Book documents history of vital service
The history of counselling in the Far North is being celebrated with a book launch about the region’s first counselling service.
Three Kaikohe women formed the service - now called Mid North Family Support - in 1987 to offer help to victims of sexual abuse.
At the time, the nearest help centre was 90 kms away in Whangarei, bus services were non existent and the rail car service had been wound down.
Journalist Sandy Myhre says writing and editing the book
is ’’one of the most exhilarating things I’ve done’’.
‘‘Because of the women I’ve met, not only those involved as volunteer counsellors, but women who’ve overcome trauma and sexual abuse and made something of their lives. I was very humbled to be able to tell their stories.’’
The book examines the cultural, social and economic history of counselling in the region and NZ over the 30-year period.
It includes interviews with the three founding women who are now in their 80s and information from current counsellors, and research into what they deal with.
Mid North Family Support offers free counselling and community education programmes, covering the Mid and Far North from Towai to Totara North, and South Hokianga to the Bay of Islands. This includes Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Kawakawa, Paihia, Russell, Waitangi, Kaeo, Okaihau and Rawene.
will be officially launched at a charity dinner and fundraising auction at Kerikeri’s Marsden Estate on November 10.
‘‘We wanted to acknowledge all the women who have been involved for the past 30 years,’’ says Mid North Family Support clinical coordinator Kathy Voice.
‘‘The history is important for the region and can be used as an educational tool in schools, universities and with other health providers.’’ Voice says there were no services available at all before 1987.
‘‘Around the time rape crisis around the world and NZ were being established. It was a fighting back movement from women.’’
is available from Mid North Family Support. To buy tickets to the charity dinner email midnorthfs@hotmail.com