Walk With Us
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Anne-Marie Teece, Jill Taylor, Sue Cross, Sarze Kay, Carol Shirley, Jenny Bates, Helen Ruston

Meet the team

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​       
Carol Shirley Walk with Us: Trustee and​ President

​I was born in 1965 in Wellington and moved to Nelson with my family when I was six years old.  I lived in Australia for 10 years from 1988 until 1998 where I ran a successful restaurant.  I was nominated for a National award for customer service when I was placed in the top three out of 1500 nominees.  For three years in a row I also won the top mystery shopper award for customer service. This was also a national competition with the restaurant chain I was working for. On my return to Nelson I did some hospitality work before launching my own catering business in 2003 called Gourmet Catering. In 2009 I purchased the Grape Escape Cafe in Richmond.  After three years, I sold out to my business partner and re-launched Gourmet Catering.  In2019 I took over the running of Beachside Conference and Event centre in Tahunanui, focusing on conferences in the region.
My hobbies are netball, cycling, cooking and I love travel.
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​Sarze Kay: Trustee and Trust Secretary

I have been involved with the Walk With Us charity for a number of years now and feel very proud that we have helped a number of children in the Nelson Tasman area, in providing suitable footwear for school and sports activities.
We are a group of eight woman with one common goal and that is to help fill a need for our families who may be struggling financially.
Life is busy with my interests. Children, grandchildren, boating, gardening volunteer work and spending time with friends. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Jenny Bates: Trustee and Treasurer​

Along with my husband Steve, we own and publish two local newspapers - the Waimea and Nelson Weeklies. 
​My background is nursing, although I completed a commerce degree in Business and Finance in 1996.
Prior to moving to Richmond with Steve and our son Stanley in 2005 to start the Waimea Weekly, I worked as a project manager for 12 years with the Ministry of Health.
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​Anne-Marie Teece: Trustee

​Prior to having children, I worked in an accountant’s office. I have since worked as a bank teller for a short time and spent 20 years listing and selling real estate, which I loved.
I have 3 grown up children and adorable 8 year old twin grandchildren.
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, cycling and walking.
As I am no longer in the workforce, I felt I wanted to give a little time and energy to the community.  After several meetings with teachers, principals and other women keen to do the same as myself, Walk With Us evolved and has shown there is a real necessity in the Nelson/Tasman region to discreetly provide children with adequate school/sports shoes.   
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​Jill Taylor: Trustee

I was born in Nelson in 1954 and raised in Motueka. I trained to be a teacher in Wellington in the 70’s , taught in Nelson schools for 5 years before having family. I am married to Paul, a mother of 2 adult children and a grandmother.
I joined the Nelson Toy Library founding committee in 1985. In 1989 I became an executive member of the NZ Toy Library Federation Board of Trustees, working as the newsletter editor.
In the 1990’s I was elected  to the Nelson Central School Board of Trustees where I managed the Community group.  I was elected to the position of chairperson before resigning in 1996.
My connection to early childhood started in 1989 with teaching and administration positions in a newly opened, purpose built centre . In 1996 I went into business with 4 other woman and founded The Childcare Company Ltd of which I was one of the directors. I sold up and retired in 2018.
My interest in children, their education and welfare has been the driver in my choices of paid and voluntary work and this continues with the Walk With Us trust.


 

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​Sue Cross: Trustee

I am thrilled to be a trustee of "Walk With Us" and over the years have seen  firsthand the need for children to feel like their peers with shoes and socks they feel proud to own.
Classed as a local girl, I was born and schooled in Ranzau and Richmond  where I really enjoyed a rural family life, consequently marrying and having two delightful children and several grandchildren.
Until recently, I worked in Real estate, which I did for 21 years and have witnessed the needs of our community.
​Now I have more time to help with this very worthy cause.
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Newsletters

Newsletter Oct 2015 
Newsletter Aug 2015 
Newsletter May 2014
Newsletter Apr 2014

Latest Events

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SEE EVENTS>
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​ Helen Ruston: Trustee

Born and raised in Nelson, I have lived here most of my life, I am married to Selwyn and we have 5 amazing children between us.
I have worked in local real estate since 2001, marketing and selling homes, sections and lifestyle property, 
a career that has given me a huge sense of gratitude, pride and respect for what we have in this beautiful part of the country.
It is an absolute privilege to be the newest Trustee of the Walk With Us Charitable Trust,
we can physically see that providing new school and sports shoes to those who can't quite do it on their own, 
can make the world of difference to our younger generation.
​It is so heartwarming to receive the thank you letters and cards and the sincere appreciation we hear from parents,
​grandparents, caregivers and teachers shows us we are needed, which is exactly what we want to be!
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