18 July, 2025
A life of giving Katikati woman Shona Graham reckons there’s no better way to start her week than two hours at Katikati Primary School helping students with their reading, as she is pictured here with Year 1 student Chevelle Nathan. That’s where Katikati News caught
up with the busy lady who has been bestowed a Lifetime Volunteer Award by Volunteering Services for giving 30 years of service to her community. It all began when Graham arrived in town back in 1995, and saw a newspaper advert looking for helpers for Katikati’s
at the beach
Our Sensational Sale Now On!!!
Christmas Float Parade. Now, three decades on, she’s the face of the town’s school holiday programme and regular volunteer at Katikati Community Centre, with her helping hands in lots of ‘pies’ – from health expos to community picnics to helping host the Festival of
Cultures. Centre manager Nicky Austin said it would be impossible to count the hours that Graham had given to her community. “She’s cheery, positive, hardworking, and we couldn’t survive without her.” Read about Graham’s passion for volunteering on page 3. Photo / Merle Cave