Meet Our Volunteers #7: Lynette

There are so many wonderful people who donate their time and energy to keep Kaibosh running, and we’d like to introduce you to some of them.

Seventh in the series is food sorting volunteer Lynette! Thanks to Tracy (also a volunteer) for putting this excellent profile together.

How long have you been volunteering with Kaibosh? What’s your volunteer role?

About 18 months. I help out on the Thursday night food sort.

What made you choose Kaibosh?

I love food and hate to see it wasted. My father worked as a baker when I was a child and I remember seeing a truckload of food leaving the bakery where he worked on its way to the dump. As a 9 or 10 year old I found that hard to comprehend, so when I heard about Kaibosh I wanted to be part of it.

What’s your ‘day job’? Can you tell us a little about what you do?

The job I trained for when I left school was as a chef. I loved it and worked in restaurants for about 12 years, mainly in my home town of Auckland and in England. I still love cooking but these days it’s confined to home.

I now work as a legal executive. It’s a job I fell into about 15 years ago. I was at a loose end as I’d spent the previous 10 years at home with our children and also studying part time for a degree in history and politics. I’d just finished my honours year and the children were teenagers by then so I began looking for a job. I ended up helping my husband, Russell, out at his office and I’ve never left.

Where could we find you on the weekend, and what would you be doing?

Walking the hills and tracks of Wellington when the weather permits. Working in the garden that I’m establishing at my house. I have just a small spot but I want to fill it up with fruit trees and a veg patch – at times quite a challenge in Wellington! If the film festival was on I’d be going to some movies.

What’s your favourite Wellington café / restaurant?

That’s hard… there are so many good ones! Red Hill is a favourite – I’m a fan of Chinese food because of the delicious flavours and also I’m a vegetarian and they have a variety of vegetable dishes. A current favourite of mine is Egmont St Eatery – I’ve only been a few times but the food there has always been delicious. Also Duke Carvell’s – great atmosphere and food combined.

If you were introducing Wellington to someone what would be your ‘insider tip’?

The excellent and accessible walking tracks, some of which are really close to the city. A favourite of mine for a short walk is the track that runs behind/above Oriental Bay for great views of the city from within the green belt. We’ve even found remnants of an old orchard up there with, of all things, loquat trees, which occasionally manage to produce fruit despite their windy location. And Unity Books.

Thanks for your time and the recommendations Lynette!

If you’re interested in volunteering with Kaibosh, find out more here and drop us a line.