FEBRUARY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

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.