Through kind sponsorship, Big Buddies occasionally get to develop their own confidence on an Outward Bound course, at a fraction of the cost most people would pay. Recently, Big Buddies Eugene Lowrie and Terry Dawson were lucky enough to take up this offer in The Marlborough Sounds. Terry’s letter of thanks, below, shows us the …
Growing confidence through the spirit of adventure Read More »
Here’s a great reminder of what Big Buddies do best, from the 2016 archives: A year is a long time in a 13-year-old boy’s life and a lot can happen. Especially if you are LB Mikaere and go on all sorts of adventures around Wellington with BB Tony. Here’s a report from the mentoring field …
Having a Big Buddy is knowing there is always someone in your corner. LB, Gabriel (11) and his BB, Greg have been matched since 2010 and have been quite the pair since. Losing his father at a very young age and having two adult siblings who live abroad, Gabriel’s mother, Gay thought it very important …
One of our well known mentors shares the gradual journey from new dad to Big Buddy. Auckland’s Eugene Lowrie has been a committed role model for two different boys in the last three years. First, he was Big Buddy to young Sam, then when Sam and his mother moved down to the Waikato, Eugene took …
Many will recognise our Big Buddy Gavin Sheehan for his part in our current #3lifelessons poster, Facebook and Instagram campaign. But probably very few will realise the other great work that Gavin is doing in his local community; has been preserving street plaques that commemorate local Auckland men who gave their lives in WWI. This Sunday, you …
Join Big Buddy Gav to remember lost WWI soldiers this Sunday Read More »
Ken Turner may have left the police force to study engineering like so many other men in his family, but he still fosters a strong care of duty towards others. Ken is now a Big Buddy mentor to 11-year-old ‘fatherless’ Wellington boy, Ollie. The impetus came when the ex-sergeant moved to Porirua – as a …
Kapiti local and mentor Pete Hobbs, 72, is testament to the more recent wave of thinking that suggests one should put the concept of retirement on the backburner and keep on keeping busy. Pete works full time as a painter-decorator and spends a few hours each week mentoring 9 year-old Sean Burkhalter. He says …
Pete’s wisdom of years perfect for mentoring Sean Read More »
Big Buddy has almost 400 mentors working with boys today, and the same again of retired Big Buddies. June 2018 marks the start of our regular Big Buddy Interviews that share with you the valuable experience and insights of our everyday mentoring heroes. A big move to New Zealand ten years ago also signalled a …
From UK financial markets to Te Awamutu Big Buddy Read More »
As Little Buddies absorb the often-subliminal lessons taught to them by their mentors, it’s not uncommon to find a Big Buddy feeling that his young charge occasionally has the upper hand. Our Wellington coordinator, Dave Burcher, recently took an amusing call from one of his area’s mentors. Whilst out exploring Wellington’s south coast, Big Buddy …
July 2018 marks the start of our regular Big Buddy Interviews, where we share the valuable experience and insights of mentors from Auckland, Wellington and the Waikato. Auckland’s Roman Travers combines a pharmaceutical industry role and time with his young-adult family with writing, radio and TV …