Write Your Story

During our lifetimes many of us take on voluntary roles within the community. Volunteering is more than just service. It provides us with a sense of purpose, an opportunity to connect with others and contribute our skills and experience and make a difference. Linda Brewer shares the story of her volunteering experience with the Ōtaki Carbon Forest Project – a community initiative dedicated to restoring native forest and helping our town become carbon neutral.  What a gem! Write your Story is a series of stories, written and narrated by their authors. These "new" authors bring us a story they have put together recently and share with us all.

In this episode of Write Your Story, Angela welcomes back Jenny Greer to explore her deeply personal writing project: deciphering her grandmother’s handwritten travel diary from Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation. Jenny shares the challenges and discoveries of translating old cursive script, the historical gems within the diary, and how this work is preserving her Nana’s voice for future generations. Angela offers practical guidance for anyone capturing family stories, reminding us why these personal histories matter. A warm, insightful conversation about legacy, memory, and the power of writing to connect us with those who came before. Write your Story is a series of stories, written and narrated by their authors. These "new" authors bring us a story they have put together recently and share with us all.

In this episode of Write Your Story, host Angela Robertson welcomes back Kapiti Coast writer Rhonda Edwards, who shares another of her personal stories written through Angela’s community workshops. Rhonda reads her new piece titled “Shopping,” which begins as a writing exercise but unfolds into a rich, humorous, and heartfelt reflection on her life. Write your Story is a series of stories, written and narrated by their authors. These "new" authors bring us a story they have put together recently and share with us all.

Living and working in different countries offers a unique lens through which we view the world. Settling into a new country is a profound life transition that touches nearly every aspect of your identity and daily experience, challenging us to adapt, reflect and grow. Capturing a story about your experience provides perspective, and what’s more, your grandchildren might want to know where they come from. After all your story is the beginning of theirs. This week Gillian van Raalte, who has lived in several different countries, share two of her experiences - ‘Arriving in New Zealand’ and ‘Memories of Kandy in Sri Lanka’. Write your Story is a series of stories, written and narrated by their authors. These "new" authors bring us a story they have put together recently and share with us all.

Finding the courage to tell our own story can be one of the most powerful acts of self-discovery. Yet for many, the first hurdle is believing our story is worth telling. Local writer Jan Ballantyne knows this journey well. With years of reflection and writing behind her, Jan shares the story of “How and Why I Started Documenting My Memories”, and the joy this creative process has brought into her life. Her insights remind us that every story matters - especially our own. As a delightful bonus, Jan treats us to another story from her collection titled “Memories of Cabbage!”- proof that even the simplest memory can blossom into something special when given a voice. Write your Story is a series of stories, written and narrated by their authors. These "new" authors bring us a story they have put together recently and share with us all.