Sandie Farr has held the position of voluntary street coordinator for six years and has actively made sure residents feel connected and supported.
They have a street Facebook page with over 120 members, are connected through WhatsApp and have a phone text group.
For those not on social media platforms, Sandie hand-delivers fliers to mailboxes to keep everyone informed of any alerts, neighbourhood concerns, planned events and gatherings.
Sandie initiated the idea of holding a street celebration a year on from Cyclone Gabrielle to bring the neighbourhood together to mark the occasion in a fun environment.
She reached out to local businesses and organisations and received an overwhelming response.
“I thought it would a great opportunity for us to share stories, reflect, reconnect and celebrate the support, networking and care that has got us through the past 12 months.
“I wanted the party to be for families to just come along with all food, soft drinks and activities for the kids provided.
“Once I started to contact local businesses and individuals, I was blown away by what people were willing to donate.”
Sandie and her family opened up their backyard and pool area to host the street party.
Tom Lane, from Property Brokers, supplied a barbecue trailer and police officers Russell Holmes and Alexa Coleman cooked a seemingly ever-flowing supply of sausages.
The Agency donated iceblocks and drinks for children.
Gisborne District Council donated $200 as did St Vincent de Paul, along with beautifully handmade quilts for families to take home.
Resident Jess Bourke provided her repurposed horse float, The Thirsty Nag, to serve an array of delicious punches and beverages.
SuperGrans Tairāwhiti, which has been a generous supporter of Fergusson Drive residents since the cyclone, stepped up once again to provide cooked hangi parcels which were delivered on the day.
Five residents went in to SuperGrans on Friday to assist in the preparation of the parcels, with one resident providing the squash.
SuperGrans also supplied chairs for the party.
A face painter was onsite for the kids, along with a bouncy castle courtesy of a voucher from resident Lizzy Burns.
The Aberdeen dairy provided ice and soft drinks, First Light Frozen donated two huge cakes and Chill Out Hire gave the use of a portaloo.
The afternoon was attended by over 100 street dwellers, including those who are still misplaced from their homes.
The mood was light and festive with residents catching up and reconnecting in a social setting.
The official part of the afternoon was a warm welcome, waiata and karakia by resident and kaumatua Mataatua Te Rongopatai.
Sandie spoke about the ongoing support the street was receiving and thanked all the local businesses and organisations who had helped make the afternoon possible.
Lizzy and Sandie announced that Gisborne District Council had awarded 10 Unsung Hero honours to Fergusson Drive residents.
The awards acknowledged those who had gone above and beyond in the clean-up process and played an active part in participating, supplying people power or opening their homes to children of the street, and keeping a check on health and wellbeing of residents.
One recipient, Jeena, opened her home to the children of the street as a safe place to play and be with each other during the aftermath.
“Our children of the street are the unsung heroes who kept us all going,” she said.
The residents acknowledged all of Sandie’s hard work towards organising the event and as street coordinator.
Sandie was presented with a bottle of pink gin with a customised label reading “F**k You Gabby”.
