Plunket has been an important part of Jan’s life, not only as a ‘Plunket Baby’, mum, and grandmother, but also as a loyal volunteer, donor and now Gifts in Wills ambassador. Jan says, “I have decided to leave a gift in my Will to Plunket because it will be my final contribution to the cause that I have given to all my life."
As Jan sorts through photos from her childhood, she recalls one of her first memories - walking with her mum to the local Plunket rooms. Fascinated by the Plunket nurse who would weigh her younger siblings using the old manual hanging scales, Jan began ‘playing Plunket’ with her friends, wrapping dolls in cloth nappies and hanging them from trees.
As the eldest child in her family and avid local babysitter, Jan was well prepared for motherhood when she started a family with her husband in the 1960s. Raising three young children in rural Auckland was certainly challenging at times. Jan was pleased she could turn to Plunket for practical advice and support. “We had a lovely Plunket nurse, Ms Parton. She just knew everything, as you wanted it, to suit what you wanted.”
Like many others in her community, Jan joined her local Plunket committee, “It’s just what we did back then. We all chipped in and gave our time to local causes.” Jan admits that rural life with young children was a bit boring at times, and being involved with Plunket added a bit of fun, especially the annual fundraiser, the ‘Mrs Hunua Pageant’.
Once Jan’s children started school, she devoted more time to Plunket and continued to volunteer for nearly 40 years. Driven by her deep commitment to supporting families, Jan took on more responsibility - rising to become a valued leader at both regional and national levels. A highlight of Jan's time at Plunket was teaching parents about car seat safety at Baby Expos across Auckland.
She says, “I'm proud of how we went around different places teaching people how to put babies safely in their car seats.... This was an important service offered by Plunket volunteers in the late 1960s when car seats were first introduced."
While much has changed during her lifetime, Jan recognises that “Plunket’s work is just as important today as it was in my day.” Quite simply, she wishes that every child in Aotearoa could have a happy childhood.
Jan hopes more New Zealanders will consider leaving a gift in their Will to the Plunket Foundation. A gift in your Will, no matter the size, is a powerful way to ensure Plunket’s support is always within reach for new parents across Aotearoa.
September is Wills month - It's a great time to create or update your Will to ensure your loved ones and wishes are protected. Find out more about our Wills month giveaway - 100 free online Wills thanks to Footprint.
