Wendy's done her Lion's share for 27 selfless years

Wendy Coxhead

Raglan's Wendy Coxhead is humble when she speaks about the community work she's dedicated herself to for the past 27 years, regularly acknowledging the work of others and insisting she's just one of many who volunteer in the west coast town.

Nominated in the community spirit category of the Pride of New Zealand awards, Wendy moved to Raglan after her husband was made redundant. And she's never looked back.

She joined the local Lions Club "fairly fast."

She ran the Lions Op Shop in Wallis St for years, where she co-ordinated volunteers to staff the shop and helped sort and prepare goods for sale.

"I've just passed it over after many years," Wendy said. But every Monday, she still hosts a team of women who turn up to her garage to sort inwards goods for the shop.

"We have weekly sorts at my place. Every Tuesday morning a vehicle turns up, full of stock. We sort all the product into season and quality and calibre. We allocate it to different areas. I do mountains of washing but I'm not the only one. I'm just one of several ladies who do this.

"I give them lunch. There are usually four or five of us. Then the ladies clean up like they're never been here."

The funds from the shop are used for local projects.

"We do the New Year's Eve parade. We put thousands of dollars back into the community in the form of grants to non-profit organisations.

"We support services like the surf lifesaving club, Coastguard. We've helped the library and the museum. And on a smaller scale, we like to get behind the children of Raglan ... getting them to sports, giving them financial backing. We do a lot for the children. We like to give every child a chance."

Wendy is also a long-term member of a knitting circle that meets once a week.

"I was down there this morning and I love it. It's a great social time and it's growing. I'm just one of many. We often knit for ourselves but we've also done hundreds of beanies for Kids Can and singlets for children in Africa."

Wendy served 14 years on the committee of the Raglan Community Arts Council.

"I still keep my hand in. My husband Laurie and I go down every Monday and do the rubbish and recycling for them."

As Wendy, now in her 70s, hands some of her duties over to others, she's happy to do so.

"Raglan is a great community, it has something for everyone. The most satisfaction I get is when there are others out there taking over things I've done. It's a healthy community when that happens."

Nominations for the Pride of New Zealand Awards close on June 14. For more information or to nominate someone doing amazing things in your community go to www.prideofnzawards.co.nz.