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Dear Reader An Easter AdventureNeil and I share a passion for volunteering at the Waitakaruru Sculpture Park and Arboretum near our city of Hamilton. Every couple of weeks we spend a few hours in the Rock Garden, weeding, tidying and making sure the cactus plants are safe for visitors to walk beside. The Park and Arboretum are located in a former quarry and 32 years or so ago, John and Dorothy Wakeling bought the property and started to implement their vision. The results today are a testament to how dedication and commitment can bring a long term vision to reality. John is an arborist, so well suited to the development of an arboretum. I worked with Dorothy years ago and her skills in management and planning complement John’s perfectly. Still, I marvel that they had the vision and energy to take on such a project. On Easter weekend they celebrated 32+ years of their restoration project with an event called Seeds of Renewal. On the Tuesday before Easter, Michael Holland, one of the presenters of 7 Sharp, a NZ Current Affairs TV programme, and his camera person, Dave, visited the Park.
Here’s a link to the programme that aired on the Thursday before Easter. I hope you enjoy it and get to experience a little bit of this amazing restoration. https://fb.watch/raJF2dfzXW/ Neil and I volunteered our time on Saturday and enjoyed meeting the visitors to this amazing place, many of whom had seen the 7 Sharp programme and came for the first time. What you won’t necessarily pick up as you watch my segment is how nervous I was. I love being in a supporting role but dread having the spotlight pointed at me. It took a heap of courage (oooh! do you see the “C Word” being used here?) for me to particpate in this way. I’ve learned a lot over the years of how important it is to be brave. Specifically relevant to my part in this video is the importance for me:
Michael Holland is a great interviewer, quickly relaxing me with his friendly banter. I didn’t think he’d choose these particular bits of our interaction to put into the programme and to be honest, I cringe at my ‘bit’ and hesitated to share this with you. But I wanted to share the work and dedication John and Dorothy, their staff, and all of the volunteers, put into making it a wonderful place to visit. The TV programme highlights so much of that. So, I hope you look past my bit if it makes you feel uncomfortable, and see the beauty of this area. I also hope you come visit the Sculpture Park if you live nearby, or when you come to visit Neil and me in New Zealand. Till next time, A Final Reminder
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This is an amazing event that I’m thrilled to participate in this year (even though I’m scared to death!). I’ll be sharing a table with Pat Backley, who’s books I adore – so that gives me courage.
The event is billed as: a book event where readers can meet over 70 authors, buy books, and have them signed in person. Multiple genres, from NZ and Australian authors. All ages welcome. Free entry.
Facebook page for the event is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agesofpagesfans
My thoughts for Living Life in 2024 and beyond:
“Write it on my heart that every day is
the best day of the year”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Remember that sometimes not getting
what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck”
Dalai Lama
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave [person] is not [the one] who does not feel afraid, but [the one] who conquers that fear.”
Nelson Mandela
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