New Zealand’s social fabric is largely held together by its not-for-profit organisations, Monica Robinson says, and after her own family tragedy, she knows just how much support they can provide.
Mrs Robinson’s husband Terry died of a heart attack when he was 47. She was 43 and a full-time mum of five kids aged four to 15.
“That caused a whole change in my view of life,” she says. “Out of that loss grew a whole lot of different things.”
She had worked for the New Zealand Post Office for 10 years before becoming a mum, and after being widowed she started working with different volunteer groups.
“I became involved in support for children and for adults through different groups such as WSD – Widowed, Separated and Divorced – and Beginning Experience.
She was inspired after doing a weekend course with Beginning Experience that aimed to help people “put the past behind them to make a new beginning”.
“It was an incredible experience and I saw so many people grow out of having attended it.”
She spent five years on the team, eventually becoming the chairwoman of the organisation.
“Then I became involved in Seasons for Growth that was written and funded by the Mary McKillop Foundation in Australia, which saw a need for the children of parents who have lost partners to have support as well.”
She helped take the programme national from its Wellington base.
“We saw whole groups of children grow having attended that course.”
Source:
- Dominion Post / Stuff
- Image: Dominion Post