Dealing with anxiety, building resilience in our children and the importance of wellbeing will all come under the spotlight when renowned speaker Dr Lucy Hone speaks in Rotorua next week.
Thanks to the support of the Rotorua Trust, the community will be able to attend the talk on September 18 for just a gold coin donation.
Dr Hone is a director of the NZ Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience and a research associate at AUT University. She’s one of only two people in New Zealand to have a PhD in wellbeing science.
She published best-selling book, Resilient Grieving, following the death of her daughter, Abi, in a car accident in 2014. The accident also killed Abi’s friend, Ella, and Ella’s mother, Sally.
Convener Paulene Walsh says she’s thrilled to have a speaker of Dr Hone’s calibre speaking in Rotorua – something which the entire community is set to benefit from.
“A community is only as good as our citizens… it is up to us to make our citizens as good as we can.”
Mrs Walsh, who has heard Dr Hone speak twice, says it is important to her the talk is accessible to everyone – something made possible with Rotorua Trust’s funding as well as support from other organisations who have helped with accommodation, travel and venue costs, including John Paul College, Cluster 20 Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour, and local hospitality leaders Susan and Gregg Brown who have helped with accommodation and travel costs.
She says the talk has something for everyone, whether they are parents, grandparents, educators or simply have an interest in wellbeing.
Mrs Walsh says they chose Dr Hone to speak because dealing with anxiety is a real problem among increasing numbers of Rotorua’s youth.
“It is one of our highest needs.”
Rotorua Trust chairman Stewart Edward says working with groups to help make good things happen for Rotorua is a priority for the Trust.
“This presentation has come about through collaboration from the community, with various organisations helping to make it possible. That’s what makes it special.”
The talk will take place at John Paul College on September 18 at 7pm. No bookings are required, simply turn up on the night with a gold coin donation.