It was a team of 13 enthusiastic Rotarians and friends who left comfortable homes in Devonport to come to the assistance of people who were so severely affected by February’s Cyclone Gabrielle in Napier.

We did not know what to expect in terms of the work to be done but willingly attacked whatever we were tasked with on the day.  Age was no barrier and given most of the team was in excess of 70 we proved we could punch above our weight and clocked up a total of 455 volunteer hours over 5 days. Coming into Napier from Taupo the damage by slips and slash that had gouged the surrounding landscape and roads was shocking but for us it was the impact on people and properties that left the deepest impressions. For the three home owners we met, it was the first help they experienced since the cyclone. There were emotional moments when we packed up to say our goodbyes, especially as there is still so much work to be done to make their homes habitable.

There was never a dull moment as the tasks varied from day to day depending on which area of Napier we were working in. Some properties sustained enormous inundations of silt whilst others suffered more in terms of water damage. Some of our jobs included clearing silt from gardens, trimming trees, removing supporting wire from grapevines, collecting loos and scrap metal for recycling.

Always well fed and watered

All in all a great team building exercise for our Rotarians and friends who accompanied us. For those of you who are thinking you would like to help please give this rewarding work a try. It was the impact on people and properties that left the deepest impressions. For the three home owners we met, it was the first help they had experienced since the cyclone. There were emotional moments when we packed up to say our goodbyes, especially as there is still so much work to be done to make their homes habitable.

Getting yourself outside your comfort zone you will meet great people and have lots of fun doing this valuable work. You could almost call it a rewarding holiday, albeit with a difference!