English getting used to life under his own steam
When Sir Bill English travelled to Balclutha yesterday for his first engagement as patron of the newly launched Clutha Foundation, he hired a car.
No more Government vehicles waiting at the airport for this ex-Prime Minister.
These days he is travelling under his own steam.
He is also getting used to carrying a wallet and knowing where his cellphone is and generally organising his own life.
‘‘I’m getting much better at learning to be self-sufficient.’’
The perks are not there but life was ‘‘more than OK’’, he said.
He enjoyed his time in the hot seat participating in the End of Life Choice Bill at Parliament’s Justice Select Committee on Thursday.
But he has got no regrets about leaving politics.
‘‘I haven’t missed it.
‘‘I enjoyed it all. As soon as I realised it was time to go, I was ready to go.’’
Now it is pay back time for his doctor wife Mary.
‘‘I’m very happy to be spending the time supporting my wife in her practice.’’
Not being a PM or party leader also means he has time to spend on directorships and community-based projects, which was why he agreed to becoming the newly launched Clutha Foundation’s patron.
He liked the idea because a community foundation was in touch with what the community needed and its aspirations, and could identify projects.
‘‘A foundation is a vehicle to get those up and running.’’
To date, the Clutha Foundation is the 17th such organisation to be formed in New Zealand.
Inaugural chairman Bill Thomson said there had never been an overarching community trust that was domiciled in the Clutha District that was ‘‘committed to philanthropy’’, where money from benefactors went directly into community causes.
It was an opportunity for Clutha people ‘‘to give where they live’’.
The foundation hopes to grow its fund to $10 million as an aspirational target.
Advance Ashburton community foundation, which has similarities to Clutha in district size and rural base was represented at the launch by chairman Trevor Croy. It was seen a success story, with a fund of $10m and anticipated bequests of more than $30m, to benefit the Ashburton community.