Voting is open for the Pride of New Zealand TSB People’s Choice Awards until the end of next week. The Herald spoke to the finalists about their busy lives. Today we profile the second group.
Billy Turner
Billy Turner went to his first car accident at 13. Still only 16 years old, he dashes out of class as soon as he gets the call, like a kind of boy wonder.
His service record would put many comic-book heroes to shame: Coastguard, Search and Rescue, the Whangamata and Tairua Fire Brigades, and he is hoping to join St John shortly too.
Forget a box of chocolates - life is like a waka, Jim Edwards says. We're all in it together, holding our paddles, or hoi, on the great river. "When you all hoi, you hoi together. If you all work together, you achieve your goals."
Since 1994, the 70-year-old from Hastings has helped rehabilitate accident victims with his 40-seater waka. Maintenance, paddling, steering, haka, chants, greeting strangers, photography, and being able to korero - all of it helps the rehabilitation process.
Through his Nga Tukemata O Kahungunu Vocational Charitable Trust, Mr Edwards teaches disabled adults how to use their hands, as well as their minds, with other skills including carving, vehicle restoration and gardening.
Allan Anderson
Allan Anderson. Photo / NZME.
Joan Swift
Since beginning as a volunteer for Forest and Bird in 1962, Allan Anderson has raised more than $2.5 million singlehandedly for Whanganui's Bushy Park. The result: a unique haven for endangered species.
"It's one of the few remaining examples of pristine lowland rainforest from pre-European days."
He spends almost every moment he can spare from his duties on the Whanganui District Council and local health board on park business, raking the metal for more than half of the 4km predator-proof fence.
"My wife tells me Bushy Park's the other woman."
It's been a worthwhile affair. Forty saddlebacks were transferred to a nearby reserve last year - proof of such success at Bushy Park, they're now able to kick-start other projects. Still, there's no rest for Mr Anderson, as a hihi rescue operation is now under way.
Joan Swift
Makeup and manicures may not be a cure for cancer, but they can still be a life-saver when treatments have caused hair loss or skin problems.
Joan Swift has been helping women regain their confidence with the Look Good Feel Better charity, which helps 3000 women a year across 33 centres.
The octogenarian joined the Cancer Society in 1978 after the deaths of seven family members from cancer. Since then, she's been tireless in her voluntary work.
She recently had a rose variety named Looking Good which will raise funds for cancer sufferers, and helped open a Cancer Society shop in Howick.
Men's Look Good Feel Better workshops have started in Hamilton and Tauranga.
Susan Tukaki
Susan Tukaki is the sort of woman who buys other people's kids a new pair of shoes so they don't get in trouble with their teacher. She has been a Maori Warden in Katikati for 18 years and has a "deep connection with youth".
Kids are always coming around to the house of "Nan", who will provide breakfast so they don't go hungry. She helps enrol youth into Outward Bound courses, gives assistance to elderly couples and horse-riding tutors, and serves on the National Control Incident Management Team, helping in Christchurch after the February, 2011, earthquake.
Seeing the kids safe and smiling is her reward. Once, when she was ill in hospital, a group of young people stayed by her bedside, making cups of tea for visitors, bringing flowers and providing encouragement. "That's something I'll remember for a very long time."
Aucklander Laura Howard overheard midwives talking after she had her child two years ago.
Laura Howard. Photo / Greg Bowker
"I heard one of them comment about how some babies at Middlemore [Hospital] went home in baby-sized hospital gowns because their families didn't have clothes for them."
The comment stayed with her. She kept running into new mothers with leftover baby clothes. She was soon shuttling between home in Waterview and Middlemore with clothes, toys and more. Now a concern of 30 volunteers, charity Littlemore partners with 10 health organisations in Auckland and Waikato.
"Having children opened my eyes to how hard it can be to raise a child. There are those who have next to nothing. So helping out in this way is the least I can do."
Avis Leeson
Eight years ago, Hamilton retiree Avis Leeson read that approximately 270,000 Kiwi kids were living in poverty. At once, she felt a prickling in her green thumbs.
Starting with her old primary school in Morrinsville, she has now either established or helped support an organic school vege garden for each one of her 85 years. Despite recent ill health, she's now co-ordinating the planting of fruit trees, and hopes to get more schools sharing kitchen facilities and classes so kids can learn to cook what they've grown.
Her passion has led to numerous donations of plants, seeds and equipment from local businesses, costing schools and taxpayers nothing, and kids have picked up her gardening bug.
"It's been wonderful - most of the kids now have gardens at home, so it's been absolutely worthwhile."
Lois Heads
Lois Heads has jokingly been called the honorary Mayor of Edendale. The Southland mother of four has been the mainstay of local netball, Edendale Tennis Club and Edendale School's board of trustees for more than 30 years.
"I get bored if I'm sitting doing nothing. When I go to sport with my kids, I can either sit for an hour in the car watching them play or I can get involved."
Even in front of the television, she'll be doing the tennis club accounts or working out coaching schedules, spending about 30 hours a week on volunteer work.
She says it's a great way to get to know your community.
"I believe if we all do our bit, however small or large, then there will be positives for all concerned."
Shaun Rankin
"When I see a kid who's overweight and drinking a bottle of Coke, I think: 'I can help him'."
Napier trainer Shaun Rankin spotted an opportunity to improve lives for local kids by offering boxing and fitness classes. "I knew they didn't have any money, so I did it free. Growing up poor myself, I just wanted to give them something I didn't have."
Shaun Rankin. Photo / NZME.
He's offered classes in Maraenui every Monday for the past five months. They've been so popular he's started a Friday group in Hastings. Tee ball, boxing, races and relays are all part of the fun. There'll be between 10 and 40 kids each session, aged 4 to 13.
Kids are banned from bringing fizzy drinks and lollies to his classes, and Mr Rankin also teaches them about good nutrition. Parents are big fans. After a hard night in the gym, their kids are much better behaved, they say.
Mike Dawes
The suicide of his friend and boxing mentor Doug McLay spurred Wellington IT specialist Mike Dawes into shaking up the office.
"Fitness helps me feel better," Mr Dawes says. He wondered if it could help others get out of a rut.
So he founded IT Heavy Hitters, encouraging desk jockeys to undergo a free regime of fighting, self defence and fitness. Sessions go from four times a week up to six, and next year the process will be lengthened from 12 to 14 weeks. About 100 participants train for the big finale, "an evening of explosive boxing action" fundraising for mental health charity The Key to Life.
Mr Dawes says the positivity spreads quickly through a workplace. "People tell me it's saved their lives."
Rick Braddock
Motutapu Island, a stunning 1340ha farm with 2500 cattle, 300 sheep and now saddlebacks, takahe and kiwi, was once a pest-ridden nightmare. Its transformation is down to Rick Braddock, leaseholder since 1992.
He also heads all kinds of ventures around the country, including as chair of the United Fire Brigades Association, but Motutapu is his passion.
"If there was one thing I'd want to leave as my legacy, it's that island."
With the trust he formed in 1993, wetlands and native trees are protected, possums, stoats and wallabies are gone and native birds are thriving. He also champions biofarming, increasing nutrients in the soil without synthetic fertilisers.
David Bateman
At Whirinaki Beach with his family, David Bateman saw 7-year-old Matilda Kersjes and father Alex struggling in strong swells. He jumped in without hesitating, managing to drag the pair towards the shore.
David Bateman. Photo / NZME.
It wasn't until the next day that the shock hit and overpowered him.
He says 90 per cent of his success in rescuing the pair was down to three powerful waves that pushed them into shore.
He marvels that people have made so much of his "luck". "I'm just a normal Kiwi from Whirinaki, and it's just snowballed - but in a good way."
