Avid gardener Christine Muff is looking forward to, not only smelling the roses as she retires, but having time to prune them as well.
Muff, 67, is also looking forward to catching up with family, knitting and crafting, reading, travelling, adding to her Civil Defence volunteering, going on adventures with a four-wheel- drive club, and using her skills to help others.
For more than 20 years, Muff has been the face of Birthright in Mid Canterbury, which is today based at Community House.
Her job, as a social worker, has been one she has loved.
Muff was a volunteer family visitor for Birthright and was attending a course in social services at the polytech when it was suggested she apply for a position at Birthright.
At the same time she was looking to do something helping others, to assist with grief she was experiencing after the passing of one of her three sons.
‘‘My late son had said to me ‘If you are passionate about something, then you can make it happen’. And that was the motivation that inspired me to get into volunteering with Birthright and my study,’’ she said.
Muff had felt humbled learning how much listening had meant to many of her clients.
‘‘Many times I would have met a client and I felt they had talked and I didn’t say much. A few weeks later I would receive a card telling me what a difference that chat had made and how much that conversation had changed their life.
“Messages like that reminded me I was doing a worthwhile job,’’ Muff said.
A large component of her job had been walking a journey alongside a single parent.
‘‘Many came to the service experiencing grief, it could have been from the death of partner, the ending of a marriage or relationship. Many also came with debts, the cost-of-living crisis and isolation,’’ she said.
‘‘When I started, more single parent families had other family around that could support and help, but today many feel quite isolated.
“I started a group where they could meet and share experiences and support each other, and this has been very beneficial. We have been fortunate to have the support of FoodBank Aotearoa which has helped families with food,’’ Muff said.
Her job had been made easier by ‘‘the amazing support’’ the community gave to one-parent families.
This year instead of wrapping more than 70 presents for Birthright families for Christmas she will only have to wrap for her partner, two sons and daughter-in-laws and five grandchildren.
