Bernie Marra's Volunteer Story

For Refugee Services’ Christchurch volunteer Bernie Marra (shown at right with his partner, children and grandchildren), the on-and-off shaking since last September has made for some very unique volunteer support worker experiences. However, even with the challenges he has faced in his role as well as his own life as a result of the quakes, the opportunity to support two Bhutanese families in their resettlement has been an overwhelmingly positive experience.

Bernie originally came to Refugee Services as a retired manager and qualified social worker, having worked with the Department of Corrections for 36 years. While he was looking for opportunities to give something back to his community, he stumbled on an article in The Press about Bhutanese families settling in Christchurch. When he later met a Refugee Services volunteer at a party, he decided to undertake the training to become a volunteer support worker himself. Bernie has since supported two families, one of whom has relocated to Nelson following the quakes and one of whom plans to stay in Christchurch for the foreseeable future.

The quakes have had significant effects both on Bernie’s volunteer teams as well as the families themselves, but, he says, talking about their experiences helped normalise the situation and helped Bernie to provide the support that the families needed. “I helped them to understand the basics of house construction so they didn’t worry about internal plaster cracks, and when they were spooked by rumours of future devastation, I helped them arrange for a temporary shift to Dunedin,” he says.

One of the families’ homes had been damaged badly enough by the quake that Bernie had to help them find new accommodation, and he supported the other family to make the move to Nelson, where they had more family support and no earthquakes. “To see them using their own resources such as extended family support during the quake, shook me out of my own self-pity,” he says.

One of his most memorable moments as a volunteer actually came when Bernie was with one of the families at their house at the time of the 13 June quake. “A family member was bringing me the traditional cup of tea, and he and the tea landed on top of me,” he recalls. “We still joke about how I like to drink my tea and not wear it!”

This sense of humour, along with respect and good communication have been some of the most important skills Bernie has carried over from his previous career and used throughout his volunteer placements. “One time,” he says, “the LPG gas that heated the hot water and heating system was not working. I had a little knowledge so I went over to help them. The pressure built, there was a bang, rattle and suddenly the system kicked into life. They were impressed and wanted to know what I had done. I introduced them to the concept of a ‘fluke’ and told them not to try it themselves! Such events have enabled us to develop and share an interactive humour.”

For Bernie, the best parts about his experience as a volunteer support worker have been the opportunity to see the families develop their confidence since their arrival in New Zealand and being able to empower them toward independence, which he sees as one of the most important aspects of the volunteer role. “Giving the right amount of support and encouragement is important to get families independent,” he says. “Too much, and the families can remain dependent on the volunteer.”

To anyone considering becoming a volunteer, Bernie says, “While you will take satisfaction in helping the family adjust to life in New Zealand and seeing them develop as people, you will learn so much about other cultures and ways of life that you personally will benefit enormously. I feel that I am getting back more than I am giving,” he adds. “The knowledge and self-satisfaction achieved from this role are not things I anticipated, but they are things I really appreciate.”