Tuesday 4 September: 2.30pm

Mrs Carol Fowler has been the Tasman District Truancy Officer for 14 years. She is very highly regarded in the Motueka area for her ability to see beyond the surface of a child with truancy issues to the underlying causes. Once she has identified these she works to put in place the correct support for children and their families. She liaises closely with Police to keep children safe, and to get the best results for at-risk children. Much of her work is outside of her work hours and is unpaid. She is involved in sporting organisations and is a life member of the Riwaka Football Club. She helps run the Motueka High School Breakfast Club, a volunteer group that makes free breakfasts available to students. In the aftermath of both Christchurch earthquakes, Mrs Fowler’s organisational skills shone as she organised accommodation and food for many Christchurch people.