Sacred Heart College students recognised for service to the community
When Sophie Richardson won the Volunteering Hawkes Bay Youth Award, she did her trademark “happy dance” – one she often does during her many hours in the community.
The Sacred Heart College student was one of three girls from the school to be nominated for their services to the community.
Ashlinn Stevenson and Helena Street were nominated for their services to sports and lifeguarding respectively.
The Youth Award recognises and honours someone who is under 25 years who has made an outstanding contribution through their volunteering.
Sophie says she was stoked to be nominated and over the moon to win.
“I knew I had done a lot of volunteering, but I wasn’t expecting to win out of all the other nominees,” the Year 10 said.
“This award has really shown how much people appreciate me for volunteering and getting up all those early mornings and it definitely made me want to do it more.”
Now 15-years-old, Sophie has been volunteering since she was 11.
She currently volunteers for Triathlon HB but has previously donated her time to Presbyterian Support East Coast and Elmwood House Dementia home, where she now works part time.
“I just do it because it is fun, and it gets me involved in the community,” she says.
Her connection to Elmwood House, in Nelson Crescent, began when her grandfather, Terry Taylor, became a resident there in 2019.
“When he passed away in September last year, I found that I was missing all the residents, so I wanted to go back,” she said.
She went from being the company’s youngest and only volunteer at the time, to the youngest employee as a Support Assistant.
Being able to speak to the residents, and dance on the odd occasion makes her happy.
“I am always interested to hear how their day is and how they are feeling.”
And she doesn’t mind the early starts marshalling. “When people are down when they’re racing, I can just cheer them up and push them to keep going.”
For Helena, in Year 12, umpiring and taking primary school netball teams made for a natural transition, having played for most of her life.
“Seeing the kids improve from the start to end of the season is just really cool to watch.”
Ashlinn, who volunteers at Pacific Surf Lifesaving Club on Marine Parade, says helping others is something she enjoys.
She has done surf lifesaving since she was seven years old but became a lifeguard in 2019.
“I guess it’s just more to help others and I get to do what I enjoy at the same time,” the Year 11 says.
HOD Health and PE Mrs Kate Coker (née O’Malley) nominated Sophie, while Health and Physical Education Teacher Billie Madsen backed the nomination and nominated Ashlinn and Helena too.
Mrs Coker said she nominated Sophie because of her involvement with Tri HB, where she is also a member.
“She is at every Tri HB events during the year from Triathlons in the summer, duathlons in the winter or the kid's events. She is always so friendly and supportive and a huge help to the Club.”
Mrs Madsen said acknowledging their students’ talents, skills, and lifelong learning opportunities outside of the classroom can really give them a sense of empowerment.
“As educators at Sacred Heart College Napier, we follow the Catholic Social Teaching principles which embody the act of service or volunteering.
“I was lucky enough to chat to, and know about the countless hours of devotion, commitment and service within our community that Helena, Ashlinn and Sophie collectively offer, and have offered for a number of years now, so proudly put their names forward for recognition.”
