Pegasus Post: January 24, 2017

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6 Tuesday January 24 2017 Our People PEGASUS POST Kate Russell Proud mum awarded for her Kate Russell has been a leader in the not-for-profit health sector for 24 years. Georgia O’Connor-Harding spoke to her about working at the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation and what it was like to raise three children as a solo parent. Congratulations on becoming and Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. You must be very excited? I was thrilled when I heard. My first reaction was who the heck must have nominated me? But I still don’t know and possibly never will. I am very honoured. I didn’t know I was going to get nominated. There are so many different sectors in my professional life where it could have come from, but they said health and governance and that has narrowed it down. What made you stick to helping the not-for-profit organisations? I fell into the not-for-profit sector by accident. My first job was as a fundraising assistant for Presbyterian Support. I got it because it was a 20-hour week job and it suited the fact I had small children at the time. I was in that job for a couple of weeks and I had what you would describe as a vocational empathy of thinking, oh my goodness, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I was 30-years-old and aside from being a mother, I hadn’t figured out what I wanted to do careerwise. I had always done things to do with social justice. I had gone on the ‘no tour marches’ and was a junior member of human rights organisation, Amnesty International. Tell me about working at the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation? When I took this role, some of my colleagues at the national programme, Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand, were like isn’t that a step back because you are going into a regional role? But after the earthquakes, I very much had in my heart to do something in Canterbury. Medical research is something you don’t always get RECOGNISED: Kate Russell is chief executive of the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, which funds research and oversees organisations like the New Zealand Brain Research Institute. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN immediate results. In the nearly three years I have been there, I can’t say there has been a new blockbuster drug. Rarely does medical research go ahead in a quantum leaps, it is these little baby steps that happen over a number of years. Could give me a picture of the research you are doing at the moment? We just finished a study on the use of vitamin C and breast cancer. We are also funding a young women at Otago University who is looking to use vitamin C for people who have got ear infections. We are also pivotal in supporting the development of the UC Rose Centre for Stroke Recovery and Research. NEW LOCAL MECHANIC & now a Bosch car care centre Full Mechanical Repairs Full Auto Electrical Repairs NEW LOCATION ADVERT.pdf 1 1/05/2014 11:51:35 a.m. 18E Bower Avenue, New Brighton Phone 388 5750 VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION LOCATION 430 ST ASAPH STREET! Hours of Business: 7am-4.30pm Mon-Thurs Fri 8am to midday or by appointment with Keith 027 566 3909 RECOVER YOUR LOVED FURNITURE No job too big or small Still able to offer you the finest top quality new furniture Visit us online www.qualityfurniture.co.nz P. 371 7500 QUALITY FURNITURE SPECIALISTS RE - UPHOLSTERY SPECIALISTS KEITH HARTSHORNE 0275 663 909 HELPING US, HELPS THE COMMUNITY Drop off or buy 2 family stores in your community 30 Main North Rd, Ph 352 4581 520 Cranford St, Ph 352 0515 Beautiful Teeth Meet the Owner Ryan Carlton Natural Smile Free Consultation, No Obligation • Full Dentures • Dentures Repaired • Implant Assisted Dentures • Injection Moulded Flexible Partials • Relines • Mouthguards • Additions/Repairs • Purchase cleaning and care products from our website. All dentures personally designed and created to ensure a comfortable natural fit. DENTURES PLUS (2014) LTD Denture Clinic and Laboratory 396 Innes Road, St Albans. Phone 385 5517. Email: denturesplus@paradise.net.nz www.denturesplus.co.nz JO HAYES NATIONAL LIST MP BASED IN CHRISTCHURCH EAST Mobile clinics Last Friday of every month Check out my Facebook page: Jo Hayes MP 6/950 Ferry Road, Ferrymead P: 384 9459 Call to make an appointment www.national.org.nz Orbiter Bus stops Innes Road
PEGASUS POST Tuesday January 24 2017 7 role in medical research How do you think our medical research compares to the rest of the world? We punch very well above our weight. What gets achieved here in research for the fraction of a cost is really quite astounding. In spite of the frustration we all naturally get with the health system and getting put on waiting lists and restricted medicines, we still have universal public health care here. When you look at the hideous situation people in the United States find themselves in, where they don’t have health insurance, we have a fabulous system here. We only pay $5 per item for medicine which may cost up to $150. Still some people complain about that. You often hear about there not being enough beds at Christchurch Hospital. For sure, Christchurch Hospital is an incredibly busy hospital. But the financial results and just the strategic results the CDHB gets in terms of the development of new services; they are just terrific and stack up very well compared to the rest of the district health boards around the country. I can tell you these places are populated by bloody good people who all have a very Pack a it ’ s Picnic, Island Time! FAMILY OUTING: Kate Russell with her family at the Châteauneuf-du-Pape winery in southern France. big heart for what they do. How old were you when you first had children? I had my first child when I was 19. It was a surprise. It wasn’t in my plan to get pregnant in my second year of university. By the time Sam, my eldest boy, was one I was back at university doing a full-time course, looking after him and holding down two parttime jobs. I have no idea how I Discover walking tracks, native birds, penguins, the swimming beach and shipwrecks, all on the island that’s only 15 minutes from Christchurch! Start Exploring Otamahua/Quail Island today! did it. Would that have been one of the most difficult times in your life? No. I always had plenty of family support around me. I have a very close family. But the most difficult time of my life was when I broke up with my first husband. I was a solo parent on my own for seven years with three children. For me, it got to the stage where I was very poor. I wouldn’t say I had hit rock bottom, but I was very poor and I had to work very hard and make significant sacrifices for the well-being of my children. I was there for some time and I had to make a conscious decision to climb myself out of that. To not be dependent on welfare. How did you get through? The whole family had to make sacrifices for that to occur. There were a lot of times where I couldn’t go to the kids’ sports days. I couldn’t be the one to drop them off at school or look after them after school. I recognise my children paid the price for me putting a lot of evidence on the development of my career. I had a 12, eight and four-yearold. What do your children say about it now? They are very proud. From time to time, we have these conversations where I say I still carry some guilt about not being there because I had to work. I had to be the main bread-winner in the family. They are very pragmatic about it and say what you taught us is a really good work ethic. We understand why you did what you did. What was the job that got you to turn your career around? Probably the one that started me on the road to financial recovery and career development was the one at CCS Disability Action where I was the regional fundraisng manager. That was where I felt like my skills were fully utilised and I was given a sufficient amount of authority. Have you found a new partner? We are coming up to our second year now and it is all very new. He lives in his house and I live in my house and we have a very nice time when we are together. But I am independent and decided I am not really cut out for living with another person. I am much too independent. So you are keeping the magic alive? Exactly, and my independence. I make my own money. If I want a diamond ring, I buy it, I don’t worry about someone else. I watched my mother model independence to me because my father died when I was 12. She had a very hard road to hoe and she was and still is an extremely hard-worker. And again, a very independent thinker, bright and an inspiring woman. 0800 436 574 www.blackcat.co.nz DEPARTS: LYTTELTON QUAIL ISLAND Oct – Apr 10.20am 3.30pm Dec – Feb 10.20am & 12.20pm 12.30pm & 3.30pm FARE: adult $30 child $15 return CRUISES LYTTELTON & AKAROA
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Pegasus Post: January 24, 2017

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