29 Feb 2016
Mahoney Hodge was nominated by Keep Rotorua Beautiful for the Keep New Zealand Beautiful volunteer of the month and is our very deserving winner for February!
Mahoney established a very successful group of regular litter collectors, a welcome (and needed) addition to helping make her neighbourhood a nicer place to live. Then her husband passed away and she moved in with her daughter … and – despite some health hurdles – started all over again! In her new neighbourhood in only 6 months she has influenced a difficult area to start looking after its own streets, has grown a team of supporters in the area and is now extending their reach into more adjoining streets and a nearby reserve.
Moreover, an improvement in the keeping of front yards has been evidenced and she has started a shared vege garden with some neighbours and distribution of produce.
Mahoney plans to invite neighbours to join her on the Reserve in a small project and sharing of kai/refreshments for Neighbours Day – to further support the growth of a good community.
She has flagged up a well-trafficked (by school kids and elderly) nearby area that cuts between streets alongside a stream for Keep Rotorua Beautiful involvement to clean up. They will now engage with nearby local schools to support this project and potentially with planting and other beautification.