REWARDING STAY IN RAETIHI

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 15, 8 September 1987, Page 13

REWARDING STAY IN RAETIHI

Michelle Coley's five months as the Waimarino community pre-school worker was shortlived but very rewarding. In that time, the role of Raetihi's Playcentre significantly increased in the community and the feeling of anti-playcentre that has existed for many years has been dissipated. Mrs Coley, her husband Darryl and their four children, moved to Taumarunui during the weekend after 20 months living in the Waimarino. The family moved from Masterton in 1985, where she worked at Masterton Hospital as an enrolled nurse. Her job as community pre-school worker involved close liaison with Playcentre and Te Kohanga Reo groups. Mrs Coley was instrumental in initiating a play group in Orautoha for isolated families living in the valley. She was responsible for conducting talks at centres and schools on such subjects as child abuse, safe play and solvent abuse. Mrs Coley worked closely with other health professionals and received many referrals from Raetihi School dental nurse Jenny Dekker. Mrs Coley was eommended to Taumarunui's Youtn Aid group by the town's director of Social Welfare and will be employed as a detached Youth Aid worker. Mrs Coley said she is very keen to begin work.

"I love working with young people - it's an opportunity I've been waiting for, for a long time," she said. She has two teenage children of her own.

Mrs Coley is keen to complete her batchelor's degree in Social Work which she started at Massey University earlier this year.