focus put a call out to readers to nominate unsung heroines who work tirelessly behind the scenes to improve our community. Three of these women – Jo Wills, Jan Ozanne and Ann Kerewaro – grace our cover in this edition. Our heroines were treated to a hair makeover package at Ivy Hair prior to the photoshoot and, on the day of the shoot, enjoyed another pampering session at the Mount Maunganui salon. Lillybeth Melmoth worked her makeup magic and Magazine Clothing provided the outfits. Photographer Nikki South captured all the moments on the day.
She may have a quiet office to retreat to, but the last place Jan Ozanne wants to be is behind a closed door working at her desk.
On the contrary, the bubbly family pastor from Otumoetai Baptist Church is a ‘people person’ and gets her greatest enjoyment from connecting with, and supporting others.
Her part-time paid role is to manage the children’s ministry and lead teams of volunteers to run church events. In addition, she mentors other Baptist children’s pastors from around the region. What this translates to week by week is the constant selfless giving of her time, over and above her designated hours, to help make people’s lives that little bit easier.
Whether it’s organising workshops, resourcing parents, teaching children, leading small groups, co-ordinating dinner rosters for mums with new babies or helping at mainly music, Jan is at the centre of it all, connecting, communicating and quietly building a sense of belonging within her church community.
Colleagues and church parents speak highly of her ability to quickly come alongside people to offer help, and her tireless work to serve others. One parent commented that she had always felt supported by Jan “because of the way she goes above and beyond time and time again to equip, support and encourage us as parents”.
For Jan, it’s where she can be of greatest service and her faith is a “huge motivator” in her daily life. “I share the church’s vision to resource, strengthen and encourage families,” she says. “My motivation is to see healthy, happy families in our community, because when we can get that right it flows into every part of our culture and community.
“I’m not there to tell people what to do; I’m walking with them through life and supporting them in all of those milestones and stages and concerns. If people come to this church and feel well supported then that is massive – that excites me.”
Teaching and giving
Jan and her husband Phil Ozanne (the name originated from Guernsey) moved from Wellington to Tauranga with their four young children 10 years ago. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in English Literature and trained and worked as a secondary English and Classical Studies teacher. Working with young people and making a difference in their lives was her calling. As well, she’s an awesome organiser.
So when the family pastor role came up at the church, Jan was encouraged to apply. For the past eight years she has led a team of 25 volunteers who work with the children, and has a five-member think-tank who meet each term to evaluate programmes and plan ahead. The church community has 32 families with young children, with whom she and her team have direct contact.
“I appreciate all the volunteers hugely because if I didn’t have these amazing people I couldn’t do anything. My role is really to keep the vision and create structure and organisation around that to make [the vision] happen. We believe it really does take a village to raise a child and want to provide a really great environment for the kids here so they feel this is their space”
Raising great kids, she says, comes back to supporting families. If a parent is navigating through a challenging issue with their children, chances are others will be facing a similar problem. Jan might suggest a discussion evening for parents so they can air their concerns, share ideas and hopefully come away with a bunch of new positive strategies.
“Being a parent is my most important job and I believe it’s worth investing the time and energy on doing parenting well. But there is so much time pressure these days, and women especially put unrealistic expectations on themselves of what they need to do; they’re exhausted and feel they’re not connecting with their kids.”
As well as parenting workshops and social get-togethers for families, church families are matched up so that older families can support and check in with younger families. “In the busyness of life, just to know there is someone caring for you and on your side is really important,” she says.
“I find it hugely satisfying when I see parents with their kids having fun together and enjoying each other’s company, having conversations and being connected. It keeps me motivated because I can see that what we’re doing is making a difference in the day-to-day lives of our families.”
To say thanks for all the work they have done in the community, we presented the women with dinner gift vouchers from Amphora on The Strand, beauty products from HZP+Co and Honor Body Scrubs, as well as gorgeous bouquets from Flowers by Tami.
Life-long learning
Jan also has a passion for learning and has managed to fit online study into her busy schedule. She recently completed the final paper for her Graduate Diploma in Applied Theology and says the learning has kept her up-to-date with current thinking and open to fresh ideas for teaching and resourcing in her ministry.
And between driving her four children to various after-school activities, Jan and her family manage to fit in extra time to help others in their community. Once a fortnight they volunteer for the Good Neighbour Food Rescue, collecting un-used but edible food from cafés around the region to be redistributed to local charities.
“It’s good for the children to see the value of giving back to their community. Even though they are young they can still be out there making a difference in people’s lives.”
Words Millie Freeman
Photos: Nikki South Photography
Hair: Ivy Hair
Makeup: Lillybeth Makeup
Flowers: Flowers by Tami
Style: Magazine Clothing
