About Us
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After involvement with The Aunties in Auckland, Heather M thought it was needed here in Christchurch. Heather L and Sarah joined Heather M in 2017, and The Christchurch Aunties was born.
An amazing network of people of all genders and backgrounds contributing to the Christchurch Aunties. Our involvement with Christchurch Aunties is unpaid and voluntary, and we ensure it works in conjunction with our families, study, paid employment, and other volunteering. |
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Heather Milne is a photographer, Mum, coffee-aficionado, and a huge fan of penguins. After being in touch with Jackie Clark of the Aunties in Auckland, she introduced the idea of Christchurch Aunties to the city informally from 2013. She works for the Student Volunteer Army Foundation, and documents social issues and our changing city with her camera. She is our Chair, one of our Facebook communicators (signs off as ^HeatherM), and liaises with the women's refuges.
Heather Locke is a business development manager who soapboxes about social justice and environmental issues. She’s also a Yank who likes Halloween way more than is healthy. She’s worked in marketing, publication editing, disaster relief photography, anthropological research and animal welfare charity. Heather L is also on the board of Gapfiller, and also enjoys penguins… just not as much as Halloween.
Sarah Butterfield lives in the east of Christchurch with family and pets and is passionate about the regeneration of the eastern suburbs and the future of the Residential Red Zone. Sarah is involved with other NGOs and is a sitting member on their management boards. She feels honoured to be a foundation member of The Christchurch Aunties and is incredibly inspired by the wonderful work that the Refuges and others that support them are doing in their communities.
Karen Petrie is passionate about making a difference in the lives of women and children . She has a background as a social worker, working with at risk families in New Zealand and overseas (Australia). Karen also loves supporting women in their careers and is a founding member of the Southern Government Women’s Network. In her spare time she’s finishing her Masters of Science in Child and Family Psychology. And if she’s not studying she’s out on her e-mountain bike exploring amazing places around Canterbury.
Andrea Cairns grew up on a farm in the lower North Island and inherited her family's strong sense of serving and supporting her community. One of things that Andrea loves about her involvement with the Christchurch Aunties is experiencing first hand the generosity of our community, as she co-ordinates one of the drop off points. Knowing that complete strangers are giving unconditionally is hugely empowering for the woman and children the Christchurch Aunties support through the women's refuges. Andrea believes that as a society we all have a part to play in finding a solution to our widespread problem of family violence, and that starts with talking and supporting each other.
In addition to our Board Trustees, we also have a close-knit group of volunteers such as Reetah, Keryn, and Fiona, who support us with day-to-day operations, and additional advice and information.
