Arrowtowner Kirsten Dennison is this Saturday being invested as a member of Hato Hone St John.
She’s been on St John’s Kawarau area committee for nine years and chairwoman for about the past four.
In her current role she guided the merger of the former Whakatipu and Cromwell committees.
A Hato Hone St John statement says it was ‘‘a challenge many would have shied away from, but Kirsten could see the benefits to the organisation and led the way forward, making the process smooth and successful’’.
Dennison says her involvement stemmed from working for the ASB bank as it was a major St John sponsor.
‘‘I thought originally another lady and I were going to do, like, six months each and then we’ll be done, but there I am nine years later.’’
She says her role mainly involves fundraising and community engagement.
‘‘We’re lucky we’ve got a great community engagement team here that support us.
‘‘And we’re quite fortunate we get some great support from companies and organisations that hold events and make us the recipients, we certainly couldn’t operate without that.’’
They’re likewise indebted to their volunteers, she adds.
Her role also includes looking after the area’s station properties.
St John says under her leadership the area committee’s run many successful community engagement initiatives, ‘‘the most significant and enriching being the Hato Hone St John Friendship Drive which aims to address loneliness and isolation in the elderly’’.
‘‘Kirsten’s energy, dedication and compassion make her a pillar of the community, and her work has touched countless lives.
‘‘She is an inspiring figure who continually seeks ways to give back and make a difference.’’
Her other involvements include Presbyterian Support, Scouts, Whakatipu Rowing Club, Cancer Society, RSA and the Whakatipu Poppy Trust.
Dennison says her St John role ‘‘can be really busy at times, but I think it’s just part of my makeup in that I like to give back’’.
