Meeting the 2014 Z Good in the Hood Charities
The Bowater Motor Group are very pleased to be able to get behind another year's Z Good in the Hood funding of local charities, as nominated by our local community.
This year the 4 charities are up for their share of $4,000, with $1,000 being left behind in the pot to be distributed during 2014 to another local charity / community project that the team here at Z Bowater Motors feels passionate about.
Last week the 4 charities were announced as follows: Plunket Motueka, Motueka Search & Rescue, Motueka St John,and Victim Support Motueka.
The 2014 Z Good In The Hood Recipients. From left: Meg (3) with her Mum and Plunket Motueka representative Sarah, Gerry Tonkin from Land Search & Rescue (SAR), Fred Wassell from Motueka St John, Anthony (Motueka SAR), Donna Smith from Victim Support Motueka with Chris Bowater (CEO Z Bowater Motors) and site manager Matt Morris.
These charities are now in line to receive a share of the $4,000 and need all of their supporters to come in during March and vote for them!
For those reading this that dont know who or what these charities do in our community read on as we got a chance for a quick chat during the photoshoot.
Motueka Plunket.
Plunket is as NZ as Pavlova. Plunket are New Zealand's largest provider of support services for the development, health and wellbeing of children under 5. Plunket works together with families and communities, to ensure the best start for every child.
Plunket is funded 50% by the government with the additional 50% having to be sourced via the organisation.
Plunket is a national not-for-profit organisation, community-owned and governed. They provide a caring, professional well child and family and whānau service. They are committed to providing universal access to services for all children and families regardless of ethnicity, location or ability to pay. This is at the heart of who they are and is essential to provide a positive environment for parents.
You can learn more about Plunket by clicking here.
Motueka St John.
Fred Wassell is the go to guy for us with the Mot St John crew, and an all round good sort by all accounts. He is very passionate about the work that St John does locally and gave us the run down as to what the money gifted from this funding project will more than likely be used for.
Fred's role within the organisation is as the driver for the St John's Shuttle - a free local service that the Motueka St John provides. This means those that would otherwise struggle to get transportation to a doctor's appointment, or to the hospital for treatment, have an option available to them.
St John relies heavily on funding through charitable donations. St John is at the frontline of medical response, providing Ambulance Services throughout New Zealand. They’re also part of a much broader picture of health care, through their provision of first aid training, event medical services, AEDs (defibrillators), first aid kits and supplies, medical alarms, youth groups and a wide range of community programmes.
St John is a registered charity. They rely on the generosity of New Zealanders to fund the caring and health-related services that we provide. Last year St John attended over 351,700 emergency incidents and treated and transported more than 415,800 patients. They're at work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year caring for communities, helping people in medical and accident emergencies, and relieving sickness and injury.
You can learn more about St John and the work they do by clicking here.
Motueka Search & Rescue.
New Zealand Land Search & Rescue Inc. (LandSAR) is the national volunteer organisation within New Zealand providing land search & rescue services to the Police and public of New Zealand and all international visitors.
New Zealand Land Search & Rescue Incorporated, was established as an incorporated society in 1994. Their history as a volunteer organisation goes back to the 1930s.
LandSAR has over 3,500 trained search and rescue volunteers, who are members of 63 Land Search & Rescue groups, organised into seven Regions, covering the length and breadth of New Zealand; and two national specialist groups – LandSAR Search Dogs and LandSAR Caving. Other specialist groups such as Alpine Cliff Rescue and Whitewater Rescue operate on a local level where there is a requirement for these specialist skills.
LandSAR operates in suburban/urban and wilderness/rural Search & Rescue operations, underground Search & Rescue operations in caves or other natural underground areas, shoreline Search & Rescue operations linked to marine incidents, and other Search & Rescue operations as agreed with NZ Police. LandSAR’s role in Search & Rescue is formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding with NZ Police.
To ensure health and safety when anyone goes missing, they provide their volunteers expert training and assistance to ensure their operational capability.
The Tasman Region encompasses the Marlborough, Nelson and West Coast provinces of New Zealand. Its geographic area corresponds to the NZ Police Tasman District.
LandSAR groups in the Tasman region
There are thirteen LandSAR groups in the very large Tasman region:
- Golden Bay
- Greymouth
- Haast
- Hokitika
- Kaikoura
- Karamea
- Marlborough
- Motueka
- Murchison
- Nelson
- Reefton
- South Westland
- Westport
You can learn more about the work that Land SAR does in our community by clicking here.
Victim Support Motueka.
Victim Support is a community organisation that helps people hurt by crime and other trauma. Victim Support's volunteers give up their time and use their life experience, training and skills to support people in their community dealing with some of life's greatest challenges: the aftermath of crime or other trauma like suicide or fatal accidents.
They provide emotional and practical support, information, financial assistance, referral to other support services and advocacy for victims' rights. This helps victims and their families find strength, hope and safety in the face of grief and trauma. It helps them deal with, and participate in, the criminal justice system. It helps them be in control of getting their lives back on track and ensures they get the services they need and their rights upheld. Victim Support's 1000+ volunteers and 130 paid staff are available 24/7, 365 days of the year in over 70 locations throughout New Zealand.
Victim Support is an independent charitable trust that works closely with the NZ Police.
You can learn more about the work that Victim Support does in our community by clicking here.