OPINION: SERVICE MATTERS
As we lead up to Anzac Day, it’s a time that reminds me of the value of service. I’ve spent the last three years working around our local community, speaking to groups like Grey Power, Age Concern, Levin Over 60s, Probus, Rebus, Lions, Rotary, Altrusa, Horowhenua Community Club and more. It’s really important to me, to take the time to make myself available to you, to be present, to engage, and most of all to listen. How can you seek to represent people if you’re not listening to them?
In each of these groups I see people who share the same values as me. I worry that some of those “old fashioned” values I grew up with, and still hold dear today, are being lost in our wider community. For example:
• our family still go and introduce ourselves to our neighbours every time we move or someone else does, but many people don’t know their neighbours or talk to them, living in isolation;
• we teach our children manners, like the way to speak to our elders using their last name and title, but stories of elder abuse in our community are really upsetting;
• we still believe in turning up in person to a wide range of community groups: it’s so disappointing to see numbers in these amazing groups slowly dropping off.
I’m also concerned that too much emphasis is placed on doing things ‘online’ and we forget the value of face-to-face, particularly since Covid came along. For many people, things like banking or booking appointments and travel can be a challenge online, and I know this is one issue Grey Power has championed over the last few years. Equally, I don’t think meeting ‘online’ is ever as rich or as useful as meeting in person, and I love that all these community groups have kept meeting over the last few years while so many moved to online meetings only.
One of the biggest themes I see repeated across all these groups is the value of service. I often share the story of my time in the Air Force, over 22 years as a pilot and in various leadership roles, including deployments to Afghanistan, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, and more.
Service matters to me, and it’s what motivates me to be your next local MP. I still believe in service, I think it matters and I think we need to honour and value this more in our community. Anzac Day will be a time to honour those who served in our military, but in the lead-up I also want to honour the countless people of your generation who have served our community so faithfully over the many decades.
My mum is my best example to me: my whole life, and still today, she is always cooking a casserole for someone, looking after other people’s children, volunteering at church, supporting those who are new to our community and our country. It’s an amazing example to me and to my children, and if more people were like my mum I think we’d all be better off. I hope my generation, and that of my children, will pick up the mantle and continue to serve our community like you have.
So as we approach Anzac Day, a day that will always be sacred to our military and this whole nation, I also want to honour all those who serve our community so faithfully. Other countries are far better at honouring service that we egalitarian tall-poppies can be on occasion, but let me say sincerely to all of you: thank you for your service.
Tim Costley
National Party Candidate