Big Win for Volunteers
Wairarapa Lifestyle writer and dedicated volunteer, Sue McLeary shares the story behind Martinborough’s winning Healthy Community Project.
“The Winner of the Minister of Health’s Volunteer Award for Health Care Provider Services is the Martinborough Healthy Community Project,” announced Hon David Clark, Minister of Health, and we nearly burst with excitement.
We – Pam Shackleton, Les Roberts, Debbie Yates, Kiwa Mitchell and me – were thrilled. We’d all contributed time, energy and ideas to a simple yet successful series of healthy activities in our community, and seen the results.
Parliament’s Grand Hall was filled with an impressive range of health sector volunteers. And our programme was described by the Minister as “perfectly aligned with the Government’s Wellbeing Budget”.
Back in mid-2017 Pam, Martinborough Medical Centre’s Practice Manager, shoulder-tapped a few locals to help turn her idea of a free community larder into reality. “I am the eldest of eight children, and hate waste,” she says.
“The idea is so simple: make it easy for people with surplus fresh produce to share it with others. Supported by the Community Board, Rural Women New Zealand and many individuals, the concept grew into a broader wellbeing project.”
A Community Garden to supply the Community Larder was the next logical step, and when John Taylor offered land in Oxford Street we were on our way. Debbie Yates and her volunteer team produce amazingly fresh healthy vegetables for the Larder, housed in the Medical Centre, and open to everyone.
We are delighted when people – especially weekenders – bring fresh fruit and vegetables from their gardens. The Larder is all about sharing.
More volunteers are welcome to help at 10am on Wednesdays and Sundays. Enthusiasm trumps experience, so just bring your gardening gloves and sturdy footwear for an hour or two.
Roz Walker writes non-technical Health Bulletins explaining medical and lifestyle issues clearly, available from the Medical Centre.
My role is spreading the word. Our Martinborough Healthy Community Project and Martinborough Community Garden Facebook pages are well-supported, yet ultimately Martinborough’s grapevine (the verbal kind) is most effective at generating interest and support.
The Friday Walking Group is a personal favourite, led by Les. Initially only Pam, Les and I set out weekly from Kitchener Dairy, wondering if the idea of some convivial exercise in the fresh air would catch on. By summer, word was out and we now have 15-20 regular weekly walkers.
We cover 5-6km in an hour, on varied scenic routes around the village and vineyards. Walkers at different paces are accommodated, and we stop from time to time for everyone to catch up and mingle.
Companionship and conviviality – especially the after-walk coffee – are the hidden benefit of healthy lifestyle exercise. Many friendships have been formed and we can certainly talk and walk.
In March, we did the 10km Round the Vines Walk – nearly double our usual distance. It was lots of fun with all the costumes, cheerful banter and (small) wine tastes. We’re already thinking about next year.
“Several of our walkers are new to Martinborough, and by making friends the group has made a genuine difference to their lives. Our doctors now recommend it,” Pam added.
Less public but equally valuable is the Healthy Lifestyle Programme: a six-week course for people with long-term conditions. Three fully-booked courses have been held with a fourth in September.
Recently retired Medical Centre receptionist Kiwa Mitchell trained as a facilitator. Her experience managing her health to be no longer insulin-dependent, inspires participants.
This Award celebrated the importance of volunteers to New Zealand’s health sector. We were very proud of Martinborough’s community spirit.
