Cheryl has a background in nursing, working mainly in medical, elder care and mental health. She worked for eight years at the psychiatric unit in Hastings, at a time when this was the only service for people with a dementia related diagnosis. Cheryl’s interest in dementia has been through her involvement at both a local and national level. It has also been fostered through involvement and personal journey with two family members.
Cheryl has been involved with management positions across several different sectors – initially with a private, tertiary education company in Napier. In this role she held the National Health Education portfolio for the company. In 2006, she took on a challenge with Radious Solutions and established a Community Home Care agency and Nursing Bureau in Palmerston North. Then, in 2007 Cheryl returned to Havelock North and for the next nine years managed an aged care facility and retirement village in Havelock North for a Christian based organisation.
Cheryl was a member of the Alzheimers Society Hastings Inc board and was chairperson for three of the eight years. As their representative at National level, she was also a member of the Advisory Board with Alzheimers NZ. Alongside this Cheryl held a position with the Community Services Advisory group at Eastern Institute of Technology and the Hawkes Bay Aged Care Residential Executive Committee.
Cheryl was actively involved with Alzheimers Hastings working towards the amalgamation with Napier, in the formation of ‘Dementia Hawkes Bay’ and the alignment with Dementia New Zealand. Her role is now as a Trustee, while also doing contract work externally. She continues to assess for workplaces engaging in training through Careerforce. Cheryl and her husband Paul have lived on a farm on the outskirts of Havelock North for the last twenty three years. They have three adult daughters and seven grandchildren. Her interests are boating, reading, gardening, biking and socialising with friends. Cheryl and Paul’s vision for the future is to spend more time in Kinloch, Taupo – being active, living life, enjoying their work and remaining connected to the community through their interests and current associations.
