It really is an extraordinary story of vision, innovation, risk-taking, occasional crises and sheer hard work.

See also ODT article 

On Tuesday 27 April this new history of the past 50 years was launched at the Dunningham Suite at Dunedin Public Library to an appreciative audience of Anglican Family Care friends, supporters, staff and Board members. 

Current AFC Board member and former Chair Jim Hawker was the MC and Bishop Steve began the evening with a karakia.  Current Board Chair Ruth Zeinhart introduced the author of the history, Julia Stuart, who spoke about her connections with Dunedin and how she had ended up authoring this book. 

Shayne Walker, senior lecturer in Social Work at Otago University spoke very passionately about the value of this particular history. As Julia Stuart had mentioned earlier, this is not a linear description of what happened at particular points in time, but is very much a contextual story that describes how Anglican Family Care developed, grew and changed in key services over the years. This kind of history is not deigned to sit on a shelf somewhere, but is a powerful narrative that helps set future directions as well. Shayne spoke of the strong sense of vision, the importance of people in the organisation and their culture of service. 

He spoke of the value of service providers such as this who don't just wait for the government to do things, but can have ideas and be really innovative. Anglican Family Care is good at being able to pivot, adapt... but more than this, is able to listen to the people they work with so that their mana prevails. Shayne spoke of his appreciation from the University's perspective in the clinical placements that have been and continued to be offered of Social Work students. 

Books were available for purchase (and signing by the author) and the evening finished with refreshments together.

You can purchase your own copy by heading to the Get Involved tab on the AFC website www.anglicanfamilycare.org.nz

The Diocesan Office has also purchased two copies which will be available to borrow once they have been processed into the library.