Corrinne says farewell as funding ends

SAD FAREWELL: Like Minds Like Mine Wairarapa team Greg Fowler (left), Julie Warner, Liz Cook, Corrinne Oliver and Matt Wills during the speeches. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Friday marked the end of the Like Minds Like Mine mental health programme in Wairarapa.

The programme was the victim of a funding cut after running successfully for more than five years.

People came to farewell Corrinne Oliver, who had been there from the beginning, co-ordinating workshops, training and campaigns with other health providers, to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and to raise awareness around mental health.

Supporting Families Wairarapa manager Tracey Towns said the work Ms Oliver and her volunteer team had done was amazing.

"It's part of your journey, it's coming to an end but nothing's going to stop the work you have done for the Wairarapa community."

Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson and district councillor Chris Peterson came to thank her for her work and said it was a real loss to the community.

It was clear Ms Oliver would be missed by the many speeches given and some people were too upset to talk for long.

While there were a lot of tears, there was also laughter as people recalled their experiences with LMLM and Ms Oliver.

Arrow FM manager Michael Wilson said there would always be a slot open at the station for Ms Oliver.

"We love what you do so much."

The team had run an award-winning show on Arrow FM interviewing people, organisations and community groups since 2008.

The show won its category at the 2011 NZ Radio Awards and had hosted people like Scribe, John Kirwan and Louise Nicholas.

Ms Oliver was still shocked by the loss of the programme and the loss of her job.

"This has been my baby.

"I've been brought up that you work hard and you reap the benefits."

She said she would take this January to figure out what to do next.

The Health Promotion Agency had funded LMLM branches around the country but advised them their contracts would expire at the end of 2014.

They were eligible to apply for funding from a new funding pool but LMLM Wairarapa was not one of 16 projects selected.