Julie and Renee share their experiences during Covid-19.

Julie Moyle - Owner of Fresh Choice Supermarket, Green Island, Dunedin (Julie attended St Hilda's from 1993-1997)

"As the threat of Covid-19 came closer to our shores, the people came in their masses. Along with my husband, I own a suburban supermarket in Dunedin. The announcement of Level 3 and imminent arrival of Level 4 saw grocery retail go crazy. And it simply hasn’t let up.
We have delivered orders for over fifty years, but last year we became the first Dunedin owned/operated supermarket to implement Click and Collect. This has been an absolute godsend in discouraging people from leaving their homes unnecessarily. As a result of this demand, we have had to change our store hours temporarily to meet the needs of online ordering, and have two vehicles on the road delivering. We have security on our door during opening hours and our staff have been pushed to their limits.

We have kept most of our workforce of 75, with only those unable to get childcare and with compromised health being on leave. We have implemented everything Worksafe and the Government have requested - with great difficulty at times - and police all of these implementations internally.
The overused word really is the only way to explain it: unprecedented. But in these times we are proud of our amazing staff being able to continue to serve our community as our family business has for over 80 years."

Renee Kufner Heal - Deputy Head of Mission and Consul, New Zealand Embassy, Madrid, Spain (Renee attended St Hilda's from 1995-2001).

"I am currently based in Madrid, Spain, which sadly is one of the global hotspots for Covid-19. Just two months ago Spain had reported only a handful of cases of Covid-19; today, it has suffered nearly 180,000 cases which tragically have resulted in over 18,700 deaths. The current state of alarm here is necessarily very strict and people are only allowed to leave their houses for essential work, or to go to the supermarket or pharmacy. Outdoor exercise or leisure time is prohibited. We are fortunate that both my husband and I can work from home; and we are grateful that the searing summer temperatures have not yet arrived – I’m not ready to contemplate being stuck inside in 40+ degrees. Professionally, it has been a very busy time as my wonderful team – who displayed incredible adaptability as we quickly shifted to working as a “virtual Embassy” – have worked tirelessly to support New Zealanders in Spain, as well as our other countries of accreditation (Morocco, Malta, Andorra, and the Holy See). It has been a privilege to work with such dedicated professionals to assist so many Kiwis offshore. As in most places, it’s hard to tell when things will return to a “new normal”. Today is Day 41 on lockdown for me, and this will probably continue for at least another month. My main lockdown survival strategies have been: focusing on what we do have, not on what we don’t have (as helpful in managing garden-envy as it is in finding dinner inspiration in a diminishing lockdown pantry); practising gratitude (no matter what, every day I can be grateful for the support of my husband, a spacious apartment, and my health); and being deliberate and thoughtful about what news and social media I consume. The overriding feeling for me, though, is hope. Spaniards are displaying an incredible discipline and respect for the rules, and it is working: slowly but surely, our curve is flattening. There’s a strong sense of community: from a bag of fresh Valencian oranges left at our door by kind neighbours, through to the nightly applause from windows and balconies for our healthcare professionals, it feels like we are part of something bigger than our “bubble”. The grace, resilience, and generosity of this country and its people is awe-inspiring, and while I at times feel far from home, it’s an honour to be serving here."