building the Diabetes NZ Canterbury Youth community by supporting and bringing people together. Her mahi enables tamariki and whānau to connect with others.
Highlights of 2024: These include organising and running the Diabetes NZ Canterbury Live Brave Mana Ora Family Camp. This highlight of the summer brings families together for a weekend of fun. Victoria says it is important that events such as this are provided to engage and support whānau as a whole and camp does this, offering the chance for everyone to bond over shared experiences and support one another. She regularly receives feedback saying the camps are literally life-changing for tamariki, as they create a sense of belonging through the friendships that are forged.
As well as making the annual camp happen, Victoria is the brains behind last year’s outings to local Christchurch fun places, such as Imagination Station, Uprising Bouldering, Inflatable World, Galaxy Arcade, Adrenalin Forest, Dice and Slice, and Jellie Park Hydro-slide and Pool. Victoria is also responsible for running the region’s preschool, young adult, and parent support groups.
PAULA FRYER – ŌTĀKOU/OTAGO
Paula covers the wider Central Otago area, from Ōamaru down to Balclutha, and has her office in Dunedin.
Before Diabetes NZ: Paula spent 12 years working in local government in senior administration roles. In the times between having her family, she ran a children’s clothing import business. Paula is the parent of a child with type 1.
An average week: Paula has a busy week with lots of admin work. She fields emails, phone calls, and drop-ins from families and individuals, as well as from the region’s diabetes team. Having been through a similar experience to the families receiving a new diagnosis, Paula says she enjoys connecting with the parents and walking them through what to expect on their rollercoaster journey.
Highlights of 2024: Paula organises two camps a year – one in summer for the 8-to-12 year olds and the other in winter for the teens who go skiing or boarding. Putting the work in for camp is rewarding, as it’s great seeing how much enjoyment the kids and teens get out of the time away with people who are on the same bandwidth.
One of the events Paula made happen in 2024 was when Branch Dwellers hosted the kids and their families at Chingford Park, in Dunedin. The recreational tree climbing company set up harnesses on a huge 100-year-old tree, with safe access to tree top hammocks for anyone to climb up and hang out in for a while. While up the tree, one of the teens had a hypo. Conveniently, the owner of Branch Dwellers is also a type 1, so he swiftly organised for a juice box to be jimmied up to the teen, where they had a great time, swinging away while they recovered.
MELISSA KELLY – MURIHIKU/SOUTHLAND
Melissa takes care of the vast Southland region. Like both Victoria and Paula, Melissa is the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes.
Before Diabetes NZ: Mother of three, Melissa’s early career was as an on-farm sales rep and driver for VetSouth Winton, where she delivered animal products and drugs to farms. In the time between working in the farming industry and joining Diabetes NZ, Melissa took time out to have her three sons, Jethro, Emmett, and Wyatt.
An average week: Like Victoria and Paula, Melissa’s focus is supporting two diabetes communities (Type 1 and Youth), so there are always large amounts of emails to reply to and send – whether it’s planning events for the kids with type 1 or coming up with new ways to fundraise. Then there’s all the budgeting that goes with the role, making funds stretch as far as they possibly can, with the aim being that no child or teen misses out on opportunities offered by Diabetes NZ Southland.
Highlights of 2024: Melissa says the greatest joy of her role is seeing the smiles on faces during events she’s organised, both for youngster and parent, and especially when she hears the banter of everyone coming together, talking about diabetes and sharing their experiences.
Having a son with type 1 means Melissa and her husband have shared experiences within the community she works with. She credits her husband DJ with weighing in to help with events when need be.
In the short term, Melissa says she is always striving to build the wonderful Southland type 1 community and hopes to eventually raise a team of volunteers who will enable Diabetes NZ Southland to do bigger and better things, such as a regional camp, since she knows a lot of cool spots the kids would absolutely love.
WE’D LOVE YOUR HELP
If you have a few hours to spare each month, your region’s Coordinator would love to hear from you. Follow the link to our youth coordinators webpage, where you can see what’s coming up soon in your region: www.diabetes.org.nz/youth-teams
