Community spirit helps man turn life around

Annamarie Angus, Angela Rogers and Simon Pollard played a part in helping a 19-year-old gain a full time job. Photo/ John Borren

A garden, a bit of good timing and a lot of community spirit has been the right recipe for a Tauranga man to turn his life around.

The 19-year-old, who would only be identified as Dan, had been living at the Tauranga Moana Night Shelter for a month before he secured a full-time labouring job.

On October 28 Dan volunteered with Good Neighbour helping to create gardens at Oropi School, little did he know his work ethic caught the eye of a local construction company.

Simon Pollard, area manager of civil construction company Higgins was also at the garden build and said Dan's "great work ethic and good attitude" stood out.

"At the end of the day he wanted to know what else had to be done, we had to tell him to put the tools down ... I was quite impressed."

Pollard got in touch with Dan a week later and offered him a full-time labouring job.

"I was going backwards when I first arrived at the shelter," Dan said.

Dressed in his high-visibility work uniform, Dan said his plans had changed now he was earning a living.

He said he was looking forward to working hard and being able to leave the night shelter soon.

Tauranga Moana Night Shelter manager Annamarie Angus said the shelter had a strong relationship with many community initiatives such as Good Neighbour.

"It provides opportunities for our guys to give back and to be involved in the community," Angus said.

Angus said Dan's "face lit up" when he heard Pollard had offered him a job.

A manager from Higgins had dropped off a push bike to make sure Dan could get to and from work.

Angus was helping Dan take steps towards advancing his career and finding a house to live in.

"We need transition points for our men so that they can live as independent, contributing members of our society."

Angus said two other men who had been staying at the Tauranga Moana Night Shelter had also gained fulltime employment over the last month in the building and construction industry.

"When we work together there are no limits to what can be achieved."

Who are they

Tauranga Moana Night Shelter - Provides housing support services in Tauranga to those in need.
Higgins - Civil construction business providing construction services and infrastructure products.
Good Neighbour - Community-focused organisation that partners with people in need by matching the need in the neighbourhood with people or organisations who have skills, time or resources to give.