Latest news with #CoastguardCanterbury
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'She was my partner in crime': Chch community champion's heartfelt thank you to wife
Jim Lilley. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN Jim Lilley has lived one very busy life. The Christchurch RSA president has been a police officer, co-established Marine Watch and was a long-time Coastguard Canterbury volunteer. He also fundraises for the Cancer Society and trains bus drivers. And he credits one person – his late wife Cath (above). 'I couldn't have done half of what I've done without her support,' he said. Cath passed away in 2008 aged 44, following an eight-month battle with breast cancer. 'She was my partner in crime for a lot of the stuff I did,' Lilley said. Lilley's work in the community was recognised at the weekend in the King's Birthday honours list. The 72-year-old was inducted as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and the community. Lilley was surprised and humbled – and said a large part of the award is for Cath. 'It's the whanau that supports the person. It's as much theirs as it is the person that's done it,' he said. He and Cath were together for 16 years. They got married the day before she died. 'We had both come out of less than pleasant marriages and we always said we're not going down that path again, but it was the one thing Cath wanted. 'Think of any emotion you can and it was probably there,' Lilley said. After Cath died, Lilley was an 'emotional wreck'. He turned to community service. 'I made a promise to Cath I would spend a chunk of my life working to improve the lives of people with cancer,' he said. In 2010, he heard about the Tranz Alpine Scooter Safari, a biennial charity ride from Christchurch to Hokitika on 50cc scooters. The trip is made by up to 250 people annually and has raised $2.2 million for Cancer Society Canterbury-West Coast to date. Lilley has taken part in every ride since and has won best scooter multiple times. Photo: Supplied He changes the scooter design every time and has big plans for next year's event. 'It's a day of complete and utter lunacy, but the underlying thing is deadly serious. 'Half the way over there, I'm crying because I can feel Cath on my shoulder,' he said. Lilley grew up on a farm in Kaikōura, which shaped his passion for wildlife conservation. 'That environment (your upbringing) is where you develop the values that you live by,' he said. Lilley left Kaikōura when he was 18 to join the army. He completed the basic training, but was also interested in joining the police. He applied for both and was snapped up first by the police. After four years as a traffic cop in Nelson, he was diagnosed with cancer at 18. It was not treatable in Nelson, so he moved to Christchurch for treatment and to recover. Lilley also went through another round of cancer at 32. Incidents of animal harm in Kaikōura prompted Lilley and two friends to establish Marine Watch in 1992, which assisted the Department of Conservation with wildlife incidents. He led groups of volunteers to rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, including dolphins, seals, whales and seabirds. Lilley was personally involved in the rescue of more than 10,000 stranded whales. 'When you look at the weather forecast and look at climate change, there's an imperative to this work. That's why I was trying to send a message that every animal matters,' he said. The organisation started with three, but grew to a group of about 500 volunteers. A whale rescue once required Lilley to go to Port Levy. He asked Coastguard Canterbury to take him and the crew there. The rescue was successful, but afterwards Lilley realised he had never thanked the Coastguard for its help. He went back a few days later – and ended up volunteering for the next 21 years. He took on a variety of roles, including training officer, skipper, and communications officer. Over the years, Lilley participated in the rescue of more than 500 people. Jim and Cath Lilley on the Rialto Bridge while holidaying in Venice in 2007. After 16 years together, they married in 2008, one day before Cath died. Photo: Supplied That included the 2000 storm that ruined the Lyttelton marina. 'A storm came through and totally destroyed (the marina), somewhere in the vicinity of 60 vessels got sunk and we spent the next 10 days salvaging what we could,' he said.
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Cantabrians urged to take on big swim
Coastguard Tautiaki Moana is calling on Cantabrians to dive into action this June for a cause that saves thousands of lives across New Zealand. The Big Swim, a nationwide challenge to raise money for the Coastguard, will return for its second year from June 1. Participants set their own swimming goals, whether that's a few lengths or a more ambitious distance. They are encouraged to ask friends, whānau, and colleagues to sponsor their efforts and raise funds for Coastguard. Along the way, swimmers can unlock rewards as they hit fundraising milestones. Aidanfield swimmer Sarah Ridgway is pledging to swim 40km in The Big Swim, which is no mean feat for someone balancing full-time work with motherhood and family life. Ridgway said she sees it as an opportunity to return to swimming while raising money for a good cause. She grew up in the water – swimming, fishing and boating in Northland. But after moving to Canterbury, she and her husband, Kerry, bought a boat to explore and create new memories as a family around Lyttleton Harbour, Akaroa and Kaikōura. Although her husband was new to boating, he joined Coastguard Canterbury as a volunteer in 2021 to improve his boating education but also to give back - now volunteering weekly and loving it. His involvement has given Sarah renewed confidence and a sense of safety when out on the water with their kids. Ridgway plans to swim 10km a week at her local partner pool. Once a participant raises $100 they can enter a nearby Partner Pool for free throughout June. In its inaugural event held in July last year, 1266 swimmers logged more than 8000 swims, racking up over 14,000km and raising $350,000 for Coastguard. The Big Swim also boosts people's well-being. After the 2024 event, 79% of participants said they signed up to improve their overall health. More than half reported better mental wellbeing with others noticing improved sleep and better focus. Among those diving in this year is Cook Islands Olympic swimmer Kirsten Fisher-Marsters who is back in the pool for the first time since retiring in 2023. 'Once I heard about The Big Swim, it just felt like the perfect motivation to get back in the water, without the pressure,' she says. The Big Swim offers people of all swimming abilities the chance to challenge themselves for a good cause. She encourages anyone thinking about doing it to just start off small. 'Find a friend or go solo. Start with three lengths, then next time five, and so on. Set little goals and see how far you go,' she says. Coastguard acting chief executive Philip Harkness says hundreds of swimmers have already signed up. "This past summer, our volunteers responded to 1,232 incidents, bringing 3,210 people home to safety. Each participant's fundraising efforts helps keep our rescue vessels fueled and maintained, supports vital rescue equipment and volunteer training," Harkness said. Harkness said with 60% of Coastguard's funding coming from the generosity of the public, every dollar raised during The Big Swim makes a difference. Register for The Big Swim at
