There are some people who just get on with it.
Rowena Andrews — or Rowy to most — is definitely one of those people.
Through Koha ki Kawerau, Rowy and the team help local whānau with emergency food packs and other essentials when they need them most. It sounds simple enough, but there’s a huge amount of time, care and energy that goes into making it happen — and the difference it makes doesn’t go unnoticed.
Kawerau has always had a pretty special sense of community, and the numbers back that up too. In the latest Kawerau District Council Resident Survey, 85% of people surveyed rated the town’s community spirit as good. Rowy is a pretty great example of what that looks like in real life.
We’ve seen plenty of what she does over the years, but spending our latest Give More Day alongside her was another reminder of just how much goes on behind the scenes. We got to muck in, help out and see firsthand the time and effort that goes into supporting local whānau week after week.
And that’s really what Give More is all about. In Rowy’s case, it means giving her time, her energy and whatever else she can to make a difference for others — without ever making a big deal about it.
A massive mihi to Rowy for everything you do for the Kawerau community, and a big thank you for letting us into your space for the day and giving us a front-row seat to the work you do and the impact it has.