Pacific Coast Village residents win big at the Generus Living Group Sustainable Living short story competition
Pacific Coast News
Generus Living Group announced the winners of the first Sustainable Living short story competition "Creating Change".
“We were searching for inspirational stories celebrating positive environmental or community action. Stories that reflect one’s life experiences, or environmental matters that the person feels strongly about and/ or goal[s] they are working towards,” says Liane Leesment, Generus Living Group Sustainability & Operations Manager.
“We received an inspiring collection of diverse stories about creating change and making a difference.”
The Overall Resident Category Winner of the Generus Living ‘Creating Change’ Short Story competition was David Riddleston of Pacific Coast Village, with his story “Do You Remember When….” - taking home a Kindle e-reader.
David’s short story reflects both on how we and the times have changed. “Do you remember when things were certainly different in our lives. I know for myself that when I look back on nearly eight decades on this planet, there were many things that most of us probably did, that we would not do now. We did not really think much of the environment back then. As older people who were brought up in a far different environment from that which our grandchildren are growing up in, I feel that we can all learn from the youth of our country who are trying to give “Nature” a helping hand.”
David adds, “My wife and I are proud to be residents of Pacific Coast Village and we are impressed by the way management looks towards all our futures, we can really see how our village has a beneficial effect on the environment and the community, may it be the efforts with waste, the way gardens are handled or the resident initiatives with beach clean and dune planting.”
The two runner ups in the Resident Category were also from Pacific Coast Village. Denis Edwards with his story “Vicious cyclone and rising food prices promote a recycling effort”, and Barbara Wilson with a very personal story of change “My Story”.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
As part of the awards, each winner nominated a charity for Generus to make a donation to on their behalf.
- Dave Riddleston chose to support Kids Can. “I would like the donation to go to the Kids Can organisation. I feel that there are so many young children out there that need all the help they can get. They are part of the future and us residents are part of the past.”
- Barbara Wilson chose to support a Tauranga Hospice "I would be very happy for the donation to go to Waipuna Hospice here in the Bay of Plenty. My main reason for that is that in 2002 they looked after my husband Peter Wilson in such a caring way. I have donated to the Hospice over many years and would like this donation to go to the Hospice as well.”
- Denis Edwards also chose to support Tauranga Hospice. “In the 1980's I worked as a front-line ambulance paramedic. It is a job that brings you into contact with a lot of death. Too often it was seeing people passing on alone and uncared for, which was absolutely heart breaking. The hospice system tries to ease the last moments, letting people pass with as much dignity and comfort as possible. That is why I want to support it.”
Additionally, as part of the Short Story competition, Generus has donated a total of 50 native trees in the value of $500 to the Trees That Count* movement on behalf of all residents taking part in the competition and sustainability initiatives throughout the country. Planting native trees is one of the great actions we can all take to tackle climate change and improve our environment.
Generus are fully committed to sustainability. This commitment is shared not only by our staff and management, but also by our residents. Over 90% of Generus Living residents have stated that a sustainable lifestyle is important or very important to them. Engaging in conversation across all stakeholder groups has been a critical element in our approach to sustainability.
*Trees That Count is managed by environmental charity Project Crimson, helping Kiwis plant more native trees across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Share this article via:
Facebook
Twitter
