Marj, 95, has just the right spirit

by Maria Low news@dailypost.co.nz | 15th June 2009

Marj Peters reckons her daily tipple has helped keep her sprightly.

A glass of gin and tonic - never taken before 5pm - has been a ritual for 20 years for the Rotorua woman, who turned 95 two days ago.

The St Luke's Church Shop volunteer is one of tens of thousands of New Zealanders being celebrated during this week's Volunteer Awareness Week.

She is at the shop two mornings a week, still doing her bit for the community.

Born Henrietta Marjorie Harris in Featherston in 1914, Marj was one of six children. At 19, she married Fred Peters from Carterton. The couple had one daughter, June, and in 1946 the family moved from Ohope to Rotorua.

Rotorua residents might remember Marj from her 10 years with Davidsons on Tutanekai St, her subsequent roles with Jane Lay Gowns or Schers at Worsleys, or the St Luke's Church shop where she has worked as a volunteer for 20 years.

Former members of the Highway 61 motorcycle gang are more likely to remember Marj for the "dressing down" she gave them many years ago for doing wheelies on the gravel outside the Hell's Gate shop where she worked at the time.

Granddaughter Ann Woolliams recalls that her grandmother, who was not a physically imposing woman, put her tiny hands on her hips and confronted the bikers, shouting: "What on earth do you think you're doing?".

Ann says from that day on the bikers were always respectful, calling in on their way past to say hello and buy an icecream from Marj.

Visitors to Hell's Gate might see another of Marj's legacies. She planted the entire bush walk with flowering trees and shrubs. "It looked fabulous, with the peacocks wandering among the camellias and the water lilies floating on the pond," says Ann.

Gardening has always been a favourite pastime and Marj still tries to get out into her garden every day.

Also a keen golfer, she played at Arikikapakapa (Rotorua Golf Club) until the age of 92, when she relinquished her membership of 50 years. She has also had to give up another hobby, tramping, in recent years after hurting her leg. "But I still have my garden and I enjoy my volunteer work."

Marj has many fond world travel memories, including her first overseas trip - a cruise with her husband Fred for her 50th birthday. Fred died more than 30 years ago, but Marj continued to work and save money for annual trips. "The most interesting place I went to was India. You don't realise how lucky you are until you've been there."

Ann thinks her grandmother has stayed fit and healthy through sheer determination to live life as fully as possible.

Marj, who has a great sense of humour, believes her daily gin and tonic since the age of 75 has also played a part. "I've had a wonderful life and a healthy life. I have no plans to slow down yet."

MARJ PETERS

* Henrietta Marjorie Peters (Marj) volunteers two mornings a week at St Luke's Church shop.

* Each day Marj has toast and black coffee for breakfast, fruit for lunch, and meat and veggies for dinner.

* Gin and tonic is a daily ritual - but never before 5pm.

* Marj has six great-grandchildren - Laura, Emily, Harry, Luke, India and Mickey.

* Marj's recipe for life: enjoy your family and friends, be active, eat well, stay healthy, and work hard.

VOLUNTEERING HEROES

* More than one million New Zealanders volunteer for a charity or worthy cause every year, donating 270 million unpaid hours.

* The economic value of voluntary work has been calculated by Statistics NZ as being $3.31 billion per year - or 2.3 per cent of GDP.

* New Zealand is a leading nation in contribution made by volunteers. A study of the non-profit sector estimated that volunteers make up 67 per cent of non-profit workforce, equal to 133,799 full time positions.

* Volunteering by youth will be highlighted as part of Volunteer Awareness Week. Encouraging them to become volunteers is a major strategic aim of Volunteering New Zealand.