This week's newsmaker is Sport Bay of Plenty recreation advisor Melissa Gordon. Yesterday as the start of the Rotorua Bike Festival, which Mrs Gordon had a hand in co-ordinating.
Tell us a little about yourself
I was born in Rotorua, and am married to my husband Kurt. I have a 14-year-old son called Bailey and an 11-year-old daughter called Paige. I have been employed with Sport Bay of Plenty for nearly seven years now.
What's involved in being a recreation advisor for Sport Bay of Plenty?
There are quite a variety of projects and initiatives involved including co-ordinating the Balanced, Upright & Safe exercise programme for those over the age of 55; We have five weekly classes held in different venues around Rotorua. I also co-ordinate Sport Bay of Plenty's 'Play in the Bay' initiative here in Rotorua which involves putting together eight themed calendars of 'give it a go' activities and events for the local community to get involved in, try out, and get more active. At the moment I'm also involved on a local community based level with the Rotorua Bike Festival and will be getting along to a few of the events and activities coming up over the next 10 days. Between these, there are a range of other projects I'm involved in.
What's the most rewarding thing about your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is being able to meet a variety of people and provide opportunities for the community to get active, improve their health and have fun at the same time.
What's your favourite way of keeping fit?
My husband and I co-ordinate Rotovegas Volleyball Club so playing volleyball is right up there but I'm also playing social hockey at the moment and really enjoying that too. Walking, fishing, cycling and playing sport are what I do regularly to keep fit.
What do you love most about Rotorua?
The variety of activities available to do here and also how central we are to everything.
Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know
I hate public speaking but I have to do quite a bit of it for my job so I bluff my way through it. I've been with my husband since we were 13 and 14 years old. I'm bit of a clean/tidy freak, just ask my husband and kids!