HOME

Lynette McFadden Business Owner & Mentor, Harcourts gold @lynette_mcfadden

Ilook forward to my monthly column, and I’ve never failed to be inspired by the editor’s choice of theme. This month it’s ‘Makers and Creators’, and despite this being an enormous subject, I’ve decided to put my own slant on it and write about ‘doers’.

All of us know people who fit into this category. They’re definitely ‘makers’ and invariably ‘creators’, and they have an incredible ability to drive change.

Here’s a story about one such person I have recently met, and I’ll let you decide if they fit your sense of what someone making a difference looks like.

Enter Kate Pauling. Kate contacted me in her position as founder of a charity called Full Bellies. Kate and her small, dedicated team work to help supply children living in our northwest suburbs with lunches. You might ask, why these areas in particular? I did, and this was the answer: the children attend schools that rate as decile 10. For those not familiar with the decile system, it’s a rating structure based on census data for households with school-aged children in each school’s catchment area. The data gathered uses household measures such as income, parents’ occupations, and the number of people in the home, etc. Essentially, it identifies barriers to learning faced by kids in lower socio-economic families. Although decile 10 sits at the top of this rating system, what Kate and many others have recognised is that within these areas, there are definitely families struggling and being a decile 10 school doesn’t preclude kids who have been doing it hard.

With no funding allocation for things like lunches and additional snacks, there was a big gap at some of these schools when it came to helping their more vulnerable students. This is where Kate came in, recognising that need and, having been contacted by schools, she started in March helping eight children, and now this number is 170, twice a week. She and the team make lunches and snacks, which are delivered early morning to the schools, and they are wrapped like everyone else’s, so there’s no labelling or shame attached for the kids receiving this help.

I’m told they are all deeply appreciative; that’s the students, teachers, parents, and anyone else who has the interest of others in mind. Our incredible business, team of consultants, and I are now a small part of Kate’s team, and without her initial approach, we wouldn’t have been able to help – financially and practically.

It’s actually encouraged us as a team to go even further, and that’s involved a large contribution to KidsCan, which I’ve been told by their CEO, Julie Chapman, now feeds 50,000 children a day across New Zealand.

I talked with my dad about this dire statistic, and even though he was bought up in the ‘40s in a working-class family of nine, and there was considerable hardship all around them, there wasn’t the food insecurity there is today.

So, in looking at creators, I’ve looked at the broadest of contexts. I’ve tried to think about what makes someone put their own hand up to make a difference. Is it curiosity? Is it care? Or is it all of that and a big dose of humanity too?

Resene Artefact

Resene Woodland

Resene Sour Dough Between the wires of the Ico Traders Orere Sofa from Ballantynes, a landscape mural painted in Resene Sour Dough, Resene Woodland, and Resene Artefact creates a tranquil space.

Creating a relaxing outdoor zone is all about natural colours and textures. Here the landscape mural sets a calm mood with the lush natural textures of New Zealand sheepskin, seagrass, potted plants, and acacia wood. This space invites you to unwind and enjoy the moment in nature without leaving the comforts of your own home.

This New Zealand long-wool rug is an inviting element in this natural setting and is carefully crafted from premium quality sheepskin to add texture, comfort, colour, and style to any space. The versatile Madras Link Sutton Stool acts as a stool or side table and is made from sturdy acacia wood, bringing an extra element of function and style to any space, inside or out. The Grove Cushion Cover is inspired by New Zealand’s beautiful and dramatic landscapes. The abstract pattern reveals scenes from the Waitakere Ranges with waterfalls and native bush. It is made with a natural blend of cotton and flax linen.

A unique plant deserves an equally unique planter. The large Hanover Planter in Avocado makes a statement with a stunning silhouette to connect with the plants and Resene Woodland green in the mural. This natural green planter features a practical drainage hole and deep saucer, ideal for outdoor use.

Combining simple pieces with natural hues creates a space worth relaxing in.

Ico Traders Orere Sofa, Madras Link Sutton Stoolm Pottery Barn Potted Fiddleleaf, Potted Berlin Tall Planter Nude; Potted Hanover Large Planter Avocado, Città Design Grove Cushion Cover in Night, Città Design Harvest Silk Blend Cushion Cover Cinnamon, Città Design Linen Cotton Cushion Cover in Thyme, and Città Design Plant Pot Natural from Ballantynes; Round Seagrass Mat from Corcovado; Long Wool Sheepskin Rug Linen from A&C Homestore; Resene Sour Dough, Resene Woodland, and Resene Artefact from Resene ColorShops.