Valerie

Valerie was born in Auckland but is a world traveller, having spent her childhood in Napier, lived overseas, then Wellington, and now returned to Napier 20 years ago, where she started out and her family have been for five generations.

Valerie was attracted to volunteer with CWA Napier as it combined her love of cycling with the opportunity to provide a positive outdoor experience for the elderly and others with limited physical abilities.

Classical guitar and Opera are her favourite music genres, she loves Turquoise, and prefers to eat anything Thai. When we asked her who would receive the four invitations (living or dead), to join her for dinner, (would it be Thai?), they were—Sam Neil, Oscar Wilde, Helen Clark, Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Michelle Obama.

Wow, a group with very diverse talents and origins: Irish, Viennese, American and Kiwi. Interestingly, the worries of the “older” guests still concern the younger guests and us today—such as conservation, greening campaigns, restoration of natural cycles, the protection of water and the fight for a waste-free society We would love to be able to listen in to that conversation!

With these guests and her travels and tramping both in New Zealand and overseas, it is no surprise that Valerie is also active in conservation activities here in Napier with Forest and Bird, and Ahuriri Estuary Protection Society.

Congratulations Valerie and thank you for becoming a CWA Volunteer pilot and an awesome team member. We welcome you, as do all our passengers, existing and in future.