Ryman welcomes frequent flyers

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in 2020, with several new Ryman staff members making surprising career changes.

For Murray Halberg Caregiver Shayne Harper the pandemic gave him the big push he needed.

Having worked as an inflight service coordinator with Air New Zealand for five years and before that Qantas for 10 years, he had got comfortable with the lifestyle, but his previous vocation kept returning to the front of his mind.

“I live right next door to the village here in Lynfield and had been watching it being built as I drove past every day. I often thought maybe I should apply but I just didn’t have time. I could already see myself coming back to caring though.”

Shayne had completed the first year of his nursing degree before being persuaded to give the airlines a try but with planes grounded due to pandemic and a pending redundancy, he finally took the chance to follow up.

And he hasn’t looked back since joining the team.

“I actually love it in special care. It’s just so homely, sometimes it’s hard to leave!”

Shayne isn’t the only one to have traded in his wings for a job with Ryman.

Former flight attendants Sanae Sekine, Ronel Anand and Jerry (Yunfeng) Shi all worked for Air New Zealand before the pandemic impacted New Zealand.

Sanae found personal links with Logan Campbell as her mum lived there and now she is an evening receptionist and van driver. Joining the Logan Campbell team was Ronel who was working on long haul flights before becoming a security guard at the village. Meanwhile Jerry found a second home at Bruce McLaren village. He is such a hit with the residents that they fall over themselves to sing his praises when given the chance.

Compliments range from ‘he’s always smiling,’ and ‘he’s so willing to help’ to ‘he’s like a little puppy, he’s absolutely gorgeous!’.

And the feeling is clearly mutual.

“I am so happy. I love my job, it’s my dream job!” beams the 28-year-old activities and lifestyle coordinator.

While the pandemic rages and life is in turmoil for many people, some have at least found their footing at Ryman.

Pictured: New Rymanians Jerry Shi, Shayne Harper, Sanae Sekine and Ronel Anand.