Lauren Barclay: Always something to help with

Volunteer Lauren Barclay and Hugo, the police cat from next door. 09 June 2015 Northland Age photograph by Peter Jackson. NAG 11Jun15 - DOWN TIME: Volunteer extraordinaire Lauren Barclay enjoy

Lauren Barclay's deck might well have been the sunniest spot in the Winterless North on Tuesday morning. And it boasts a view she and husband Les never tire of, looking out across Mill Bay with its small fleet of moored boats and out to the Mangonui Harbour entrance.

It's a spot they share with Hugo, the cat from the Mangonui police station right next door, who calls over on a regular basis to soak up some rays. But often as not Lauren will be somewhere else, doing something for her community.

She has compiled an extraordinary record of community service, a contribution that has now been recognised with her nomination for a Pride of New Zealand lifetime achievement award. Not uncharacteristically for people who give so generously, however, she does not believe that she has earned any special accolades.

Her nominator (who confessed earlier this week that she was in some trouble for having put pen to paper) disagrees.

Lauren and her then brand new husband arrived in Kaitaia from Taranaki 46 years ago. Les had been offered a job, for a married man, with auto electrician Jim King, but the couple had absolutely no idea of where they were moving to. So they got involved in the community, and later played active roles in what their three children were doing.

That meant mixing extra-curricular activities with earning a living - 12 months after moving north Les took up employment with Ivan Morton, the couple later buying Redan Auto Electrical. While Les joined the local fire brigade, Lauren got involved in all sorts of causes.

She was a member and supporter of rugby, netball and basketball, including Golden Oldies, a hospital volunteer, offering patients her skill as a hairdressing and giving personal support as required, a supporter of the volunteer fire brigades in Kaitaia and Mangonui, including organising and assisting with social functions, a coach, supporter and organiser for the local gymnastics club, secretary, treasurer and co-ordinator of the Kaitaia Red Cross, organiser of the annual Red Cross collection in Doubtless Bay, a member of the Mill Bay Beautification group, a genealogy tutor, a volunteer at the Mangonui Information Centre and the Mangonui community library.

She's still very much into genealogy, remains an active member of Mill Bay Beautification (and tends her own substantial garden), and added the community library to her CV in the last six months or so. Times have changed a little in terms of community engagement, she said though.

People now were more caught up in their own lives, and work commitments often precluded them from volunteering. When it came to volunteer fire brigades, employers were not always as happy to make their staff available as they had once been.

"A lot still goes on in little communities like this one though," she added.

"There are a lot of retired people here who are looking for something to do, and there is always something going on to help with."

Her nine grandchildren, aged 3 to 16 and living in Ngunguru and Auckland, also benefit from her attention, not least when it comes to keeping their feet warm.

"I knit them TV slippers," she said.

"In fact I've just been told that the youngest needs a new pair."

The Pride of New Zealand Awards are proudly brought to you by The New Zealand Herald, The Hits and TSB Bank.
Nominations for the 2015 awards have now closed.
To see more stories of our wonderful nominees click here.
For more information on the awards go to the official website.