NEWS
EDITOR, Mahurangi • Jannette Thompson
After finishing high school at Lynfield College, Jannette (nee Railey) undertook a journalism diploma with the former Auckland Technical Institute and joined Suburban Newspapers. She completed her cadetship at the Greymouth Evening Star before heading to Australia where she worked on numerous dailies and weeklies. In other incarnations, she has been a radio & television reporter for the ABC; chief reporter on the Samoa Observer; and a corporate communications manager for a major Queensland city. It has always been her wish to settle in the Whangateau/Pakiri area where her family has lived for many generations. Jannette is married to Len and has three children.
EDITOR, Hibiscus • Terry Moore
Terry was brought up in Auckland but has also lived in Christchurch and spent five years living in London and travelling. After completing a photography diploma at Whitecliffe College, and a BA in English at Auckland University, both as a mature student, Terry decided to combine her writing and photography skills. She worked in magazines for many years, as a freelance journalist, editor of NZ Adventure and NZ Skiing and deputy editor of NZ Gardener. A strong desire to live near the sea led to Terry, partner Andrew and daughter Rose settling in Whangaparaoa. These days, when she’s not putting together stories for Hibiscus Matters, you’ll find Terry in her garden.
JOURNALIST, Mahurangi • Adele Thackray
Auckland born and bred, Adele has more than 20 years of journalism and public relations experience. Since completing her journalism qualification at the former Auckland Technical Institute, she has worked on local and regional newspapers, as well as national trade and rural lifestyle magazines. Her public relations roles have involved work in a vast range of industries and projects for organisations in NZ, Australia, the Middle East and Sudan. Adele is also a qualified swimming instructor and currently lives in a rural setting near Silverdale. She is pleased that the talented singer Adele has made her name famous ... "I may never have to spell it out for anyone again".
CADET, Mahurangi • Nichole Ganley
Nichole spent most of her childhood growing up in Taupo before escaping the cold and moving to Auckland to finish high school at Pakuranga College in 2009. Having worked in various fields before moving into the hospitality industry, and working for SkyCity as a food and beverage apprentice, she joined the Local Matters team in August 2010 taking on the cadet reporter vacancy. She is studying for a National Diploma in Applied Journalism and is excited and looking forward to branching out into other areas of journalism once qualified. Nichole enjoys spending time with her little brother, her friends, rock-climbing, kayaking and being out and about in the sun.
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING MANAGER, Mahurangi • Cathrine Busbridge
Cathy was born in Wellington but her father’s job, as a civil engineer, meant the family was constantly on the move. She has lived in Napier, Auckland, New Plymouth and Rotorua. Her first home in the north was at Snells Beach, but she now lives in Mangawhai with her husband Denis, and a cat and dog. Cathy is the mother of Naomi and Tony, and her interests include tramping, kayaking, music and reading. She has a background in nursing and retail, and has been involved in advertising for Local Matters for around 10 years, where she enjoys the interactive and relational aspects of her job.
ADVERTISING MANAGER, Hibiscus • Monica Gregory
Monica comes from a mixed Irish/Chinese background. She has more than seven years experience in advertising sales - in Malaysia, where she was born, and in Phoenix Arizona, where she worked for a large newspaper company. She is also a fully-certified London Montessori teacher. Monica loves the challenge of working in advertising sales and says she learns something new everyday. She is also a keen sports woman playing tennis, field hockey and touch rugby, and she enjoys swimming, ballroom and salsa dancing, painting and word games.
ADVERTISING, Mahurangi • Renee Monds
Born in Tauranga, Renee moved to Rodney as a child, living first on the Hibiscus Coast and then Warkworth, where she completed her schooling at Mahurangi College. Renee worked at the Matakana Patisserie before moving to Wellington where she joined Jennian Homes in administration. In 2010, Renee returned to Warkworth where she worked as supervisor at the patisserie. She has a passion for interior design and is currently completing a Diploma with the Interior Design Institute. She is an active member of the equestrian community and enjoys the outdoors, visiting Rodney’s beaches, fishing, dirt bikes, fitness, and reading.
GRAPHIC DESIGN & WEB MANAGEMENT
HIBISCUS • Lorry McCarthy
Lorry has been in the printing/advertising industry for close to 20 years. She attended ATI studying Graphic Design, and worked in Canberra for two years, before settling down in Whangarei, getting married/divorced and having children (in that order). Lorry shifted to Whangaparaoa in 2006, where she worked on a magazine and also part-time at a photographers, designing wedding albums. She joined Hibiscus Matters in January 2009 and takes care of day-today reception work, classified advertising, website, some distribution and, of course, designing the Hibiscus Matters ads and paper. She is a single parent of a daughter and son, plays hockey, and is a volunteer Firefighter at Manly.
MAHURANGI • Rhonda Hawker
Rhonda joined the team in July 2009. She has been in the printing & advertising industries for 12 years working for printers, advertising agencies and newspapers. Rhonda has learnt all her knowledge and skills within the industries and is passionate about her work. Her home town is Wanganui. She moved to Auckland for two years before settling down in Leigh in 2005 with partner Pieter and his son Noah. She has just purchased her first home in Leigh. She is a keen runner/walker and completed her first half marathon in April 2009, there are plans for another!!!! She also enjoys photography, mountain biking and potting around in her vege garden
ONLINE EDITOR • Cathy Aronson
Cathy is a journalist, photo-journalist and editor, with a passion for online communities. As a journalist she has reported for community and daily newspapers - covering everything from environment, councils and transport to entertainment. As an online editor she has worked on three of New Zealand’s largest websites – NZ Herald, Yahoo and Scoop. Cathy is currently the Editor of NZ’s creative community website The Big Idea. She is also the Online Editor for Local Matters - in charge of curating and sharing 'local matters' online. All from her home office in Leigh, by the sea.
MARKETING MANAGER • Pauline Stockhausen
Pauline is passionate about ‘community’, and the people and businesses within it, so working with Hibiscus Matters is a perfect fit. She loves helping clients with their advertising and marketing, and her clients know she is available to help them in any way she can. Pauline first joined Hibiscus Matters as a graphic designer, ventured into advertising and is now fully immersed in the world of social networking. When not tweeting and Facebooking, you will find her hanging out with her husband and 11-year-old daughter.
RESIDENT CARTOONIST • Craig Powell
Much to my parents embarrassment, my drawing ability is attributed to the untold hours of waiting in pub carparks, placated with a scrapbook and 2B pencil. This basic grounding was expanded upon at boarding school, where I discovered the power of caricature and satire. Initially, this caused great amusement, but when the humour subsided, I learnt another lesson.
When not drawing cartoons, I’m either making videos, playing Mr Handyman or looking after our two children. The latter role comes with additional title Head of Department for humorous birthday cards and videos, which I admit is rather fun. And who knows, maybe some of this creativity will rub-off on the kids, which would be preferable to the pub carpark. (Sorry Mum & Dad) .
ACCOUNTS, ADMINISTRATION & DISTRIBUTION
OFFICE MANAGER • Angela Thomas
A Warkworth girl, born and bred, Angela is a keen sportswoman playing touch rugby for Low Key in the Whangateau Domain competition, netball and competing in half-marathons. She originally trained as a veterinary nurse in Orewa, where she worked for six years, before moving to administrative work with Tranz Pictures, in Auckland, and then the Art of Cheese, Puhoi. Angela, who joined Local Matters two years ago, is married to earthmoving contractor Mark and they have two gorgeous children, Jordon and Drue.
