Wakatipu Youth Trust Names Team Leader

Secondary school teacher and chef Poppie Gerber brings varied skills and over five years’ experience working with youth to her new role leading the Wakatipu Youth Trust youth workers.

Wakatipu Youth Trust announced today (25.7.12) that Miss Gerber has been named as the Trust’s inaugural Team Leader. She will supervise and support the Trust’s team of youth workers, develop and pilot new initiatives, implement the Trust’s vision and provide a central point of contact for the Wakatipu community.

WYT chair Tanya Surrey said the Trust saw the team leader role as an important step forward in developing the Trust’s support to local youth and Miss Gerber was the ideal candidate.

“Her passion for youth and experience across many different areas means she brings a unique and valuable package of skills to the role. The Trust looks forward to working with Miss Gerber in the months ahead as our programme and services continue to grow.”

Miss Gerber arrived in Queenstown recently from Methven, where she worked the last three years as a secondary school English and history teacher and, last winter, as a Mt Hutt ski patroller.

Originally hailing from Aoraki-Mt Cook, Miss Gerber completed a chef’s apprenticeship in the United States before returning to New Zealand to study.

She has been a high school Head of Department and volunteer rowing coach, mentored young people, head chef then manager of a café and is currently a member of Land Search and Rescue. “I’ve always loved the mountains and, having visited Queenstown often, I’ve wanted to live here for a long time.”

“This role is a tremendously exciting one – providing initiatives that address the needs of youth and a way for the community to work positively with the Trust to benefit our young people and maximise their potential. We’ve got a fantastic team of youth workers and community networks in place, whom I look forward to working with closely,” Miss Gerber said.

Youth worker Jacqui Moir said the team leader role has been needed for some time and would enable youth workers to focus their efforts on producing even more positive outcomes for Wakatipu youth.

The Wakatipu Youth Trust was formed last year through the amalgamation of the Queenstown Life Trust and Wakatipu District Youth Trust. WYT runs The Youth Booth, located at 66 Stanley St, providing activities, mentoring and opportunities to Wakatipu youth aged 11 – 25.

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