Western News: November 12, 2020

WESTERN NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday November 12 2020 13
‘It’s the kids’ reactions which I find the most rewarding’
•From page 11
We don’t get any government
or Ministry of Education funding,
so we aren’t led by their
agenda, and it’s why we’re the
number one health education
provider. We don’t want to be led
by what they want, which is why
we work with teachers to adapt
[the lesson]. I think that’s what
makes us so successful.
Why did you decide to join
the trust?
I’ve got a wee eight-year-old
boy and things are a little bit different
now than back in my day;
kids have got different challenges
now, so I just wanted to make
sure I was getting in touch with
what was going on. Kids seem to
be a lot more involved and more
aware of what’s happening around
them because of social media and
access to the internet. That was
my excuse to get involved and
understand what’s happening in
my own child’s head.
What are the rewarding parts
of your job?
The kids – when Harold comes
on board, the kids wander in and
when they see him, they all get
pretty excited to hear what he
has to say. It’s the kids’ reactions
which I find the most rewarding.
Like most jobs, it’s not always
fun and games. What can be
challenging about your role?
I think seeing the statistics
that are pretty grim, like when I
hear about the teen suicide rates
or how many kids are stressed.
About 35 per cent of kids are
stressed at least once a week.
It’s like, bloody hell, these kids
are eight or nine-years-old, they
shouldn’t be stressed, they should
be watching Pokémon on TV or
something.
Tell me a bit about where life
began for you – where did you
grow up? How about family?
I was born in Salford, UK.
When I was about 13-years-old
my folks decided to ship us all
over, with my brothers and sister,
and start life afresh over here. I
ended up going to school down
the road at Christchurch Boys’
High School, and eventually at
the University of Canterbury.
After travelling overseas for a
while, I came back and became
the director at Specsavers (Papanui)
after opening up a franchise
here. After selling that I was
lucky that I had a bit more free to
pick and choose the jobs I wanted
to do, and that’s when the Life
Education Trust job came up.
ICON: The Life Education Trust has been visiting Canterbury
schools for more than 30 years.
My two brothers live in Sunshine
Coast and Gold Coast in
Australia. My sister is here in
Christchurch so she’s not very
far from me, and my parents
are retired now and live in the
Hurunui District.
Do you remember much from
life back in England?
I remember quite a lot of it. It’s
quite a rough spot where we were,
a lot of cars were being nicked
every night and there were a lot
of fights, you could just watch it
from your window - that’s what it
was all to me.
One of my favourite parts
about my home town is the
football, everyone enjoyed a bit
of soccer. You could play it in
the streets, you’d just jump over
the back fence after school and
go play with your friends in the
streets.
Aside from your work, what
do you like to do in your spare
time?
I enjoy any sport, especially
soccer being English and all.
I’ve always the idea of making
something myself so I make short
films on the side.
I make any type of short film,
it’s just a matter of writing a
script and trying to gain funding
to do it.
I’ve always loved movies, the
idea for me growing up was to
become either a football player, a
fireman or a moviemaker.
ADVERTISEMENT
NZ Massage Therapy Diplomas
by Distance Learning
The New Zealand College of Chinese
Medicine now offers both the NZ
Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation
Massage Level 5 and the NZ Diploma
in Remedial Massage Level 6 online,
becoming the first private training
provider in New Zealand to offer these
qualifications nationally by Blended
Learning (Distance Learning and Block
courses). This exciting development
provides learners with choice and
flexibility about how and when they
study and enables much greater access
to these NZQA approved massage
qualifications.
Both Diplomas are one-year full time
courses. Students may study part
time if they wish. The course design of
both qualifications comprises distance
online learning modules in theory and
on campus practical block modules
offered either at the College’s Auckland
campus or regionally where numbers
of enrolments justify this. These block
courses ensure students meet the
supervised practical requirements to
register as a massage therapist with
Massage New Zealand.
The programmes are taught by very
experienced teaching staff and produce
graduates who are equipped with the
knowledge and skills required for
effective professional clinical practice in
either wellness and relaxation massage
therapies or in remedial massage
therapies. Graduates obtain the latest
internationally recognised New Zealand
registered qualification in their field
and open the door to a wide range of
employment opportunities.
Students who complete the level 6
programme may pathway to bachelor’s
degrees in Massage Therapy.
The New Zealand College of Chinese
Medicine is proud of its past links with
Christchurch and is pleased to now
be able to offer Christchurch students
the chance to study massage therapy
online at home and in their own way
and time.
Enrol now - Early payment
discounts offered.
For more information contact
the College on 0800 888 518 or
(09) 580 2376 or email
enrolment@chinesemedicine.ac.nz
online blended learning courses
study A NEW ZEALANd
dIPLOMA IN MAssAgE
• New Zealand diploma in Wellness
and Relaxation Massage, Level 5
• New Zealand diploma in Remedial
Massage, Level 6
• Flexible learning options, distance
and block courses
• NZQA approved and accredited
• Eligible for loans and allowances
• Fees free policy may apply
• Early payment discount
available
Other courses available in
Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine
and Tuina.
Check our website for more details.
ENROL
NOW fOR
fEBRuARy
2021
INtAkE
Phone: 0800 888 518 | Email: auck@chinesemedicine.ac.nz
321 Great South Road, Greenlane, Auckland
Refer to website for open days: www.chinesemedicine.ac.nz