29.05.2018 - VSA sadly lost a member of the whānau this month, when Lesley Dee passed away. For many years, Lesley donated her time and talents to assist us to recruit volunteers. Here, Margie Meates, who worked closely with Lesley during those selection weekends, remembers Lesley.
Our dear friend, Lesley Dee, passed away earlier in the month.
I felt privileged to attend her funeral service with some of her other VSA friends. Her last volunteer selection for VSA in March will be well remembered by everyone who encountered her on the day, as Lesley was trotting out a stunning pair of brightly coloured boots (much to our delight). The same pair of boots winked at me as they adorned her coffin for her service. I just love that she was taking those fabulous boots with her!
Lesley was one of a special group of sector specialist selectors, who would come in gladly and enthusiastically to help us select volunteers. She donated many years of her time, out of office hours and mostly on Saturdays, to assess the personal suitability of volunteer candidates to manage a successful assignment. How lucky were those candidates (many of whom would be suffering from interview anxiety) to have an exceptional hour talking with Lesley. She would stride out to collect the candidate for their interview and we would see the delight on the candidate’s face when they were greeted by the ‘Petone Pocket Rocket’. Lesley spent many years working in the mental health sector and would talk frequently about how much she enjoyed interviewing for VSA, as she got to meet motivated individuals who were keen to make a difference. She could have been talking about herself.
Ever willing to help out with interviewing, Lesley would be booking herself in for the next selection dates as she was leaving the one she had just finished. However, the team had to be careful about encroaching on film festival, arts festival, and WOW dates. We were mindful of preparing an interview programme around these dates… to allow for Lesley’s availability. That’s what I call an influencer!
She was generous, smart, sharp as a whip, absolutely committed to her work, and the work of VSA, and for those of us who were lucky enough to see her in the weekends, she was also a bit of a naughty girl with a special glint in her eye and always time to catch up. It was always very easy to get drawn into a cosy catch-up with Lesley, with many screeches and whoops of delight, only to forget that we had a tight schedule to keep to if we were going to get through all the work.
We were always aware that Lesley had overcome significant health issues, but these didn’t define her. She wore her heart by-pass scar on her chest as a statement of living not of illness. Her funeral service was an example of her zest for life and her appreciation of a great event, and she had most of the programme organised to reflect that. VSA was well and truly part of Lesley’s life and held a special place in her heart. One of her last acts of generosity towards the organisation was to state that any donations at her service were to go to the Bougainville Library Trust
Crikey, I will miss her so much, and the world is a little less sparkly without her.
Much love to Lesley, who will truly live on in our hearts.
Margie