Tamara Hansen is a talented and bubbly young woman who achieved much in 2020 – she didn’t let lockdowns and a virus slow her down.

The Central App sat down with Tamara to talk about the year that’s been and what 2021 holds in store.

Named Cromwell St John Senior Cadet of the Year at the end of 2020, Tamara was clearly excited about her work with St John youth but humble when asked about the award.

“The first exciting thing that happened with St John last year was that I was selected for the 2020 National Squad.

“Then I got selected to be a team leader.

“The 24 members of the squad are divided into four teams for competition, and I got selected to lead one of the teams.

“I was really excited about that.”

Tamara is off to study health sciences this year, and has also set herself a goal of becoming qualified in paramedicine.

Tamara said she had completed six training weekends in Christchurch with her team, when COVID hit.

“It was only about two weeks out from the competitions, and it had to be cancelled.

“Then we heard everything was calming down, so it might be on, and we all got super excited.”

Tamara got set for another training weekend. But at the final hour, everything was again cancelled when one of the North Island based squad members tested positive for COVID-19.

“It was still an amazing opportunity and I’m really thankful - I learned so much from the training weekends we had.

“The only thing was that we couldn't put it all together, compete and get the wins we were aiming for.”

Tamara said she had learned a lot about herself and what she was in fact capable of achieving through the experience, and gained confidence being in the team leader role.

She had also made firm friends with young people from all over New Zealand.

Tamara then made it through two rigorous application processes - all online due to fluctuating alert levels, and was selected as Regional Cadet of the year.

“That was exciting, and a responsibility, as you have a role that means you are pretty much a youth ambassador for the South Island.”

Tamara took her role seriously, and as COVID restrictions allowed, she contacted and visited youth divisions throughout the South Island.

“I was able to implement things that benefitted young people in each area - making sure all voices were heard and that genuine change was being made where it was needed.

“It was super exciting.

“Although it was challenging at the time, having the selection process happen all online was a good thing in the end.

“It opened my mind up to a variety of new ways I could communicate, and I learned things don’t have to stop just because you can’t meet face to face.”

Tamara also learned about getting a message across.

“I had to create a video about how I would improve diversity for St John youth.

“I didn’t take the view that there was necessarily a lack of diversity in the organisation, there was no new process that had to be implemented.

“It was more about something we have to grow - growing an understanding within St John of what diversity truly means for youth.

“Diversity means young people building an understanding of who they are, how their history, their experiences and their background reflects in them now - how they fit into the big scheme of things.

“Encouraging young people to explore what makes them who they are; understanding, accepting, feeling good about that.

“Then the organisation, St John, understanding, supporting and encouraging young people to develop in their own way. That's how we really become a diverse organisation.”

The Governor General presented Tamara with her Grand Prior Award.

Tamara said she started attending St John as a ‘Penguin’ 11 years ago, aged six, and loved it so much she kept on moving up the youth levels with each year.

“I’ve always enjoyed St John, and I was lucky to be able to help set up the Cromwell youth division.

“It was so cool to have a home division and not to have to travel through to Alex every time.”

Tamara worked her way through to the Grand Prior Award, the penultimate award for a youth member of St John.

That achievement took her to Wellington to have the award presented by the Governor General.

Since then, Tamara said she has focused on teaching, continuing to encourage young people through St John Youth.

“I wouldn’t be who I am without St John; it’s been 11 years of opportunities, making friends and learning.

“I’ve grown the confidence to see opportunities and to take them when they come.”

Indeed, Tamara’s achievements are not confined to her involvement with St John. She teaches swimming, and last October was a recipient of a Central Lakes Trust scholarship.

“COVID didn’t really affect me academically, I’m quite a determined learner when I want to be.

“It affected me more in the way I feel about school - it was hard sometimes to keep motivated to go to school every day, because I knew I could do it from home.

“I sometimes felt restricted by school’s strict schedules.

“Having to be so self-directed in my learning for so long really showed me what University was going to be like.”

“After that taste of learning freedom, I kind of moved past the school learning environment.

“It was a weird experience, it was that moment that it hit me that I was ready to leave school.

“So, I became really motivated to work hard and get into Uni.

“This year, I am going to study first year health science at Otago University.

“I would like to go into a lab-based career, either medical lab sciences and working behind the scenes, or doing research in the area of immunology.

“I’m also hoping to complete a degree in paramedicine along the way somewhere.

“I’m not sure yet how I’ll fit it in, I just know it’s a goal I have, ready for the right time.”

So, watch this space - we are bound to hear more from Tamara Hansen in the future.

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