Marsden Point philanthropist Yvonne Judge is celebrating being named the Northland winner of the New Zealand Kiwi Battler Awards, which allows her to donate $10,000 to a charity of her choice.
Ms Judge, 63, owns and runs Ruakaka's second-hand shop Scavengers, the proceeds of which are distributed back to the community.More than $200,000 has been generated by the store since it opened in 1998.
"It started with a gecko and we ended up with T-Rex," Ms Judge said.
Scavengers (supporting community avengers) began as a fundraising effort for the resource rooms at One Tree Point School. "I stood at the market with a blackboard saying, 'please save things like burnt pots, ice cream containers and egg cartons'. It evolved."
After 15 months next to a butcher shop the second-hand store moved to premises opposite Bream Bay College. Ms Judge eventually moved it into the building of her car wrecking business.
The national award, run by Gareth and Jo Morgan of the Morgan Foundation, entitles each regional finalist to nominate a charity to which $10,000 will be paid.
Ms Judge chose the SPCA because "we have a choice but animals don't". She also received a $1000 cash payment.
The generous Northlander won a civic award in 2002, is in touch with elderly locals and young mums every day and gives everything she earns away while living on a pension.
There are 78 Kiwi Battler finalists, and the public will decide the winners in a vote ending on September 1. A national winner will receive another $20,000 for their charity, and $2000 for themselves.
