About Us
Waihi Community Resource Centre has been part of the Waihi Community since 1987. We are committed to contributing to a community that supports each other, values and cares for all people, especially those most vulnerable, and which has a zero-tolerance to violence.
OUR VISION
A healthy and thriving community.
OUR MISSION
People in Waihi and neighbouring communities are empowered and enriched by accessing and participating in our community services and activities.
Jan Smeaton
Manager
Jan, a trained and registered Counsellor has been our Manager since 2015. She has a keen interest in working in the not for profit sector and really enjoys working in, and for the community where she has now lived for 35 years. Her work with CAPS Hauraki and past managerial experience with Hauraki Victim Support and Whangamata Community Services Trust brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to WCRC.
In her other life Jan is a wife, mother of 3, nana of 4, a dairy farmer, and maintains a small counselling practice. She enjoys reading, music, cooking and walking – when she has time!
Kaye Gadsden
Reception
Kaye is our friendly face that will meet and greet you when visiting us. She manages our bookings and room hire and just about everything else so if there is anything you need to know – just ask Kaye!
Linley Carpenter
Strengthening Families Co-ordinator / Whānau Support
Linley has a passion for working within community settings and her knowledge and experience enable her to work for The Waihi Community Resource Centre in a diverse range of roles.
Linley is the co-ordinator of Strengthening Families as well as the co-ordinator for our Volunteer and Community Programs – which include Thrive and our community garden. She also works within our ISR team as a Whānau Support Worker for family harm.
Linley has lived and worked within our community for over 10 years and loves working with people - supporting and encouraging them on their journey of discovery, toward living the life they were born for.
Nicola Hensley
Counsellor
Nicola has a Bachelor of Social Practice in Narrative Counselling, is registered with NZAC and has several years’ experience working alongside children, adolescents, and their families. She has facilitated programmes such as the Strengthening Families, Incredible Years, Strengthening Step Families and Parenting Through Separation.
Nic’s core beliefs are that people are the experts in their own life, and that the problem is the problem – not the person. She also believes that supporting people and helping them feel validated through their connection with others, can bring about change.
Nic and her family found their forever home in Waihi in 2018 and they are loving everything that this community and environment have to offer.
Tina Phillips
Counsellor
Tina is a registered NZAC counsellor who joined the Waihi Community Resource Centre in 2021. Tina grew up in the Hauraki area and has served her community in various ways over the years.
A passion for social justice motivates Tina and she is committed to ensuring the diverse contexts of people's lives are respected.
In 2021 Tina began her Masters of Counselling at the University of Waikato. She is continuing this during 2022/2023 whilst working full time within her role as a counsellor at the Waihi Community Resource Centre.
Matt Wallace
Family/Whanau and Youth Support
Matt recently joined our organisation in 2021. He brings a great desire, enthusiasm, and commitment to working with both youth and adults. Matt’s role is diverse and varied. He works as a Youth Worker/Mentor and is also a Whanau Support Worker within our ISR & Strengthening Families teams.
Matt lives in the Waihi community with his young family and outside of work he enjoys outdoor activities, sports, cooking, animals and spending time with whanau and friends.
Gonny Ormsby
Social
Gonny’s extensive experience working with children and families is a valued addition to our team. She has spent 15 years visiting families in their homes, promoting neurodevelopment of children from before birth to age three and has helped equip parents with the tools and understanding to ensure the most important first 1000 days are as enriched as possible. Gonny has also worked in an education and support role to foster parents with therapeutic parenting skills to help heal children of any age affected by trauma.
Gonny’s role as Whānau Support Worker and facilitator of the Parenting Support Group with the Waihi Community Resource Centre incorporates the skills and experience learnt throughout her career. She also works as a Strengthening Families facilitator, a process she finds invaluable to families and professionals for using strength-based solutions.
Gonny is Mum to three children, two foster sons and Nana to six mokopuna. She has lived in this rohe for over forty years and feel privileged to work in this community that she loves.
Sarah Tawhiti
Kaitautoko Whānau Community Social Worker
Sarah works here at the Waihi Community Resource Centre as a Kaitautoko Whānau (Community Social Worker). She has a passion for walking alongside whānau, hapū , iwi as an advocate to ensure whānau, hapū, iwi have all the necessary resources and tautoko (support) that they may require.
Sarah is a registered Social Worker who studied at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa ki
Tauranga and has achieved her Bachelor in Biculturalism in Social Work.
Marina Williams
Whānau Support
Marina is a Whanau Support Worker for ISR, where she enjoys working with people individually as well as with the whanau in supporting them making their life and home free from violence. Marina has an extensive background in addiction and mental health.
She is a lovely mother of four children, four stepchildren and a grandmother of 14. Her family, little lifestyle block and animals are her safe haven outside of work.
Carol Cullen
Family/Whanau and Youth Support
Carol has recently joined our organisation in 2022. Originally from Scotland, Carol has been working with Rangatahi for over 26 years that have displayed a wide range of complex needs, trauma and behavioral issues.
Carol has been in New Zealand since 2020, where she has spent the past year working with Oranga Tamariki in a secure residential facility in Auckland. With an extensive range of qualifications, having studied child protection, child development and behavioral management, Carol has a great passion for supporting our Whanau and Rangatahi.
Carol is a mum to one, and is married to her husband of 35 years.
Darinee Turnwald
Contracted - Community Social Worker
Darinee was previously a full time employee of the Waihi Community Resource Centre where she worked closely with Oranga Tamariki clients by supporting them to create positive changes in their lives.
Darinee is now contracted to the Waihi Community Resource Centre one day a week to support the growth of youth initiatives within the Hauraki area.
Governance
Pamela Keall
Pamela is the Secretary Treasurer at Waihi Community Resource Centre. The now retired Deputy Principal of Waihi College, is interested in expanding the services offered at WCRC. Her ongoing commitment and dedication to community is evident by her active participation in various organisations. Pamela is the President of Waihi Museum, Chairman Vestry St John’s Anglican Church, Member of Agewise Thames and the Age Concern Board, as well as a Committee Member of COGS.
Margaret Harrison
Margaret is the Service Centre Manager for Work and Income Waihi/Paeroa. Her extensive background in Ministerial Agencies and community involvement adds a wealth of information and experience to WCRC. Her drive and passion to create a collaborative approach with agencies and community organisations has an immense benefit for our centre, as well as the people within our community.
Elspeth Heaton
Elspeth has been involved with WCRC at different periods over many years. With her background in teaching and working with both students and parents, her skills are a valued addition to our board. Elspeth believes that WCRC contributes a great deal to the local community and is pleased to be able to support this organisation and the work we do.
Jenni Peters
Jenni holds a BA in Social Work and a post grad qualification in Supervision and is currently the Whānau Development Supervisor at the Hauraki Maori Trust Board. Jenni worked here at the Waihi Community Resource Centre for around 12 years and has now joined our Governance Board. Her extensive experience working within social service agencies, including alcohol and drug, family violence, youth work and social work and her close affiliation with our centre is highly valued and appreciated.
Vanessa McHardy
Bio pending.
Ross Vickery
Bio pending.
Acknowledging Our Supporters
Special thanks to the people who help support us. Without their assistance our services would not be possible.
- Ministry of Social Development
- Oranga Tamariki
- COGS
- NZ Lotteries
- Hauraki District Council
- Tindall Foundation
- OceanaGold
- Len Reynolds Trust
- James Say Foundation
- Trust Waikato
- The Lion Foundation
- Valder Ohinemuri Charitable Trust
- Skycity Hamilton
... and all of our wonderful supporters from the local Waihi Community!