by PSS

Next Generation Making a Difference

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Staff work hard every day to make a difference for children, young people, families and older people in Southland. They are involved in this work because they have a passion for it. On both the work and home front they are building and instilling a sense of social responsibility. We wanted to highlight some of the neat things happening with the children and young people of staff.

Bree Hope-Johnstone, aged 11 at the time, spearheaded a campaign at her school to collect 1000 cans of food to donate to the Salvation Army. Rallying the staff at Family Works as well, she collected a huge amount herself and issued a challenge to other schools to join her. Now at SGHS, Bree is in the young leaders group and a member of the environmental focus group.

Cade Lloyd, now 14, regularly takes rhubarb from his garden at home into Peacehaven Village for residents to enjoy.

James Faulkner, 11, has performed on a variety of musical instruments for residents in a number of rest homes.

Michael, 14, and John Chesney, 11, play their musical instruments (saxophone and cornet) for their Nana, a resident at Walmsley House. The first time was in her room, the residents lined the corridor to listen. The boys now concede to play in the lounge and are quite good at announcing the song title now, doing this three to four times a year but particularly on wintery Sunday afternoons. They have also been joined by their cousins, Millie, 13, and Sacha, 9, on occasion. The boys have also played their music at Vickery Court, Peacehaven and Rowena Jackson, although Walmsley House gets the most visits.

Carol Brown’s granddaughters, Mia Brown, 10, and her sister Abby, 9, wanted to help sick animals. Mia approached SPCA to see if they could collect donations amongst their parents’ friends and neighbours to help sick animals. SPCA gave them a bib each and were very grateful. Mia strategically worked out where she would go collecting and got permission from her parents to do this. Mia initiated this collection off her own bat and aided by sister Abby, and with parent supervision, they collected around $80 during weekends and holidays.

Luke Goatley, 15, assists at Central SILO fortnightly on a Thursday evening. Central SILO is an outreach of Invercargill Central Baptist Church which provides a free meal to anyone who calls in.