Berger estate funds ambulance

The generosity of the late Steven Berger has delivered an easier ride for patients needing transport from the Rodney area to hospital. Its modern equipment will also make it easier for St John staff to manage and care for people.

Berger, who died nearly three years ago aged 70, left substantial donations in his estate to three emergency and medical care organisations – the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Harbour Hospice Warkworth Wellsford and Hato Hone St John. On February 9, his generosity was recognised when a new ambulance, worth $250,000, was blessed at the Warkworth Ambulance Station.

Hato Hone St John Northern Regional Trust Board patron Richard Blundell said NZ had a world class ambulance service and St John was the largest first aid trainer in NZ.

He said of the 60 or so ambulance blessings he had attended, this was the first from an estate.

“An ambulance is a gift that keeps on giving,” he said. “Over the next eight years, this ambulance, with Steven’s name on it, will attend thousands of callouts. It is an incredibly special donation and one that we really appreciate.”

St John Warkworth area committee treasurer Richard Gerard said the new ambulance would be invaluable in a district that was growing quickly.

Warkworth attended 1703 incidents last year, averaging four to five jobs a day.

Rodney/Northland area operations manager Casey Stark-Allen said the new Generation 4.1 ambulance had many features that would benefit ambulance officers, including a power load stretcher, as well as better air conditioning and ventilation.

The ambulance will be one of two based at the Warkworth station.

Berger was born in Ahuroa, but grew up on a family farm on the corner of Green and Matakana Roads. He was a Jack of many trades, working as a labourer for most of his life. He also worked for Times Media and New World. His brother Ron, who was at the blessing, said his brother loved to cook and owned Tony’s Fish Shop in Warkworth for a while.

Volunteering for St John

As a charity, Hato Hone St John is always keen to recruit volunteers to help it do its job. There are currently about 15 volunteers in the Warkworth/Silverdale group. They work alongside staff in a range of roles, from ambulance operations to providing caring caller services, pet therapy and Friends of the Emergency Department. Full training is provided to the level of service a volunteer can contribute. Generally, volunteers work a four-hour shift once a week or once a fortnight and rosters are pre-organised, so volunteers know exactly when they are required. Enquiries can be made at the Warkworth station or by phoning 0800 ST JOHN (785 646)

We go the extra mile to put a smile on your dial

Health

Rachel Wilson, The Food Tree rachael@thefoodtree.co

Food wars to food freedom

It’s February and many people are struggling with a sense of failure over their diet and exercise resolutions. But this happens every year; restrictive diets are unlikely to bring health or happiness. Instead, they often damage our relationship with food and our bodies, negatively impacting our mental and physical health. What if there was another way to honour our bodies, prioritise our health and truly love ourselves? The great news is that there is a way to break this toxic cycle.

Our bodies are amazing vessels that carry us through life, but they need nourishing, nurturing and compassion. One of my clients speaks for many saying, “I feel so sad about the years I lost to restrictive diets, thinking I would only matter if I was thinner”. The $60 billion diet and ‘lifestyle’ industry thrives on a ‘restrict and relapse’ cycle. Research clearly shows that 85% to 97% of dieters regain the weight they lost, and one-third will gain even more within two to five years.

One reason diets don’t work is that our bodies are hard-wired to rebel against restriction. When we restrict food, our bodies think we are starving and work harder to store energy – our metabolism slows and our brains focus fiercely on what is being denied. As one client said, “I couldn’t even trust myself with a bag of chips or chocolate in the house. I felt totally consumed by thoughts of food.”

All of this restriction is in the pursuit of a thinner body, even though less than five per cent of people are genetically thin. Instead of striving for the impossible, it is time to treat your body with compassion, learning to love the skin you’re in.

Intuitive eating is about reconnecting with your body and developing a positive body image. It’s about getting in touch with internal cues rather than arbitrary rules around eating. By removing restrictions in a supportive environment, you can take back the power that food has over you. Learning to appreciate the unique needs of your body, you can make better decisions about food, movement, rest and self-care, leading to improved overall health and well-being. After years of shame and guilt, you can learn to enjoy the process of eating and preparing food again.

Rachael Wilson is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and mindful eating coach.

Birthday takes nautical turn

It’s not every day a person gets to celebrate their birthday aboard a boat bearing their own name. But this was the honour bestowed on J. Barry Ferguson recently when he celebrated his 92nd birthday. Barry, who lives in The Oaks in Warkworth, was one of the generous donors who purchased a landing barge, which will link Wenderholm with Te Muri Regional Park and the Mahurangi Coastal Trail. The birthday bash included a picnic and a cruise down the Mahurangi River.