COVID-19 FORCES US ALL TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES

Kim Porthouse and Linda te Kaat

By Kim Porthouse

Greetings everyone, well hasn't 2020 turned out to be a year like no other. COVID-19 has certainly turned life as we know it upside down. I do wonder how everyone's family member is coping with all the changes. I'm pretty sure our Brendon is struggling to understand why he can't go to some of his favourite activities. He asks often to go to bowling and to the fire station where he cleans, but in level 2 neither of these are available. And whilst he enjoys the online StarJam meetings he still wants to go to an actual class each time he puts on the t-shirt, quickly putting his shoes on expecting to go out. Although he gets to go to a couple of his activities, I’m sure he gets a bit of cabin fever at times. During the first lockdown he definitely became quite grumpy and some of his obsessive behaviours became more obvious and now in level 2, I am seeing that creep in a bit more than is usual for him. I have been thankful we don’t live in Auckland, but really feel for those of you that do! For the NZDSA it has also curbed the events we have been able to hold with many events having to be postponed. Our community is vulnerable, so we have had no choice but to put in place a policy that prohibits us from holding events in any level other than level one. I count our blessings that we are in New Zealand where the Government has managed to keep community infection at a very low level compared to many other countries. Moving away from COVID-19, I have to share some other piece of unhappy news. It is with much sadness that we have to announce the resignation of our much-loved National Administrator, Linda te Kaat. Linda has worked for the NZDSA for over 17 years. She is one of the most organised, efficient and effective administrators an organisation like ours could ever hope to have. She has carried out her job to a high standard and with a passion for our organisation that would be hard to rival. Her expertise and experience with funding applications and financial accountability has meant that the NZDSA has maintained a strong financial position that has enabled our organisation to grow and flourish to be able to achieve the things we have. Linda is the one who really organises the committee and keeps us on track. We will miss her very much, her shoes will be difficult to fill. Linda has indicated she will be leaving at the end of March 2021, by which time she expects the current major database project, which will interface with our new website, should be up and running. I would just like to express my eternal gratitude to Linda for all the guidance and support she has provided to me in the role of President, as well as for her unwavering support of the committee and the NZDSA as a whole. Linda has become a special friend over the years but feels it is time to focus more on the support her family needs and I really wish her and her family every happiness for the future, it is certainly most deserved.