Changes at I Love Avondale

Photo: Me and Lays back in 2017, shot by Jody McMillan.

Dayne Smith recently started a new role as a community development manager with Kainga Ora. Dayne has had a huge impact on the social fabric of Avondale over the last seven years in his pivotal role starting the “I Love Avondale” organisation.

Dayne posted on Facebook “Friday [1 October] was my last day running I Love Avondale as a community development project. I’ll still be heading the Storytelling arm of I♡AD, but my new day job will be as a community development manager with Kainga Ora so it’s the end of an era.

Not tryna sound dramatic, but I♡AD has changed my life. I started it as a social media project near the end of 2014 to celebrate and tell local stories. In 2017 I was employed as a community developer in Avondale and brought the project along with me. From then on I♡AD evolved into more than a social media platform.

Today, it has 4 strands of mahi: Kai Avondale community food initiatives; Eastdale Hub recreation and youth space; Storytelling online and in the community; and Whanaungatanga – collaborating, connecting, and advocating.

The journey to get to that point has stretched my brain and taken me way outta my comfort zone. I’ve grown heaps as a person in the process. I’ve made a lot of personal sacrifices, especially with Katy and our kids cos I haven’t always been mentally or physically present, or mentally and physically good. Busy every day, some nights, some weekends, always doing, thinking, or stressing. That’s my only regret.

Apart from that I’m so proud of what I and we as a community have achieved. I’ve been involved with so many things, but if I had to name 10 I’m most proud of cos of their impact or what they represent it’d be:

• Developing I♡AD to the point where it looks like this – all my words and photos: www.iloveavondale.co.nz
• Starting Feed the Streets community dinner with Leilani – it’s been running over 4 years now
• Working with 3 schools to start a network of Breakfast Clubs
• Starting the Free Guys social supermarket with Anne
• Bringing back the Avondale Wolves league team after a 25 year absence with Kat, Olano and Anthony
• Turning an unused council building into a rec and youth space with Noel, Ina, Simon, June/Michael, Victoria, and others, working with Sarah to renovate a shitty old shed into a warmer and nicer space
• Supporting Marcus and the regeneration of the Avondale Business Association
• Creating #GreatNorthGallery with Edward and different content creators in the middle of Avondale
• Working with Russell and Ruth to develop a one-to-one youth mentoring programme with 5 local schools, led by Upside
• Working with the BoT to develop a Community Hub Coordinator role at Rosebank School to support school whanau (shot Jess)

Thanks to everyone I’ve worked with and connected with, Sue and Jaclyn for supporting me. Thanks to my grandparents Ikenasio (Joe) and Tuta’i (Lucy) for moving to Avondale from Ponsonby in 1961, mum and all my Timo family. You’re the inspiration for all of this

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NOTE: There are some part time paid roles that I Love Avondale are looking to fill. Contact www.iloveavondale.co.nz if you are interested.