Mary’s Story
Mary is a GP and a keen photographer who has volunteered her time and skill to support DCM from time to time with photo shoots. Arriving at Hapi’s whare, she realised that she had met him – and photographed him – before!
Just some of the photos which Mary has taken for DCM.
Mary takes up the story: “I have known about DCM and your great work for many years. In my role as a GP at Newtown Union Health, we were often supporting the same people as DCM. I clearly remember visiting Pat Hill at Te Aro Health during the early days. She introduced me to a man who was sleeping under the motorway, who had no home and no income or benefit. She talked about DCM being a key organisation in the city, working with marginalised people.
“More recently, I have been able to support DCM in a different way. I enjoy being able to go out with members of the DCM team to take photos, when they need these. I have met some lovely people and heard some great stories. Like Alexi. I so enjoyed getting to know him and hearing his story – about how he had been supported to get housed by DCM, and had gone on to work at DCM. I went out with Alexi to the home of a taumai who needed support in cleaning and caring for his whare. I am thrilled to hear that Alexi is still working at DCM and has gone on to a fulltime role on your team.
Mary first met Hapi back in 2017 when she took this photo of him with his aunt. Five years later, Mary is photographed standing in the same spot in Newtown.
“I first met Hapi in 2017 in Newtown. He was out on Riddiford Street, talking to his aunt, Connie. It was late in the day, and they were happy to have me photograph them. His face, his smile, his warmth – they were unforgettable. When I headed out to take the photos of a man who DCM was supporting, I didn’t realise that it was Hapi, that it was someone who I had met before. He immediately recognised me, and he went to get the photos I had taken of him five years ago. Yes, he had them with him, there in his new whare. What a privilege to be able to go on and take new photos of him, with the people who have supported him in to a home of his own, and who are working with him so that he can truly thrive in his home.
“When I get to meet (and sometimes photograph) the taumai you work with, they demonstrate a sense of pride – in what they have achieved, in what you have achieved together. Something great has happened to them, and they value this. At DCM, you always lift them up, build them up. This is such a contrast to so many other portrayals of these people. And I too am lifted up by being able to be part of your mahi.”