In 1992, a group of like-minded people, led by Glenice Gallagher, came together to establish a volunteer centre in Hamilton. By 1993, the group was ready to appoint a manager, and the Hamilton Volunteer Centre opened its doors.
If you knew Pam, you would understand the sheer excitement of the establishment committee when she applied for the role. Pam came with all the right credentials, especially her role as the Chief Executive for the Nursing Mothers Association in Australia. But more than that, she came with tireless, positive energy, a clear vision, an ability to think outside the square and a determination to make things happen. When Pam took on a project, you knew it would succeed.
While only one of a handful of volunteer centres in New Zealand at the time, Pam grew Hamilton as a forward-looking centre with strong links to its wider community. She actively worked with the local for-purpose organisations, businesses and the public sector to improve the services provided to member organisations and prospective volunteers. One example was a scheme where a business or tertiary provider running a professional development course could make a small number of places available to for-purpose organisation team members. This enabled access training at no or low cost and added valuable skills to those in for-purpose organisations across the region.
2001, the International Year of the Volunteer (IYV), was momentous and clearly identified Volunteering Waikato (formerly Hamilton Volunteer Centre) as a leading volunteer centre in New Zealand. Having recently left her role as Centre Manager, Pam took on the role of developing, coordinating and managing all the activities and celebrations that took place over the year.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, she organised a different activity for each month of the year. These included a Garden Party for volunteers at the Hamilton Gardens, followed by Volunteer Recognition Awards, with Dame Silvia Cartwright, the Governor General and her husband Peter as the special guests. There was also a Thank You Zoo Do for volunteers and their families at the Hamilton Zoo, a celebrity debate, the launch at the Waikato Museum, of a photo exhibition and accompanying book, celebrating a wide range of volunteers from across the Waikato. And finally, the launch of Camellia Volunteer, bred by renowned plant breeder Mark Jury (and available through Wairere Nurseries at Gordonton).
Organising a year’s worth of events would have been incredibly demanding at the best of times, but few knew that for most of that year, Pam was also undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Pam’s amazing organisational and meticulous planning skills, her eye for detail, her determination to produce exceptional results, and never give up, ensured that IYV was a huge success. It stays clearly in the minds of those who were part of it.
Pam continued to serve Volunteering Waikato over the years, stepping in to help when there was a hiatus in leadership. The success of the organisation was always close to her heart.
What stands out most is the quality of the relationships Pam built with the people she worked with. She was a loyal and trusted friend who stood by and supported us. Seriously smart, irreverent and fun, she called a spade a spade. We knew exactly where we stood with Pam.
Volunteering Waikato is exceptionally lucky that Pam came along just when it needed her. Her efforts set the strong foundations that have served Volunteering Waikato well for the last 31 years. I hope Pam knew just how important she was to the ongoing success of the centre. Yet it was never in her nature to boast of her achievements. As she used to say of others, Pam was an ordinary person who did something extraordinary.
