7 minute read
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Community College Marlborough youth advisor Carolynn Tipene is a favourite with the students.
Words: Paula Hulburt
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Carolynn Tipene exudes a warmth that draws you in. As Kaiarahi for Community College Marlborough, she is part of a team looking after about 50 students; young men and women who need some help finding their niche in life.
It is, she says, her role to take a holistic approach when caring for the students she sees as an extension of her family.
“I don’t look at them like they’re students, I think of them as my own.”
From helping with accommodation to lending a listening ear, her days are unpredictable and busy, and she loves every single second; well almost. An open-door policy means students can call in to see her if they need help, guidance or just to chat. “They are teenagers with all the problems and drama that comes with that and sometimes they feel they can share stuff with me that they find hard to do with others. Mostly it’s just growing pains but sometimes I hear stuff I don’t want to and this is when it gets hard.” Taking on the four day a week role in 2017, Carolynn, who had previously worked in healthcare, is Whānau Ora trained.
The students aged between 16 and 19 years old may have been let down by the
Helping them grow and appreciate their potential is incredibly rewarding, she says.
“The best part is when a kid comes in here and academically, they don’t think they can do it. When they graduate it brings me to tears.
“We get them, we pick them up and put back together in a way that works.
“We’re like family here; a village.”
But breaking down some of the barriers can take time, she says.
“It cracks me up. When they arrive, you can see them looking at me, thinking ‘what’s that old lady doing here?’ But, by the middle of the year, they’re one of my best friends.”
Carolynn’s laugh is infectious. Her natural empathy shines through and it’s easy to see why she’s a firm favourite with the students. With some coming from difficult home environments, she is someone to turn to, someone they clearly trust.
“I represent students and support them at conferences, with Oranga Tamariki and the Department of Corrections. I get asked to do that a fair bit,” she says.
As well as covering classes as the need arises, Carolynn also puts her experience as a professional chef to good use, providing cooked lunches at the Scott Street site.
For some, it may be the only food they get in a day, she says.
“I still have a passion for cooking and the kids help prepare and with the cleaning afterwards. It’s a great way to teach about budgeting too.”
As Carolynn chats, a student comes in to see her; a young woman she has helped.
With an apparent close bond, the pair laugh and joke together, the student is clearly happy to have Carolynn on her side.
“She gives me hope, she says.
August checklist
With wetter weather around, it is harder to get out in the garden, making it a good time to do some planning with a cup of tea in hand! Frosts will be about. When in doubt cover and protect all your hard work.
Key points for this month:
Prune hydrangeas back until you see two fat buds which will be next seasons flowers
It’s time to plant new strawberries
New citrus trees can be planted
Prepare vegetable and flower gardens for spring planting
Plant summer flowering bulbs
Plant new trees and shrubs
Feed all existing trees, shrubs and fruit trees with slow release fertiliser
Plant seed potatoes
Fertilise your lawns now
Kitchen Garden
Prepare your soil. Once it is dry, remove all the weeds and dig the soil over. Break up any lumps and bumps with your spade. Add compost and sheep pellets and dig through the top layer of soil. New citrus trees can be planted now. Keep them out of the wind. Plant new strawberries. Add strawberry food to the soil as you plant and at the same time give your older plants a side dressing. Pinch out the very first flowers to let the plant become more established — you will get a better harvest. If you are using homemade compost, dig that in now. It will need a few weeks to settle before you plant. Rhubarb can be planted, add blood and bone to the soil as you plant. Use the blood and bone around existing plants as well, water in the fertiliser.
New season feijoas can be planted. Add blood and bone to the soil as you plant. Feed your existing trees with a long term fertiliser. Plant sprouted seed potatoes now. Add a side dressing of potato fertiliser to the soil as you plant. Protect new shoots from any late frosts. Plant seedlings including broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, silverbeet, onion, spinach, cabbage, lettuce. Sow seeds like cabbage, kale, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, onion, broccoli, silverbeet, carrots and spinach. Protect from the cold, transplant to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.
Protect all seedlings from slugs and snails, they love tender seedlings and the wet weather. Garden Colour
Remove old winter annuals when they have finished, freshen the soil with compost and sheep pellets ready for spring plantings. Sow seeds: Alyssum, californian poppy, cosmos, marigold, petunia, phlox, portulaca, salvia, and snapdragon. Protect from the cold and transplant to the garden when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.
Plant seedlings: Pansies, primroses, marigold, nemesia, viola, polyanthus, cineraria, stock, alyssum, delphinium, cosmos, and carnations.
Plant summer bulbs: Gladioli, Dahlia and Begonias. Add bulb food to the soil as you plant. Trees and Shrubs
Take advantage of the warmer weather and plant new shrubs and trees. Stake where necessary. Tidy up and prepare garden beds for spring planting. Remove weeds and enrich the soil with compost and sheep pellets. Feed all existing shrubs with a slow release fertiliser.
New leaves will be starting to burst on your deciduous trees. Check and prune any branches that were damaged over winter. Lawn
Take advantage of the new spring growth and fertilise your lawn now. Apply evenly across the whole lawn and water in.
Helping you to stay healthy this season
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