An interviewer once asked Mother Teresa, "What can I do to help you change the world?" Mother Teresa replied, "Look after and love those around you." Nothing could have been more apt than the ’Fill the Bus’ day here at Wellington College last Saturday.

Within a 24-hour time frame you all came to the aid of those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle in the Hawke’s Bay area. Humble thanks to Anita Murdoch for getting the ball rolling, to Gwen and Andrew Sturgeon and countless others who rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. To our boys who turned up to help, I am so proud of you. To our parents, board members and extended family, thank you all for your enormous generosity.

I have always been so proud to be a New Zealander. I'm not saying that it’s only us as Kiwis that have a monopoly on supporting others but I feel in my heart it’s something that we are so good at. It comes from the heart. People of all ages and backgrounds coming together to support people they have never met but who innately understand the grief and pain of losing homes and, in some cases, loved ones. There is a dark side to all of this where human compassion and aroha is abandoned. Looting is taking place and red stickered houses are being burgled. My Mum always said to us as kids, "If someone empties your bucket fill it up with aroha." We filled lots of buckets in the last week for people in the Hawke’s Bay that needed it. Thank you all.