It’s time to get back on the road again
Nelson Multicultural Council co-ordinator Evey McAuliffe is moving on. After 71⁄ years, Evey is leaving her post where she has been helping migrants settle into Nelson, for travel and a real summer.
Her time there has been marked by searching for funding to keep the service going, working with the Nelson community on education, events and projects to promote race unity, as well as oneon-one work with assisting new migrants to the area.
The embodiment of a fiery redhead, the Irish woman has worked with dedication and enthusiasm in her work, which she says is down to her Catholic upbringing. She took two minutes to speak with the Leader. How long has it been on your mind to move on? I’ve been thinking about it this year - thinking what’s next? I’m 61 now . . . time rushes past really quickly when you get older. It’s been in the last couple of months - with a job like this it is good to have new people coming in, to bring new energy and fresh ideas. What were you doing before you took on this job? I was teaching English at the Nelson English Centre. What I really liked about that job was the people aspect. Prior to that I was mothering and doing volunteer community work. Before that I was working at Nelson Hospital as an occupational therapist . . . working with families with children with special needs. How did you end up in this role? I went for a role as field worker here in 2006, it got down to two applicants and they didn’t pick me. I was devastated . . . then I was asked to apply for the coordinator role . . . I asked (then co-ordinator) Claire (Nichols) if I could come in and shadow her and see what it was like, and I got it. What attracted you to this job in the first place? I travelled quite a bit myself and really enjoyed experiencing cultural diversity and diversity of faith, language and culture. I know what it’s like to be a stranger in a strange land. It can be exciting but quite daunting and lonely. The whole process of settlement is a two-way thing. The host community needs to know a little bit about the people coming in and be open to that and have a bit of empathy. It’s hard for people who have never travelled to have that. The people who come in here are get up and go people. Most migrants have got up and go. Migrants are special breed of people. They have courage to change the hand that has been dealt to them. What are you going to do now? I feel like a break and to really enjoy the summer and not having to fret and worry about organising Race Unity Day. Next year I plan to travel. I’m definitely going back and spending time in Ireland. In all the years I have been here I have been restricted to limited time. I want to revisit places I loved in the past. What about your future? Is this retirement for you? Retirement has a lot of connotations to it! I would be open to doing some contract work. I really liked working in this sector. Will Nelson remain home, or are you moving away? Nelson is home definitely. I love it. What are you going to miss about this job? The buzz of seeing people move forward in their lives, and of being a change maker in that process. I think it’s possible to use one’s talents and energies to do that in lots of ways. What else do you like to do in Nelson? I love getting out and about, cycling. I love the great taste trail. I can’t wait for summer – to swim in the sea at Cable Bay, and to kayak. I also love coffee – Zumo’s sales will plummet when I leave. Who have you been most inspired by in your life? Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, who I met. I was struck dumb. I was so in awe. I met her when I was volunteering at the home for sick and dying in Calcutta. What lasting advice do you want to give the people of Nelson, that you have learnt through your work and experiences? It’s very easy to make someone feel welcome, simply by smiling or a wave. It’s not rocket science. Saying hello can make a huge difference to someone who is new to this place.