Issue 15 - Autumn 2021 - New Zealand Red Cross
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Issue 15 – Autumn 2021
Kia ora,
Welcome to the first edition of RED for 2021. This is my first editorial
as New Zealand Red Cross’ Secretary General. I joined the organisation
in December 2020 and have spent the last six months connecting with
our Red Cross people across the country and hearing many inspiring
stories of our work, including some shared in this magazine.
This edition of RED is a great reflection of the breadth of work New Zealand
Red Cross carries out each and every day in communities across Aotearoa
and as far away as Armenia.
One of the highlights for me, so far, was the Red Cross Appeal in March. An
incredible effort was undertaken by Red Cross people across the country
to raise vital funds for our organisation. Make sure to stop by page 3 for a
few snaps and smiles from our street collectors all over Aotearoa.
On 22 February, we marked the 10-year anniversary of the 2011 Canterbury
Earthquake. The 22 February earthquake was a significant event and for
New Zealand Red Cross, our organisation’s response was enormous – as was
our impact. As one of our disaster response volunteers who was deployed to
Christchurch at the time, do read Trudy Taylor’s story on page 5.
In March, we observed another anniversary – 10 years of conflict in Syria. In
Aotearoa, Red Cross has supported the settlement of thousands of Syrian
refugees in to their new communities. On page 7, you can read about
four inspiring women who escaped the bombs and bullets and found a
peaceful life in Dunedin.
Sarah Stuart-Black
This issue is crammed full of inspiring and interesting stories about what (often known by her
our amazing Red Cross people have been up to across the country and for nickname ‘Norm’),
one international delegate – reflections on her time in Armenia. Secretary General
I hope you enjoy this edition of RED and that, just like me, you are inspired
by the far-reaching work Red Cross does across Aotearoa and around the
world.
Ngā mihi,
Sarah Stuart-Black
S E C R E TA R Y G E N E R A L
Contents Who are we?
3 Red Cross Appeal success New Zealand Red Cross
is part of the largest
5 Reflecting on the Canterbury Earthquake humanitarian network
7 Syrian 10-year conflict in the world – the
International Red Cross and
11 The Dunedin Choir Red Crescent Movement.
We’ve been helping in
13 First aid: Saving a life New Zealand since 1915.
15 Blog from Armenia We’re helping Kiwis every day -
whether that’s providing a hot
17 Snippets from the regions meal, helping former refugees
rebuild their lives or engaging
21 Member Spotlight: Olivier Lacoua with local communities to
be better prepared for an
22 A new Red Cross Shop in Woolston emergency. And, right across
the world, we help people
affected by disaster and
conflict. Our mission? To
improve the lives of vulnerable
people by mobilising the power
of humanity and enhancing
Disaster response community resilience.
volunteer, Decibelle Tan,
laying the New Zealand
Red Cross wreath at the
National Memorial for the
Canterbury Earthquakes.
Our
Fundamental
Principles
Kids at Crank Up Day ɠ Humanity
in Invercargill.
ɠ Impartiality
ɠ Neutrality
Red Cross Appeal Southland ɠ Independence
ɠ Voluntary Service
ɠ Unity
ɠ Universality
Read more about them at
redcross.org.nz/about-us/
what-we-stand-for.
2
Students from Scot’s College
in Wellington.
2021 Helping
RED CROSS us stay
APPEAL:
eri.
our appeal in Kerik
People supporting
Our Napier Branch.
Street collectors in Whangarei.
3 RED Good people doing good things
New Zealand Red Cross Secretary General, Sarah Stuart-Black,
and National President, Kerry Nickels, collecting in Auckland.
street collectors holding An important part of our
buckets and sharing stories disaster preparedness at
about the great work New Zealand Red Cross is
New Zealand Red Cross is making sure we have the
doing in our communities. financial resources we need to
respond quickly. While Kiwis
More than 1,500 people
often donate very generously
volunteered their time in
following an emergency, we
25 towns and cities across
need to make sure we have
Aotearoa to stand on
funds available before that so
footpaths and storefronts
we can immediately help when
with donation buckets
people need us most.
and tap-and-go devices
From 15-21 March, in hand. From 15-21 March, That’s why the Red
an accumulated 4,000 hours
hundreds of good people Cross Appeal is so
were spent volunteering for
across Aotearoa were the Red Cross Appeal. This important
seen doing good things is a remarkable effort, and Our supporters are an
we would like to extend our essential part of helping those
in support of our annual utmost thanks to all our street people thrust into vulnerable
Red Cross Appeal. collectors for their incredible situations. The Red Cross
support in raising vital funds Appeal is a great opportunity to
The Red Cross Appeal is to help people in need. get involved. Only with the help
New Zealand Red Cross’ annual New Zealand Red Cross of our Red Cross supporters
fundraising campaign that helps is committed to making can we make a real difference
the organisation support people fundraising opportunities to people in their hour of need.
in need and be prepared to as accessible as possible for
respond when disaster strikes. Thank you!
donors and volunteers alike
Our street appeal was cancelled so, this year, we also invited This year’s Red Cross Appeal
last year due to COVID-19, but supporters to join the Red Cross would not have been possible
our work helping people in Appeal by signing up to a virtual without the support of all
Aotearoa and overseas has bucket collection. This was a our Red Cross people - our
continued. From helping former quick and easy way for people members, volunteers, staff and
refugees settle into their new to support the appeal and share corporate supporters.
homes, to delivering meals it with their friends, whānau, Thank you to everyone who
to vulnerable people, from colleagues and neighbours. made the 2021 Red Cross
providing first aid training in Appeal so successful. In
Why is the Red Cross
the community, to helping Aotearoa and around the
stranded foreign nationals Appeal so important? world, Red Cross will continue
through COVID-19, we are here We know emergencies can to support people in need,
– whenever and wherever our happen anywhere and at wherever they may be and
help is needed. any time. Our communities whatever they may face.
are often hit hard by the
Out and about consequences – individuals
This March, our wonderful Red are impacted, homes, schools Join our next fundraising
Cross people took to the streets and workplaces are damaged, event in June – our new look
all over the country to support access and transportation is Red Cross Journey! Sign up at
the Red Cross Appeal. From disrupted, communities and redcrossjourney.org.nz.
Kerikeri to Invercargill, we had networks are displaced.
4
REFLECTING
ON THE
CA NT ER BU RY
EAR THQ UA KE
10 YEARS ON
On 22 February 2011, Trudy was based in the neighbourhoods to conduct
disaster response Emergency Operations Centre, welfare checks and listen to
volunteer Trudy Taylor along with other organisations what people needed.
was in her home in who were responding to the
disaster. The space was shared One of the stories that stuck
Whanganui when she felt with Trudy was when she
with volunteers who were
the ground shaking. She received a call from a volunteer
taking calls from affected
huddled around the radio on the ground who told her
members of the public. Trudy
with her husband as they would receive lists of individuals about a woman they had
listened anxiously to the who needed assistance and assisted earlier that day.
announcement that a 6.3 would send assist teams to help. “They [disaster response
magnitude earthquake had
Sending teams to locations volunteers] had taken her to
hit the Canterbury region. the showers and the showers
where people needed assistance
One week later, she was on was challenging in the ever- were cold. But she was so
a flight to Christchurch with changing landscape of the city. grateful because she hadn’t
fellow members of her Disaster showered in a week and just
“You could drive somewhere stood there and cried and
Welfare and Support Team. They and, 10 minutes later, you
were heading down to assist repeated ‘thank you so much’.
weren’t allowed to drive down
with New Zealand Red Cross’ It’s those stories that hit home
that road anymore. Suddenly
response efforts. and make you realise why we are
there was a big sinkhole. I tried
there and why we are doing it.”
“I joined the second wave to organise it so that teams
of responders. By the time could stay in the same area, to The emotional toll
reduce the travel time needed.”
I had arrived, there was Busy days turned into weeks,
infrastructure already in place,” Red Cross’ disaster and the disaster response
explains Trudy. response teams went into teams didn’t get many
5 RED Good people doing good things
“There was certainly a lot those people?’ We’re so lucky
of stress. You could see that we haven’t gone through that.”
people were going through The experience of being a
hard times,” says Trudy. part of Red Cross’ response in
“One of the hardest things Canterbury 10 years ago is one
when you’re on a local disaster that will stay with Trudy forever.
response team, and it’s your “It was that anchor point for
community affected, is not me – why I volunteer. That’s
doing anything. That’s what what Red Cross is all about.
you’ve trained for – you want The humanitarian part is just
to help your community. Going amazing. That cemented for
about your daily routine or me that I should keep going
going to work is hard because and continue with what I’m
where you want to be is out doing. It was meaningful and
there helping,” she says. it stood for all our principles,
and that’s why we’re there,”
From Whanganui to she says.
Trudy Taylor alongside her husband Christchurch with love
Lindsey Taylor and fellow disaster Ready when needed
response volunteer Shaun Jarman. After an exhausting four days in From providing first aid to
Christchurch, Trudy was sitting supporting with evacuation,
at the airport when she, for the our volunteers are multiskilled
first time, started to realise the and available to support
opportunities to reflect on the
significance of Red Cross being people affected by a disaster at
magnitude of the situation.
in Christchurch. a moment’s notice.
They were focused on the
task at hand, with aftershocks “I was still in my uniform, We would like to take this
reminding them of the reality thinking about how I hadn’t opportunity to recognise
they were in. had a chance to shower for four our amazing partners, New
You could hear everyone days. I had numerous people Zealand Post, as we celebrate
holding their breath when come up to me and shake my 10 years of partnership.
those big aftershocks came hand and say thank you. One Over the past decade, thanks
through, and there were lady hugged me and said: ‘Red to the enduring support from
people who you could tell Cross has done such wonderful New Zealand Post, we have
were locals because they things for me in the last three continued to deliver positive
were the ones who would days. I can’t thank you enough.’ impact where it’s needed most.
dive under the tables and It was so heart-warming,”
just sit there trembling, recalls Trudy.
says Trudy.
Trudy returned to Whanganui
When assigning assistance and went straight back to work, DONATE
groups, Trudy would try to pair but her thoughts remained with
a local disaster response team the people of Christchurch. to enable our disaster
member with a team member response volunteers to
from another city. This was “When I came back home, for train and offer support to
done to utilise local knowledge those first few days, it was people after a disaster.
of the roads and to make sure hard to think normally again, redcross.org.nz/donate.
the volunteers had someone to because all you’re thinking
speak to if they needed to vent. about is, ‘what else can I do for
6
FROM SYRIA TO AOTEAROA:
THE TALES OF FOUR WOMEN WHO
survived THE BOMBS
Imagine one day, the walls of your home start shaking, the sounds of our tūī
are replaced by those of loud explosions, fresh air changes to the smell of
burning and death, and blue skies are hidden behind grey smoke. Imagine
Aotearoa is no longer safe. Bullets and bombs have become the new normal.
What would you do? people just like us who had no Ten years after the start of the
option other than to flee. Syrian conflict, people in Syria
In the last decade, the world are faced with a multitude of
has witnessed the highest Since March 2011, fighting
crises: continuous hostilities,
levels of displacement on between state and non-state
a complete economic
record – 80 million forcibly armed groups in Syria has
breakdown and the COVID-19
displaced people. More people caused large-scale death and
pandemic. Infrastructure
are fleeing their homes than destruction and has triggered
across the country is ruined.
ever before, even surpassing more than five million people to
People are unable to cover
post-World War II numbers. flee the bombs and bullets and
their most basic needs because
Behind this staggering figure escape across borders. Millions
of serious shortages of food,
are ordinary people who more have been displaced
water, fuel and medicines,
have faced extraordinary inside Syria and are still in dire
among other supplies. They
circumstances. Children, need of assistance. As the war
are more dependent on aid
mothers, grandparents – continues, hope is fading.
today than they were five or 10
years ago. Millions of Syrians,
who were once self-sufficient,
rely on humanitarian
assistance and face serious
food shortages. The top
three priorities expressed by
Syrians are access to food and
nutrition, livelihood support
and shelter support over
winter.
Since the beginning of the
conflict, our colleagues at
the Syrian Arab Red Crescent
have been on the frontline of
the humanitarian response
to this crisis. With support
from across the International
Red Cross and Red Crescent
7 RED Good people doing good things Photo: Syrian Arab Red Crescent
Movement, Red Crescent New Zealand’s annual Refugee with four incredible women
volunteers bring aid, medical Quota Programme of 750. who fled the horror of the
assistance and care to millions conflict and were offered a new
In the last seven years,
of people, without regard for and peaceful life in Dunedin.
Aotearoa has welcomed
political affiliation, ethnicity or They are four different women
thousands of Syrian refugees.
creed. Risking their own lives, whose strengths and outlooks
It is undeniable that Syrians
Red Crescent volunteers are on life we can all learn from,
have made New Zealand a
delivering 60 per cent of all aid and who feel very lucky they
better place – a country that
in Syria. are able to be called Kiwis.
is a little more diverse, skilled,
From Syria to Aotearoa colourful and beautiful than Meet Manahel Haroura, Nisrine
before. Over the years, these Zarzar, Rahaf Almabaid and
In November 2014, as an
new Kiwis have shared their Alia Al Mohamad, four inspiring
increasing number of people
culture, skills, food and work former refugee wāhine, each
were forced to flee Syria, with a unique story of survival,
ethic with the rest of Aotearoa.
New Zealand started offering courage and determination.
sanctuary to Syrian refugees. Thousands of kilometres away
A special emergency quota was from the Syrian conflict, in
set up for people who had fled peaceful Aotearoa, we met
the Syrian conflict, in addition to
MANAHEL HAROURA
Manahel has the uncanny Manahel's tenacity and
ability to light up every ambition led her to approach
room she enters. Always. New Zealand Red Cross to
Despite everything she’s help her find employment.
been through, her positive Red Cross’ Pathways to
outlook on life is contagious. Employment team in Dunedin
introduced Manahel to Earth
Manahel is a single mother
Sea Sky in Christchurch, which
who fled the war in Syria with
owns Elco Apparel in Dunedin. specific to sewing – Manahel
her three children across the
has picked up the ins and
border to Lebanon. Like many The buzz of sewing machines
outs of being a machinist very
others, she doesn’t like to recall in the Elco Apparel workroom
quickly.
her experiences and wants to was new to Manahel, but she’s
focus on the future – one that become very familiar with With this job, I feel like I
she hopes will bring peace the sound since she started am doing something good
and happiness to her family. training as a machinist. It’s in life. And my children are
In 2017, the family was offered a sound she’s learned to so happy. They came to the
resettlement in Dunedin – a appreciate – one that reminds workshop and had a very
new life Manahel has grabbed her how safe she is in New nice time here. They know
with both hands. Zealand, away from the noise all the team and the team
of bombs in Syria. knows them. Today, my son
“It’s nice, safe, quiet and with
many friendly people. And Despite having to learn how to cried because he wanted to
Dunedin is such a nice city. I’m use these machines – alongside come to the workshop with
happy here,” says Manahel. a whole new vocabulary me, Manahel laughs.
8
by the sound of a violent the Zarzar family has been
explosion. It was a bomb, living peacefully in Dunedin,
which ripped Nisrine’s world a city they love and now call
apart. The blast injured her home.
other son, Kasem, who lost
Nisrine is a tenacious woman
his leg and injured his arm.
whose grace, courage and
On that day, Nisrine also lost
outlook on life is an inspiration
her husband, two daughters
to many. She has found a way
and a son.
to rebuild her life, despite the
Nisrine didn’t choose to horror she has experienced, and
Nisrine Zarzar
flee Syria – she had no her resilience is something many
other option if she wanted of us can learn from. For all
to keep Kasem and her the other women struggling to
unborn child safe. Once make Aotearoa their new home,
Behind Nisrine Zarzar’s Kasem recovered from the whatever their circumstance,
beautifully colour- injuries caused by the bomb, Nisrine has one message:
coordinated pink hijab they crossed the border to
Lebanon where she applied
Don’t give up. The future
and top, complemented will cover everything for you.
through the United Nations
by matching makeup, is You must work very hard to
for protection under the 1951
a woman with incredible achieve what you want.
Refugee Convention. Because
strength and resilience. of Kasem’s disability, the offer
Nisrine was six months pregnant for resettlement in New
with her son, Mohammad, when Zealand came relatively quickly
her cooking was interrupted – two years later. Since 2017,
Rahaf Almabaid
Rahaf Almabaid is a talented research. The first thing I found
writer and student, who will was University of Otago –
tackle any challenge that which is so weird! I got excited
comes her way in order to and thought, ‘Maybe it will
reach her dreams. be my university one day?’,”
explains Rahaf.
From a very young age, she
dreamt of going to university. Little did she know that the
– [I want to] do it for my
When the war in Syria broke University of Otago was indeed
going to be the place where parents, who sacrificed
out and her family was forced
she would pursue her dream everything for me and my
to flee to Lebanon, Rahaf did
not stop pursuing her goals. to become a doctor. Last year, brother. They wanted us to
Even before she and her family she completed her first year have these opportunities
were offered resettlement in of Health Science and, this and they get so excited
Aotearoa, Rahaf had her eyes year, she’s enrolled to start whenever we do something
set on the University of Otago. Biomedical Science, majoring new, so I’m going for it.
in functional human biology.
“Once I heard about the Nothing will stop Rahaf from
possibility of moving to I dream to be a doctor achieving her dreams – her
New Zealand, I did my and help the community story is far from over.
9 RED Good people doing good thingsDID YOU
KNOW?
New Zealand Red
Cross is the primary
A L IA provider of community
refugee settlement in
Aotearoa, supporting
AL MOHAMAD
Alia Al Mohamad’s story of With the help of her new
and empowering new
Kiwis as they rebuild
their lives. The Red
perseverance and passion friends, Alia was able to build
Cross team is always
for humanity is one that a life in Dunedin and look looking for volunteers
will inspire anyone lucky forward to her Kiwi future – a wanting to help a new
enough to cross her path. mindset that requires a lot of Kiwi family get settled
courage and strength, when
It took years for Alia to build everything you have worked for
in, or for employers
her successful career in Syria, has been lost. who are keen to offer
but the war took it all away. employment to a former
Thankfully, her passion and In Syria, I studied,
fortitude were left intact. graduated, had my own refugee.
Alia had everything she could house and my own clinic, Visit redcross.org.
but now I have to start from
dream of in Syria – a beautiful nz/refugees to find
and loving family, her own scratch, she says.
out how you can get
house, a business and an Alia was unable to get into
impressive career. She was a involved.
midwifery because her
superwoman, able to do it all. English language proficiency
Alia worked as a qualified wasn’t quite high enough.
midwife in Syria for 11 years, A few more years learning
both in a public hospital and the language and there is
at her private clinic, while no doubt Alia’s incredible
raising four children. Life was passion for midwifery will lead
busy, but it brought her a lot her to becoming a midwife
of happiness. in Dunedin. She is already
supporting pregnant women in
Then the war began, and her her community, other refugee-
hospital was bombed. Alia knew background Syrians, as a friend. Offer someone from a
it was time to leave, so she fled
the country with her family and “Working as a midwife is part of refugee background a
crossed the Lebanese border, me, anytime – midwifery is my job. Visit redcross.
where they lived for four years passion. It means humanity, org.nz/pathways.
before they were offered resilience, being kind. It means
resettlement in New Zealand. a lot to me.”
10The sound
of Dunedin
VAD Choir in their veils and dark
blue capes with red lining
in 1946 (Hocken collection)
“Just a quiet wee choir that does a lot for the community.”
Since its formation in beyond their initial aims.
Today, the group plays a pivotal
1941, the Red Cross
role in residential welfare
Choir has been a pillar work and fundraising support
of strength in the wider for Red Cross throughout the
Dunedin community. Otago region.
For 80 years, the group Carols and camaraderie
and its members have Today, the Red Cross Choir
brought joy to the world is made up of 28 passionate,
inspired, wise-cracking
by singing at rest homes, women who come from all members have been with the
hospitals and church different walks of life and all choir for more than 30 years.
services throughout different ages.
“One lady, who retired last
the city. Along the way, Most members are referred year, had been with the
they’ve been fundraising to the choir by someone they group for 42 years,” says a
know. They, in turn, might member. “Another shifted to
for New Zealand Red recruit another friend or family Christchurch to be with her
Cross and supporting member to join in the fun. But, family, and she’d been with the
many people. what do they have in common? choir for 45 years.”
And why do they stay?
A meaningful impact
80 years of practice We’re all here for the The Red Cross Choir puts on
At the time of its inception, love of singing, really, an annual concert – usually
the choir was called the says one member, who in October – to raise funds
Voluntary Aid Detachment has been with the choir for New Zealand Red Cross,
(VAD) Choir. Its founder, Miss averaging about $500 in
upwards of 15 years. donations per concert. This
Doris Ramsay, was a VAD nurse
“My mother’s in the choir,” says money helps support the
at Montecillo Convalescent
another. “She’s coming up on organisation’s Migration
Home for Soldiers in Dunedin.
being a life member – more Programme and local Youth
The choir’s primary objective than 30 years. That was how I Emergency Preparedness
was to provide entertainment got introduced to the group.” Programme.
in the form of Christmas carols
to patients in hospitals and Camaraderie plays a big role in Post-concert, the choir
the culture of the choir itself, spends the remaining summer
homes throughout the region.
with most members referred months singing in rest homes
Decades later, the Red Cross by friends and staying for the throughout the region as yet
Choir has progressed far social experience. Several another way to give back to the
11 RED Good people doing good thingsThe incredible women behind the Red Cross Choir in Dunedin.
community. They visit around outer city limits. Sometimes, “Some of them get dressed up
15-20 rest homes every season. they go on tour. in wigs and glasses – all sorts of
crazy things go on in the bus.”
“One time, we sang for a group “The choir travels a bit,” begins
of residents with dementia,” one member. “Unless you’re in the back seat.”
says one member. “Apparently, “The road trips are a highlight,” “Oh, the back seat’s terrible,
they’d been very restless all says another. isn’t it?”
day, so when we arrived the
nurses warned us they’d had “You haven’t done anything if A hopeful harmony
a bad day and we shouldn’t you haven’t been on a road trip
with the Red Cross Choir,” adds The enduring spirit of the Red
expect too much. As soon as Cross Choir is infectious. After
the first.
we started singing, we had spending just a few hours in
their attention. One resident At the first mention of “road their presence, you can’t help
sang with us – every word – trips,” the room immediately
but find yourself enamoured
and others got up and danced fills with the type of nostalgic
by each and every one of them.
about the room. laughter that makes you wish
Watching them perform, the
you’d been part of whatever
We go to a lot of rest joy that they bring to audiences
memory the group is sharing at
is equally as catching.
homes, but that night that moment. What is it about
was very special. It was these road trips that makes
them so special? FEELING INSPIRED?
so rewarding.
“Oh, the girls have a lovely time WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Merriment and on the bus.”
memories Contact your local Red Cross
“The day in the bus!” branch to find out what they’re
Although they are based in up to, and how you can join in
Dunedin, the Red Cross Choir What happens on the
on the fun at redcross.org.
does not restrict itself to the bus, stays on the bus.
nz/get-involved/join-branch.
12Kathleen reenacting
performing CPR on Merv.
“He was sitting in a
chair next to me and,
within moments, he
IT’S THE GREATEST just lunged off his
chair. I went to him,
calling his name,
GIFT TO SAVE A LIFE
then put him into the
stable side position,
and went to grab the
phone,” recalls Kathleen.
On Sunday 20 December 2020, Kathleen Working for New Zealand
Red Cross in Dunedin for the
Morris woke up early and sat on her deck past nine years, Kathleen has
to enjoy her morning coffee. Her husband gone through her fair share of
Merv, who had gone for a walk earlier that first aid courses, yet this was
the first time she had to use
morning, came back and joined her on the her training.
deck with his breakfast in hand. Then, the As soon as the operator
unexpected happened. answered the phone, Kathleen
13 RED Good people doing good thingsstarted CPR (cardiopulmonary there my daughter had arrived.” in to work, she took the
resuscitation). opportunity to work fewer
When Kathleen arrived at
hours, or from home, with the
“I remember thinking, ‘oh am Dunedin Hospital, her husband
full support of her Red Cross
I doing this correctly?’ On the Merv had already been moved
whānau.
mannequin, you hear the to the intensive care unit, where
'click click', but on a person, he spent the next three and a After nine years with New
you don’t. half days in an induced coma. Zealand Red Cross, Kathleen
decided to step down from her
I did CPR on Merv for Merv suffered a cardiac arrest,
role to allow herself the space
10 minutes before the which occurs when the heart’s
to prioritise her wellbeing.
emergency services arrived. electrical system malfunctions.
They came in, we were on “I have loved my job, but I’ve
“They told me that only two
the deck so we cleared come to that point where I
per cent of people who have
some chairs and [they need to think about myself and
a cardiac arrest outside of a
went] straight in with the try and get some peace.”
hospital actually survive.
defibrillator, seven shocks The CPR that I’ve learned Be prepared, take a
with CPR in between, with Red Cross over the years first aid course
says Kathleen. obviously set me up to get in
there. I knew exactly what I Through her experience,
was doing,” says Kathleen. Kathleen has a simple message
to everyone: be prepared by
Taking recovery one taking a first aid course.
step at a time
Everyone should be
Four months on, Kathleen doing a first aid course at
has figured out the best some point. It builds your
way to move forward is confidence to jump in and
by focusing on her mental start when you have to,
health. From the morning she says.
her husband collapsed, to
helping him get back into Kathleen and Merv live 10
a normal routine, she is minutes outside of Dunedin
learning to shift the focus and there aren’t any Automated
onto her wellbeing. External Defibrillators (AEDs)
nearby. For her own peace of
“He struggled with seeing mind, Kathleen purchased
Kathleen Morris and her huband Merv. me struggle. He doesn’t an AED for her home. Her
remember it, it all just neighbours are welcome to
happened to him – and he use it if they need to.
Kathleen left the paramedics was in a coma,” she says, her
and moved inside to call her voice choked with emotion. “If I hadn’t [stepped in], I
daughter to let her know what wouldn’t have him with me.
had happened and arrange to “The unknown of why it [Even] if I hadn’t succeeded, I
meet each other at Dunedin happened in the first place, would have to live with that,
Hospital. that’s been the hardest thing but at least I tried.”
for me. Because Merv is a slim
“We didn’t know if he was and fit person, you don’t expect “It’s the greatest gift to save
going to live or not,” Kathleen this to happen to someone so a life.”
recalls through a shaky voice. fit and active.”
“The police took me to the Kathleen took her recovery Book a first aid course
hospital and by the time I got slowly. Easing her way back redcross.org.nz/first-aid.
14Blog: From Aotearoa to Armenia,
face-to-face with the unimaginable
In this blog, New Zealand up with the news about the and my communications skills
Red Cross delegate Jessica Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. to tell the stories of people
Timings talks about her I knew that on 27 September who were in need and how Red
time in Armenia, helping 2020, this long-running conflict Cross was helping them.
the response to the needs had escalated significantly,
For me, the decision to go
of people fleeing the resulting in thousands of
was pretty straightforward.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. deaths and hundreds of
There were people in need,
thousands of people – mostly
Something roared above us, mums, kids and older people – and I had something to offer.
prompting me to stay alert. being forced to flee the heavy That’s how I ended up in a
From inside the car, I craned my fighting. The International car heading out of the capital
neck to scan the sky, hoping to Red Cross and Red Crescent of Armenia, with colleagues
see what had made the noise, Movement, namely Armenian from IFRC and Armenian
and spotted a grey military jet Red Cross Society, Azerbaijan Red Cross Society, toward a
carving up the clouds. Its engine Red Crescent Society, the small town called Artashat.
growled, echoing across the International Committee The car rumbled towards our
wide road as it sped over us. of the Red Cross (ICRC) and destination, a kindergarten just
Just off to our left, two huge International Federation of beyond Artashat that usually
conical chimneys jutted up – Red Cross and Red Crescent resonates with the joyful sound
cooling towers of the nuclear Societies (IFRC), have been of hundreds of children. As
plant just a few kilometres working incredibly hard to help our car rolled up, the silence
outside the city. Adjusting those affected. was eerie. Just three children
the mask on my face, I took a played quietly in the dusty yard
moment to take it all in. I was asked to work with the
out front. Washing hung above
IFRC, to support Red Cross
Yerevan, Armenia was about a rainbow-coloured fence,
in Armenia and work closely
as far from Aotearoa as I could faded artwork decorated the
with IFRC colleagues in
imagine being. Even before walls inside.
Azerbaijan. My role was to use
I arrived, I’d been keeping my knowledge of the Red Cross The kindergarten had been
people
Red Cross speaks directly with the
get a bette r unde rstan ding of
in need to
their circumstances and needs.
Support people
overseas, donate to
redcross.org.nz/
donate/around-world.
15 RED Good people doing good thingsclosed because of COVID-19, The kindergarten had basic Some of their stories were so
but its doors were open to washing and cooking utilities, harrowing it was hard to hear,
people from areas affected by shared by all who were staying but all the more important
the conflict who were in urgent there. Food and other essential because of it. The more Red
need. At the front door, we items were provided by Cross understands their
were met by the kindergarten’s Armenian Red Cross Society, circumstances and needs, the
manager who told us that, at local authorities and other more – and better – we can
its peak, around 80 women, agencies. help. And by being able to retell
children and elderly were their stories to others, I can help
Though the ceasefire
living, sleeping and eating increase much-needed support
announcement signed on 9
there. They arrived in waves. for this response.
November 2020 meant some
Most, if not all, of them had no
were able to return to their After a coffee with the manager
idea when they might be able
homes, more were afraid to go and my colleagues, we headed
to return to their homes.
back. The family of eight were back to the car. We were quiet,
The manager guided us among those who felt they still contemplating what we
through the cold hallway, could not yet return, but did had heard and seen. There is a
into a room that still bore the not know where they could go lot to do.
tell-tale signs of a classroom: from there.
Many of these people fled with
colourful blocks and craft items
Many children are unable to only the clothes on their back,
on a shelf, small cots stacked
attend school, though some leaving everything behind.
up against a wall. But the room
have been able to attend They need things that we often
was repurposed, a family of
schools near their temporary take for granted: food, water,
eight sharing the space and
places of shelter. blankets and warm clothes.
two mattresses on the floor.
These are basic items that only
Their shoes were lined up “I am in my last year of school,
cost a little but will mean a
beside the doorway. I want to finish. I am planning
whole lot to them.
to continue my education at
One of the daughters shared
university next year, but I don’t Coming from Aotearoa, stories
their story with us: the family
know whether I will be able to of war and fighting feel foreign
left their home almost as soon
get back to school,” shares the and hard to imagine. After
as the conflict escalated. She
daughter. meeting people who have
recalled the walls of their home
experienced it first hand, I
shaking from shelling close by. We want people to know
couldn’t help but realise how
“Our children were afraid,”
we are here, we exist, we people like me are lucky for not
describes the mother. “One are not forgotten. having to go through such an
of the boys could not speak I spoke with the family a ordeal. It was a reminder that
for two days. That is when we little longer, and with others we have a lot to be thankful for
knew it was not safe.” staying in the kindergarten. and a lot that we can give.
decorated with washing hung
A displaced family neatly lined up A kindergarten just beyond Artashat
orary shelter there.
their shoes beside the doorway of by displaced people seeking temp
a classroom that now serves
as their living space.
16Kerikeri
Auckland/Northland Branch
volunteers
y The Kerikeri Branch celebrated holding a
Neighbours Day Aotearoa sausage sizzle
with a BBQ and free children’s to celebrate
Neighbours Day
workshop at the local Aotearoa.
Bunnings Warehouse.
y On 28 March, the Auckland
Service Centre went along
to CultureFest in Mt Roskill,
where they spent the day Young people from all over
highlighting volunteering New Zealand get together
opportunities, showcasing to have meaningful
conversations and discuss
our work with refugee- the future of youth
background families, and engagement in Aotearoa.
promoting readiness and
resilience.
Snippets
y Auckland Emergency
Management paid a visit to
our Auckland Service Centre
to discuss opportunities
for further support and
collaboration.
y The Waiheke Branch hosted
their first Good and Ready
Auckland workshop 1 April.
from the regions
New Zealand Red Cross people are doing
y Auckland hosted three DNA
of Red Cross workshops in amazing work all over Aotearoa. Check out
April (Waiheke Branch, Wiri what’s been happening in the regions.
and Three Kings).
Lovely day for a garden
party in New Plymouth.
Taranaki/Manawatū
y In February, our Taranaki team held a successful y Work is underway to roll
team hosted a garden party community plant swap out a free Introduction
to thank all their volunteers event at the Palmerston to Psychosocial Support
and members for their North Library. Many people Workshop for community
ongoing support.
attended and brought a groups and organisations
y For Neighbours Day range of plants, produce in the region. Watch this
Aotearoa, the Manawatū and seeds to swap. space!
17 RED Good people doing good thingsWaikato/Bay of Plenty
y Our amazing volunteers y On 11 March, our Cross-
organised a spontaneous Cultural Workers from
pop-up book fair at the Auckland and Hamilton
Waikato Service Centre in came together for a hui
March. They plan to hold at Lake Karapiro.
three more pop-up book fair
events throughout the year. y The Bay of Plenty team
celebrated Neighbours
y We celebrated the birthday Day on 21 March. They
ghbours
Red Cross in action at Nei of one of our members in the showcased the Red Cross
the Bay of Ple nty.
Day in Bay of Plenty – Ann Tutbury, ute and trailer, played a
who recently turned 90 years few games and provided
old, had been volunteering AED training and disaster
since 1964 as a Meals on readiness information.
Wheels driver.
Hui. Ann Tutbury celebrating
Cross-Cultural Workers her 90th birthday.
East Coast/Wairarapa
y Morning teas were held y As part of Good and Ready,
in Wairoa, Hastings and our East Coast team has
Waipukurau in March to thank agreed to support Tairawhiti
our wonderful volunteer Civil Defence Emergency
drivers who have supported Management in their
the Community Transport submission to Te Puni
programme over the years. Kokiri for funding through
the Kāinga Rua: Marae
y On 26 March, the Hastings Resilience and Emergency
team put on a plant swap Preparedness Programme.
event for Neighbours
Day Aotearoa. Despite y For Neighbours Day
the 7.30am start, more Aotearoa, Red Cross in
than 40 stakeholders and Wairarapa held three
members turned up to plant swap events at the
swap conversation, plants community gardens in
and produce over a cooked Masterton, Carterton and
Great Plant Swap event breakfast. Martinborough.
in Wairarapa to celebrate
Neighbours Day Aotearoa.
18Wellington local staff and members
enjoying everything from a
y New Zealand Red Cross was ‘Green Lunch’ to swapping
recognised as the Charity
seeds and plants. The
of the Year by the Mana Porirua group members with Area
Wellington Branch also
Embroiderers’ Guild in Council Chair Marty Barrett at the
made an appearance at the Mana Embroiderers' Guild.
March.
Newtown Festival, where
y A hui was held on 22 March they were spotted chatting
to inform members about to the public about all things
the launch of Good and neighbourly and Red Cross.
Ready in Wellington.
y On 1 May, the Wellington
y Neighbours Day 2021 Area Council held their Area
was a big success, with Planning Forum. Good and Ready
Wellington
Information Hui.
Tasman/Marlborough
y Our Blenheim team
celebrated Neighbours
Day Aotearoa with a
multicultural tea party,
held in collaboration with
Neighbourhood Support Multicultural tea party in Blenheim
to celebrate
Neighbours Day Aotearoa.
Marlborough and the
Marlborough Multicultural
Centre.
y The Blenheim team co- The Nelson
hosted an information refugee support
team celebrating
session for members of the the hard work
local Pasifika community of our dedicated
about emergency volunteers.
preparedness and the
importance of maintaining
healthy homes.
y On 8 May, World Red Cross
and Red Crescent Day, the
Nelson team held a small
celebration to recognise
all of the refugee support
volunteers who had
completed more than five
placements with families.
y On 27 April, the Tasman/
Marlborough Area Council
held their annual Area Forum. l) and Kerry
Norm (Secretary Genera
ing part in
(National President) tak
Southland
a few games during the
um in Invercarg ill.
Area For
19 RED Good people doing good thingsCanterbury/West Coast team, our Mid-Canterbury y In March, the Methven
Branches donated several Branch, with support from
y The Christchurch disaster first aid kits to former one of our Disaster Welfare
response team held an event refugee families. and Support Teams, hosted
for past and present disaster a stall at the A&P Show.
response volunteers to mark y The Ashburton Branch
generously donated three y The Timaru Area Branch
the 10-year anniversary of
AEDs to Tinwald and Creek donated kitchen appliances
the Christchurch earthquake.
Road Shopping Centres, as and cleaning supplies to
y Earlier this year, with well as a local Scout Hall. former refugee families.
support from the Migration
Families gathered
together to celebrate
five years since Disaster response volunteers gath
ered
Dunedin became a to mark the 10-year anniversary of
the
refugee settlement Christchurch earthquakes.
location in 2016.
Otago/Southland Festival took place on
27 March. The local Red
y In late March, we celebrated Cross team helped plan
the five-year anniversary and coordinate the event’s
of refugee settlement in Wellbeing Zone.
Dunedin. The local team
put on an event that was y A DWST deployment training
(from left to right), disaster
response attended by well over 300 was held in Gore, with teams
rs Niti n, Tho mas , Dee pa and from Dunedin, Queenstown,
volu ntee
Inve rcargill.
people, including many
Nathan at Cran k Up Day in Gore and Invercargill in
former refugee families,
refugee support volunteers, attendance.
local stakeholders and y The Otago Area Forum
community members. was held on 15 April.
y In March, a pōwhiri was held to Membership awards
welcome former refugees and included one 40-year award
other migrants to Dunedin. and two 30-year awards, as
well as three 10-year awards.
y Dunedin celebrated
Neighbours Day Aotearoa y Our teams in Invercargill
with a community lunchtime have relocated to one
BBQ held across the road service centre at 242 Dee St.
from the service centre. Kaumātua Michael Skerrett
came to bless the building.
y Queenstown celebrated
Neighbours Day Aotearoa with y The Southland Area Forum
was held in March, with
an event at Happiness House,
a special visit from Norm
attended by 70 people.
(Secretary General) and
y The South Dunedin Street Kerry (National President).
20member Spotlight
Olivier Lacoua, a strong supporter of ours,
challenged himself to run 100 marathons to
raise money for New Zealand Red Cross. In
April, his incredible goal was finally achieved.
How did he do it? Why?
How did you get involved and a charity behind it. The ran half marathons on the day
with New Zealand Red Cross? natural choice was Red Cross. I to support me!
planned to run 100 marathons,
30 years ago, on a school trip What part of Red Cross do you
ending with the Marathon de
to Madrid, I had an accident admire the most?
Paris in 2020. I aimed to raise
where I suffered severe burns
$26,200 based on the 26.2 With no hesitation, the part I
on my arms and legs. I was
taken to a hospital where miles of a marathon. For a few admire the most is the level
the local Red Cross Society years I ran 10-12 marathons of kindness from everyone
provided me with first aid. The annually. My aim was to raise working or volunteering.
Red Cross helped rush me back awareness about the great Regardless of where you’re
to my home country – France – things that New Zealand Red from, your gender, your
for further medical assistance. Cross was doing, but also ethnicity, they provide vital
They were so kind and about maintaining good health emotional and practical
reassuring. I’ve never forgotten and being involved in the support in our communities.
this kindness, nor the accident, community. In 2018, during a
What’s your best fundraising
and thus began my fitness trip to France, I decided to run
tip?
journey (with a difference). the Marathon de Paris ahead
of schedule. I’m so happy I did! Challenge yourself before you
Why did you decide to run 100 I wouldn’t have been able to challenge others to give you a
marathons? last year because of COVID-19. donation. THINK BIG! Draft a
My first marathon was in 2008, I ran my 100th marathon in fundraising plan with a specific
in Christchurch, and while I the same city it all started – target and timeframe. Share
didn’t have any time in mind, Christchurch. It was so special your plan with family and
I was very happy to finish in to share this event with all my friends. They will be the first
under four hours! I decided Kiwi friends and, in particular, ones to encourage you and
to put a target on my running my two daughters who both offer their support to reach
your target. Don't worry if you
don’t smash it the first time.
Experiment! You can try to set
up a fundraising page, organise
a private dinner party, run a
special movie screening, share
your fundraising story to local
companies and encourage
them to donate, ask your local
pub to organise a quiz night…
Just try your best. Good luck!
21 RED Good people doing good thingsin Woolston, Christchur
ch
ouT
Check
our new
e d c r oss
r
shop
Our Red Cross Shop in
Woolston opened its We have Red Cross Shops in
doors to the public in May every corner of Aotearoa, which
2021. We are proud and all help divert approximately
1.8 million items from landfill
excited to become part of every year. If you own any good
the Woolston community quality items that you no longer
and would love to see you need, please consider donating
them to one of our shops.
in store, so head over to
6/8 Portman Street, You can also come and join
our amazing team by signing
Woolston, Christchurch.
up as a Red Cross Shop
The Woolston shop offers volunteer. By sparing just a
good quality, pre-loved few hours every week, you will
clothing, homeware, electrical make a personal contribution
appliances, furniture and much to the continuous delivery
For more information,
more at affordable prices. It of Red Cross’ much-needed
visit redcross.org.nz/
also sells brand-new reading support to people in need
red-cross-shops.
glasses and trendy sunnies! across Aotearoa and abroad.
Get involved Join the conversation NewZealandRedCross
Join today at Follow us on Facebook,
redcross.org.nz/get-involved Twitter and Instagram for all @NZRedCross
the latest New Zealand Red
Volunteer with us nzredcross
Cross news and updates.
Learn first aid
Donate Head to
Leave a lasting gift redcross.org.nz/volunteer
in your will to find out more.
Fundraise to help others
22You can also read
