March’s Speaker will be Bryan Winters not only a local surfer but also a dedicated community member and a key figure in the surfing and therapy sectors. He has been involved in various charitable activities, including founding the surf therapy charity Live For More and running the nation’s first surf camp in 1975. Winters is recognized as New Zealand’s oldest qualified surf instructor and has been awarded the TECT Volunteer of the Year for his role in Bay of Plenty surf therapy. His work extends beyond surfing, as he also shares his knowledge and passion for the sport through educational sessions and community events. Bryan will also speak about the tortuous history of the Pohutakawa.
He will be followed by Kristin Pascoe, one of the Salt Sisters team members ,who belongs to a charity Bryan has recently set up. Kristin has chased waves from Hawaii to Indonesia and more. Her work as a support worker for individuals with disabilities is shaped by global adventures, blending wild ocean energy with compassion to help others embrace independence, joy, and self-worth.
Salt Sisters – was set up by the Surf Therapy Trust initiated by Bryan whose belief and desire was to serve the community by creating a healthy and supportive surfing environment for women to join together, explore and learn techniques as well as to have fun. All ages join and enjoy the empathy and compassion shown especially in the early surfing stages. Apart from Bryan & Kirsten (speaker) the group team includes Annarika (therapist extraordinaire) and Maddie (finance). Courses are fee-based but subsidised through sponsorship.
Bryan continued to expound on our native Pohutukawa’s seen in coastal areas. Uniquely developed to grow on rocky areas through having several trunks which can grow around obstacles and has beards (hollow branches) connecting the tree to the ground allowing it to spread by re-rooting. Often this tree co-hosts other trees which grow on the outside and has ruby red flowers which attract wildlife and hence known as NZ’s Christmas tree.
Bryan gave us a idiosyncratic view of the important developments and steps made by humans to get us to where we are today and the technology we employ. Starting with the creation of Zealandia starting in an ice age, species such as the Tuatara & Kakapo, migration, human communication (written word was developed before language), records including numbering systems, calendars, statistics to ideas – religion, travel, wars and weapon development to recent launch of the Artimas.
U3A Beachside - Papamoa, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke 