Supergrans farewells super manager

Linda Coulston . Picture by Paul Rickard

With over a decade of dedication to Supergrans Tairāwhiti (SGT), manager Linda Coulston, has made a huge impact in the lives of many whānau throughout the region. By listening, responding and transforming lives of clients, employees and volunteer staff alike, Linda has been pivotal in the phenomenal growth of the organisation over the past 12 years. She talks to Gillian Cowperthwaite . . .

From humble beginnings at premises in Childers Road, Linda found herself with two part-time employees, a handful of community workshops on offer, no contracts and recalls, after about three weeks into the job, sitting with her head in her hands, shaking her head saying, “I can’t do this.”

However, as an individual with an unwavering commitment towards community empowerment and a burning desire to make a difference, Linda embraced the organisation’s ethos and dedicated herself to be an integral part of growing and transforming the organisation to serve the community of Tairāwhiti.

The purpose and kaupapa of SGT is to support whānau in Tairāwhiti out of hardship in a way that supports people to help themselves and gain greater control over their lives. The support is offered by providing programmes such as life skills, cooking workshops, budgeting advice and mentoring.

“It was all about building relationships in those early years. I spent the first three years networking, seeking funding and growing our credibility as a local organisation with a vision of supporting and empowering people in hardship in our community to help themselves and their whānau.

The not-for-profit organisation is a registered charity, and has dedicated board of trustees who have guided and supported Linda in her endeavours over the past 12 years.

Molly Pardoe, long-time supporter and chairperson of SGT, has high high for the commitment and dedication Linda has consistently shown over the years to the kaupapa of SGT which in turn has led to tremendous growth of the organisation and its services to the community of Tairāwhiti.

“Mention Supergrans Tairāwhiti or Linda Coulston synonymously; their names have been linked together for 12 years in the most positive way. SGT’s core business and focus was supporting communities through cooking classes, budgeting and creating mara kai (cultivating gardens). In group sessions whānau learnt and grew in confidence. Today we have our very own modern facility and workspace at 2 Pitt Street to be so proud of. This is one of the many projects that Linda has achieved with the help of many supporters.”

“When the Covid-19 pandemic came along, followed by two cyclones, it would have been enough for anyone to throw in the towel. But not Linda. Responding to the emergencies, with her amazing staff and dedicated bunch of volunteers, it was ‘roll up your sleeves and just do it’. Non-stop for weeks on end with very little rest, it was all done with aroha and passion.

“Now that Covid-19 and cyclones are behind us, we can refocus, ‘back to our knitting’ so to speak, doing what we did so well pre-Covid,” said Molly.  “Linda is moving on from SGT on such a high note. While we are farewelling her with sadness, she knows she goes with the blessing of the board, staff, volunteers and all those associated with Linda on her SGT journey.

“It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge and thank our many amazing sponsors, funders, generous givers and receivers who have worked in partnership with Linda to achieve so much in so many ways.”

Linda also emphasises the collective spirit of teamwork and collaboration that has been a driving force behind the success of SuperGrans. Furthermore, Linda acknowledges the dedicated board members, passionate staff, consultants, philanthropists, businesses and government departments who have supported SGT’s vision.

It was with great sadness on Sunday September 24 that an announcement was released about the death of humanitarian and philanthropist Chloe Wright.

Mrs Wright held the position of  national patron to SuperGrans Aotearoa and the sad loss of this incredible human being will be felt enormously by SuperGrans and other community sectors throughout New Zealand.

Reflecting on her time at Supergrans, Linda is immensely proud of the accomplishments the organisation has achieved, including the development of new programmes, becoming a registered foodbank to utilise, redistribute and deliver kai to whānau in need, gaining contracts with government departments and collaboration with iwi to further assist those in need, employing more staff, including an on-site social worker and in 2021 moving to refurbished, fit-for -purpose premises to enable the good mahi of SGT to continue to flourish and grow. With that growth, Linda also reflects on how the community is “our compass and we responded to that need, however hard it was to navigate at the time”.

“Having a team of dedicated staff and loyal volunteers has enabled us to respond to the community. We have a team of consistent, wonderful regular volunteers who donate their time and skills to the kaupapa of SGT — volunteers are really the heart of the organisation”.

Looking back on the past 12 years, Linda admits she has “mixed feelings” about leaving, yet she also believes, “it’s time and timing is everything”.

Linda said some of the challenges and highlights were managing the Covid-19 response, lock-downs and responding to Cyclone Gabrielle.

“We hit the ground running, yet we were so fortunate to have stock and resources to share with the community. We provided 2400 food and care parcels in the first week after the cyclone hit.

“Being able to help many thousands of individuals and whānau over the years has definitely been a highlight.

“One instance that stands out for me was hearing a kuia attending a life skills workshop say, ‘I never knew I had qualities’. That for me was about gaining trust and building relationships to support people to recognise their strengths and help themselves to a better way of being. That moment often reminds me of why we do what we do.

“I would like to acknowledge the dedicated board of trustees who have supported the growth of the organisation at every turn and especially Molly Pardoe who has been with SuperGrans for 20 years. Molly and I have built a rock-solid relationship. Our hearts are both in the same place and we have worked together on so many projects and events over the years. We are a good team.”

Linda’s remarkable leadership and contribution to SuperGrans Tairāwhiti ensures that she is leaving the organisation in a position to keep leading the way to continue the invaluable service of supporting community empowerment. The staff presented Linda with a korowai, mere and kete as an acknowledgment of her time at the helm of SGT.

After a short break, and keeping within the realms of community service, Linda is excited to be taking up the position of business manager for the newly developed Midway Rescue Community Hub.