Christine Walsh
A big deal is often made of someone who retires from a long-held influential post within their community.
Former deputy mayor Heather Dodunski has done it twice in less than six months, yet she did it without as much as a final hoorah.
Strong suspicions are it’s because she wanted it that way. ‘‘I’m just going home after lunch on Friday and that’s it,’’ Dodunski said.
The former deputy mayor revealed she would be leaving the region she had lived in her entire life, last October. She announced her 28-year career in local government was over.
Her delicate stature often deceived others into thinking she was a pushover, but her zealous personality and clever words sparked many a backlash in the local government arena.
Last week she hung up her Volunteering New Plymouth (VNP) hat for one last time. ’’I can’t say I’m not a little sad at leaving, but life goes on, whatever happens, it happens for a reason.’’
Within her VNP role, her fervour for people never switched off, rather she redirected her natural talent’s towards promoting the importance of volunteers and volunteering within our community.
She felt fortunate to have been able to work her two roles together. ‘‘It’s all those connections that you are able to make, which makes them such wonderful jobs to have.’’
What mattered most to her was having the ability to find roles for people struggling to regain self confidence. ’’For a lot of people they’re feeling quite lonely or lost.’’
Now, Paraparaumu bound for a new adventure, Dodunski said she was excited for VNP going forward.
She predicted her replacement, Marie Riordan, would inject new life into the programme.
Luckily for Riordan, who joins the team from U-Turn community training services, she’s also been giving her ‘‘lots and lots and lots’’ of advice over the past few days.
‘‘I’m sure she is sick of hearing my voice. I said to her the other day I have to stop because I’m losing my voice.’’
Dodunski joked over possibly getting a special hotline direct to the newbie’s desk. ‘‘I may get a phone call saying Houston we have a problem.’’
Joking aside, the new retiree said it’s time to move on to a new adventure. Her new house was across the road from the beach. ‘‘Life’s a beach, and I’m off.’’
‘‘I can’t say I’m not a little sad at leaving, but life goes on, whatever happens, it happens for a reason.’’
Heather Dodunski