One Mahurangi – Unsung heroes

A week ago, New Zealand hosted Super Shot Saturday – a national event designed to encourage more people to get vaccinated, and it worked, with over 130,000 people across New Zealand getting either fully or partly vaccinated against Covid-19.

Here in Warkworth, One Mahurangi wanted to play our part. We knew the Warkworth Lions were going to having a sausage sizzle in the carpark of Kawau Bay Medical and, as we often do, we worked in with each other.

There were three vaccination places in town; Franklins Pharmacy, Kawau Bay Medical and Kowhai Medical Centre, and we thought it would be great to have spot prizes to give out to the community waiting to be vaccinated at all three.

We didn’t want to approach businesses directly, knowing how hard this extended lockdown has been, so we put an open invitation on Facebook and in a newsletter asking if anyone wanted to be involved. Within seconds, the first reply came in and we ended up with coffee vouchers, chocolates, pillows, a hose, discount vouchers, lollies, retail vouchers and vouchers for a family portrait. All of the responses and the generosity that followed were from businesses that are struggling.

We had offers of help as well. We were at all three vaccination centres, and we gave away nearly all of the many spot prizes. Some to a family where Dad was bringing his three sons in for their first vaccination and others to people getting their first or second shot. It was a humbling experience, and I thank the people who volunteered to help and the many businesses that stepped in and donated. We have all the names of the businesses involved on both www.onemahurangi.co.nz and the One Mahurangi Facebook page, so please look them up and consider their generosity towards our community when next purchasing goods and services.

This whole experience reminded me how amazing the businesses are in this area. The Winter Festival is another great example of great business community spirit. We started it from just an idea, and suddenly people were wanting to be involved just from faith that it would work, and it gets bigger every year.

I look at the unsung heroes of this town. Peter Thompson – without him we wouldn’t have the Jane Gifford or a lot of the wharf area. Dave Morrison, who has been there whenever he is needed to help with lights, often till late at night, and at both the Kowhai Festival and the Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights. Without him we would be lost.

There are dozens more like them who step up time after time and that is what makes this area the best place in the country to live.

And now a plea to keep our area that lovely mix of town and country. We will grow a lot over the next few years, so get involved in community events and clubs. If you are new to town, volunteering your time is one of the best ways to become a part of the community. Sink your feet into the area and you will become a part of it.

Let’s all get vaccinated, so we can get out of this lockdown, have our businesses reopen, and start enjoying all that summer has to offer here in the best place in New Zealand.

Remember, Support Local, Employ Local, Buy Local, and Love Local.