The Monday Q&A: Downer New Zealand Master Games volunteers Jim and Roselene Kerr

Jim and Roselene Kerr have dedicated thousands of volunteer hours to Whanganui. Photo / Lewis Gardner

Every Monday, the Chronicle fires 10 questions at Whanganui locals. This week Zaryd Wilson heads to the Downer New Zealand Masters Games Hub to catch up with Jim and Roselene Kerr, who are volunteering at the games for the 14th and 12th times respectively.

What are you most looking forward to at these Masters Games?

Roselene: The companionship and camaraderie. Meeting people and talking to different people from all over the country.

How did you first become involved in the Masters Games?

Jim: That's a long time ago. Someone suggested it to me, I can't remember who it was or where it was.

If you could volunteer at any other event around the world, what would it be?

Roselene: I'd like to volunteer around the different opera houses around the world because we volunteer at the Royal Wanganui Opera House. I'd love to travel and see the different opera houses, that'd be fun.

What's your favourite thing about Whanganui?

Roselene: It's always nice to come home too. Since we've retired it's nice to be free to be able to volunteer for different things. I think that's part of Whanganui I quite like. When you're working you're very limited.

What's your favourite thing to do on a quiet weekend?

Roselene: Just sit and chat.

Jim: Sleep. Half an hour nap, good as gold, and I can still sleep at night time.

Where's one place you'd like to visit that you haven't yet?

Roselene: I was born in Africa so I'd like to travel there and see other parts of that. Especially the safaris, I'd like to go on the safaris.

What's your go-to dish in the kitchen?

Jim: I have my own recipe for mince; Worcester sauce, soya sauce, mixed herbs, peas. You've gotta have peas in mince.

What's your favourite sport?

Jim: I used to play table tennis about three or four years ago but in the end my knee just wouldn't let me play. It's a good competitive game. And there were good players, learners and all sorts. You just have a bit of fun and socialise.

Roselene: Dancing. I used to learn dancing for years. I love dancing, any form of dancing.

What's your greatest sporting achievement?

Jim: I've won two medals at the Masters Games. One in Twilight 400. I played four sports I got first in two of them and silver.

What would you say to people to encourage them and get them out volunteering?

Jim: I think a lot of people don't realise how social it can be. It's just marvellous to be associated with an event like this. There are so many people you meet.

Roselene: Get out and try it. If you don't like it, don't do it again. But it is fun because you get out and you meet people - whatever you're volunteering in.