For the past 25 years, Jean Barrett has developed into one of the long-lasting and most loyal participants of the Napier KiwiSeniors programme. In 1991, Jean was in Rotorua looking after her sister who was battling cancer. After she passed, the Hawke’s Bay born woman came back to Napier and joined Napier KiwiSeniors after reading about it in the newspaper.

That was when Jean was 60 years old. “It was very low key to start with,” explained Jean. “There was talks of a committee being put together so that John (Harris) could handle all the work. In the end we decided we just needed someone to handle the money so I volunteered myself for the job.”

“I felt privileged that John entrusted me to handle the financial side of things which I have been doing ever since. I still get called Mrs Money Bags whenever I see him.”

Jean has been the Financial Officer for the programme for 25 years, but that will now all change.

On Wednesday, November 2nd, Jean had her last day with Napier KiwiSeniors. It marked her 25th year with the programme as she retired from her duties as the woman in charge of finance and banking. It also marked her 85th birthday. Jean originally decided to retire from KiwiSeniors at the 25th anniversary but that was put on hold when other members said she couldn’t leave until after their annual Melbourne Cup sweepstake.

“Exercise is vital at our age,” explained Jean. “The social side of [KiwiSeniors] has been great and it gives us all something to do. I’ll miss all the gossip and the exercise, but I’m going to attend Jane Denby’s [Sport Hawke’s Bays GRx Advisor] ‘Walk & Talk at Anderson Park’ and Margaret’s [Sport Hawke’s Bays KiwiSeniors Coordinator] ‘Sit and Be Fit’ sessions to keep moving. I’ll be back to gate crash all the birthday bashes though.”

For Jean, although the exercise and weekly social scene has been highly beneficial to her, through the people she has met while attending the programme, they’ve also organised a variety of trips around the country. “One of my best memories was when of the guys who was in his 80’s on our trip down south did a bungee jump,” she said. Some of the trips her and the members have organised have included Norfolk Island, Stewart Island, Milford Sound, Dunedin and Wellington.

“Jean has made an amazing contribution as one of the key volunteers at the Napier KiwiSeniors for the past 25 years,” said Sport Hawke’s Bays Recreation Team Leader Eana Young. “She has been able to juggle her duties as the Volunteer Finance Officer along with being able to inspire new people to come and embrace a culture of keeping active.”

KiwiSeniors is a specifically tailored programme that has been designed for older adults. The programme engages seniors of all abilities and includes line dancing, free style movements to music, resistance exercises with the use of dynabands or hand weights and Tai Chi. At the larger venues, badminton is also offered. For more information about KiwiSeniors, locations, timetables and how you can join, visit www.sporthb.net.nz under the Recreation tab or call Sport Hawke’s Bay on (06) 845 9333.