Dear Reader

Welcome to 2025!

Healthier already – I’m pleased
to say

I have been diligent in looking after my physical self these past few months, as I mentioned in my end of year newsletter. Also in caring for my mental health. I’m amazed to see the connections between the both and how progress from prioritising my physical health has depended on being kinder to myself mentally – no pressure to get things done, no feeling guilty for taking breaks – that sort of thing.

And the rewards are wonderful. Last Saturday I was able to go to Waitakaruru for the first time in months and feel like I was contributing to our joint volunteering commitment. That alone was a wonderful achievement as I love the Park and always feel rejuvenated. But there were two surprises for me this time.

You know how you meet someone and you have an instant liking for the person? Well it was like that when I met Amanda while I was in the rock garden. She was at the tail end of her visit to New Zealand from one of the lovely Mediterranean Islands and somehow she found Waitakaruru to visit. She was falling in love with the country – a feeling I totally identify with, having emigrated from Australia in the late 1970s. Our interaction was short but my heart still sings with the joy of connecting with her. She’ll be back, I’m sure!

And another unexpected connection when we finished our work for the day. We heard that Marcus Tatton, an amazing public space sculptor, is building a Portal in Conifer Canyon in the Park so we took a stroll over to the canyon to meet him and see what he is creating. Here’s a link to the announcement about the sculpture Marcus is creating at The Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum’s FaceBook page Scroll the posts to find the video of Marcus talking about this amazing sculpture

Marcus’s work reminds us that out of chaos, order can prevail. Over 100 well established 30 year-old trees were ripped from the sides of Conifer Canyon, a massive destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in Feb 2023. Marcus and his amazing partner, Shaah, are working hard to instal the framework and repurpose the timber from these trees: chainsawing, splitting, shaping the wood and creating the structure for their placement on the iron framework.

Marcus Tatton talks about constructing the Portal

Marcus reminds me not only of the ‘good things’ that come out of the trials we face, but that we can turn these experiences into our own “Phoenix”, creating something strong and purposeful for our own growth and something to share that will inspire others. His work is truly a lesson for us all that whatever chaos we find ourselves in, we can feel hopeful that in time we can emerge stronger from the personal chaos.

If you are in the vicinity, I hope you’ll come and visit Waitakaruru – and many of the other natural features in the place that I love to call home.

Till next time, may you find joy in all you do.

With love
Stephanie

My thoughts for Living Life in 2025 and beyond:

“Life is a Daring Adventure or Nothing”

Helen Keller

“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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