Auckland branch committee | Auckland Branch

Jill Thorrat: Chair

I am married to John, and we have two adult children, Kate and Will. I have been involved with the Auckland Branch since Will was born in 1990, and I have had a number of various roles on the committee over the last 21 years. At present I have a particular interest in ongoing adult care.

I learnt early on how invaluable the support within the CF community was. Sharing our experiences and what we have learnt, communicating our ideas, frustrations and hopes, and leaning on each other when necessary, has provided me with an important and caring support network.

I live in Mt Eden, try to keep fit and love travelling and food.

Anthea Wendelborn

Hi I’m Anthea. I live on Auckland’s North Shore with my husband Kelly, and my two girls, Kelea (10.5 years) and Abby (8 years). In my life before kids, I was a Primary Teacher, an Early Childhood Teacher, an Area Manager within the early childhood sector, and then ran my own vocal studio, teaching singing to children and young adults, running music workshops for teachers and writing and recording educational music for young children.

Kelea, my eldest, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis only 4.5 years ago so our ‘CF Journey’ took off a bit later than the norm. I joined the CF Auckland branch committee in 2010 and have really enjoyed being a part of something ‘good’ and greater than our family’s immediate circumstances. I have recently stepped down as Co-chair of the branch, after a four year stint in this role, however I remain involved as a committee member. We have an amazing CF community here in Auckland and I have been blessed by the friendships I have made…and continue to make.

Allyson Harvey

I have been involved with the CF Auckland Committee for a very long time. I am a close friend of the Thorrat family and started assisting the Committee as Treasurer in 2000. This entails attending meetings, tracking creditors and debtors, managing all banking, accounts, and auditing processes. The busy times are during awareness week and at the end of the financial year.

Being involved with the CF Auckland Branch had made me more appreciative of good health, and brings home the reality that a lot of people, who through no fault of their own, have no control over their health and well-being. I have learnt how an entire life for an individual and many years for their family, is shaped around dealing with an on-going serious illness. I am glad that my contribution can help in assisting PWCF’s and their families.

Jane Drumm

I have been on the Auckland Branch committee for 16 years now and have twice had the pleasure of being Chair. Being the leader is something I like, and my first “go” at being Chair for the Auckland Branch was interrupted after 2 years by the birth of our third child and second child with cystic fibrosis. Several years ago I handed over the reigns as Chair of Auckland branch (for the second time) after a 4 year stint, and am happy to still be involved as a committee member.

My three children are all young adults now and, I find the sharing, support and friendship I still get from being a member of the Branch committee has helped significantly over the years when coping with the daily challenges of cystic fibrosis. When I trained as a teacher I did not realise I would ever end up also being a sometime physio, nurse, pharmacist, coach and advocate.

I have a real interest in building communities and worked for many years for Auckland City Council as a community advisor (both full time and later as a contractor) running events, providing training and support for community organisations, managing grants programmes, facilitating funding for community partnership projects…you name it and I have probably done it. I now get to put all that experience and ability into CF Auckland and the CFNZ Board, which I have chaired for 10 years now.

Sally Sprosen

I’m Sal CHCH May 2 (4) ly Sprosen and I live in Bayswater on the North Shore with my husband Dave Stevens and 3 boys, Matt, Sam and Jack. Sam was born in 1997 when we were living in Thailand and wasn’t diagnosed till he was 15 months old and we were back in Auckland.

I joined the CF committee after my first coffee morning – the people were so friendly and supportive it was just a brilliant way to be involved – and I have stayed involved ever since. I was the secretary for several years and did a stint as chairperson for one year. I find being part of the committee keeps me up to date with what’s going on in the world of CF and it is a great way to meet other CF families and share problems and ideas. I have made many close friends with other mums and that’s a great support network to have.

In my day job I’m an editor for a publishing company and “logistics manager” for our family.

Rebecca Hansen

Hi I’m Rebecca. I live in West Auckland with my husband Jason and two teenage children James 17 and Emily 14 who has CF.

Life is busy running our Auto motive Panel and Paint business and my home Hairdressing and Spray tan Studio. Most days are filled ensuring that Emily is kept well with lots of sport and good nutrition.

I have been involved off and on for the last 10 years and more recently helping with Awareness Week for West Auckland and morning tea catch ups with new mums. I love being involved with this exceptional group of Committee members who are making a difference in our CF community. Family and business commitments allowing, I hope to involve myself as much as possible.

Sarah Cahill

Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a former paediatric nurse, having worked for many years at Starship Children’s Hospital – in a few different roles, but predominantly based on Ward 26B. I took a step back from clinical nursing in 2014, but I wanted to continue to be involved in the CF community. During my nursing career I worked with a lot of children and young adults affected by CF and I was inspired by their determination and positivity in often challenging circumstances.

I joined the Auckland branch committee in 2015 and am thoroughly enjoying be a part of a fantastic and hardworking group.

I live in St Heliers, am married to Nick and I have two boisterous boys, Leo aged 6 and Rory aged 5. I now work as a medical writer.

Malcolm Lambert

Hi I’m Malcolm. I live in Glendene, West Auckland and work on the North Shore as a Technical Advisor for Toyota. I have two beautiful children aged 10 and 12, and my eldest son Matthew has CF. He was diagnosed at an early age by the Guthrie screening test. Matthew has a fantastic Mum and a great sister that do so much for him and adore him dearly.

I have worked in the automotive industry for over 20 years and won multiple skills competition titles. I enjoy sailing and have competed at a world championship event just over two years ago. I also help manage a hobbie sailing NZ facebook page and managed the ‘Sail for CF’ event late last year.

I joined the committee last year to get more involved in the Auckland CF Community and I have a passion for getting people with CF more involved in outdoor activity based events. I would like to see the `Breath 4 CF’ fund boosted to help provide better health outcomes through exercise and ensure that cost is not a barrier to that exercise.