|
Sue O’Brien, Hinga and Lloyd Whiu and Patricia Adam were all recognised for their outstanding service to the community at the Trust Waikato Child and Family Awards at a gala award evening held at the Hamilton Gardens.
Patricia Adam - Outstanding Lifetime Contribution
In 43 years as a parent and, later, grandparent help at Kawhia Primary School, Patricia Adam reckons she’s only ever missed three or four days. Five days a week, five-and-a-half hours a day, you’ll find her there, reading to children or listening to them read, and generally lending the teachers a hand.
She started helping at the school when her own children were young and has never left.
“These days I’m reading to children, whose parents I also read to when they were young,” she says. “The principal calls me the school’s unique, antique piece of furniture, because they’ll never find another Aunty Pat.”
Aunty Pat (as everyone calls her) is not only well-known in the school, she is a backbone of the Kawhia community. A scout leader, welfare officer for the Maori Women’s Welfare League, and founder member of many local clubs, she is always part of whatever’s going on.
Currently she manages the town’s junior rugby teams, where she tries to encourage team spirit and sportsmanship, and can often be seen joining in the game.
“Sometimes a child from another school will say, but she can’t play, she’s old, but my kids always reply, no she’s not, she’s Aunty Pat.”
Hinga and Lloyd Whiu and whanau - Outstanding Teamwork
Hinga and Lloyd Whiu and their whanau are Te Karito Kura Wananga – an innovative and entertaining performing arts company delivering quality bilingual productions for youth.
From Te Hapua in the far north, to Bluff in the deep south, the whanau has performed its high energy show of song, dance and storytelling in over 1500 education venues to over 135,000 students.
Te Karito’s productions are based around the legends of Maui, combining traditional and contemporary performing arts to convey positive health messages and ideals.
Through their work, the Whiu whanau provides a strong role model both for rangatahi (youth) and for families, providing a dynamic example of committed and involved parenting.
But Lloyd and Hinga’s community involvement doesn’t stop with Te Karito. They run wananga for rangatahi throughout the Waikato, teaching traditional Maori performing arts such as haka, mau-rakau (Maori martial arts using weaponry) and poi, as well as contemporary art forms such as hip hop. They are also heavily involved with the Kawhia community and their marae, and are effective advocates for iwi and the importance of providing local solutions for local people.
Sue O’Brien (of Te Awamutu) and Te Kuiti Youth Centre - Innovative Service
Taking a group of youth to Rwanda to participate in the international Hope Rwanda project may seem a daunting task, but Te Kuiti Youth Centre co-ordinator Sue O’Brien wasn’t fazed: in fact she thought it was a great idea from the moment she first found out about it.
“It was a huge community effort,” she says. “And for the children who went it represented a major achievement, both in raising the funds they needed, and in having the courage to go and see and experience a community so different from their own.”
Mrs O’Brien is known in the Te Kuiti community for the commitment and support she shows for young people. Through the youth centre she provides young people with the space, support and tools they need to grow, learn and express themselves.
But there is no stronger testament to her work than the words of the children who accompanied her on the trip:
“Sue challenged us and made us push past our boundaries and I achieved things I never would have tried without her.”
“If Sue hadn’t been there (in Rwanda) it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good.”
“Sue is awesome and amazing and dedicated.”
What better praise could there be?
|
