Snakes and Ladders over coffee: celebrating 10 years of "coffee group"

By Jane Comben

The pool is full of splashing kids while the adults stand about chatting. Quite a contrast to a nervous circle of 12 random couples a decade earlier.

It's been 10 eventful years since our first ante-natal class and the "coffee group" decided to celebrate by hiring out the local pool to accommodate all the resulting families. Our first born have all reached double figures and many have a few siblings as well. While a couple of families have moved away and a couple more have joined the fold, the "coffee group" is still going strong. As I look back over those years it seems rather like Snakes and Ladders. We've all moved up the board but at different speeds and by different paths.

The tick that turned a life upside down

Ruby and best mate Maggie.

By Angela Bensemann

When I first met Ruby she was about four-years-old, throwing the rugby ball around, taking part in her big brother’s training – Dad was the rugby coach.  Full of life, Ruby was up there with the best of them.  A couple of years later Ruby was joined by Maggie the chocolate Labrador pup and the two became inseparable.

But then life took an unexpected turn.

The family had a trip to Australia – nothing unusual in that, most New Zealand families head across the ditch at one time or another.  Ruby was seven at the time and the family did all the usual tourist things, taking in the sights and getting up close and personal with the wildlife.

Little did they know it at the time but a close encounter with a kangaroo was to change Ruby’s life for ever.

Maybe I can do it?

A spare room before Less Mess attention!

...and after.

By Steph Knight, orgnaiser extraodinaire and founder of Less Mess

Around two years ago I was a full time stay-at-home Mum with a husband, a four-and-a-half year old son, and a two-and-a-half year old daughter who never slept through the night!  My life was consumed by both my daughter and I being constantly tired and grumpy. 

Life was hard work, especially with no family in Wellington (although we were very grateful for their remote support and visits!).  I felt like having goals, doing something that I loved and being excited about life was at the end of a very very very long tunnel!

Get a skill and get a life with Volunteer Porirua

Laura Coates gets some real life experience with
Habitat for Humanity.  Photo: Andrew Finau.

By Lynne Harding, Manager of Volunteer Porirua

Hi I am Lynne Harding and I manage Volunteer Porirua. We have a range of exciting voluntary roles listed from over 80 local not-for-profit organisations. There is something listed for almost anyone including administration, childcare, elderly support, education, art, culture, environmental care and more. Our roles are available to both individual volunteers and for employer-based community volunteering projects.

Laura Coates: Photo Andrew Finau.

We have a team of highly skilled Volunteer Interviewers who enjoy the challenge of meeting people from all walks of life who come through our doors to volunteer. One such person is recent graduate Laura Coates – she contacted us when she found it difficult to get a job as an architect.

Laura discovered work experience in the industry was sparse so she  wanted to find a volunteering role in her field, so that she could gain work experience and confidence.