Speaker Questions
If you filled out the ‘My Questions’ page at the back of your student notebook you may find your answer here! These are questions asked by students and answered by our speakers after the event.
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Secondary School Questions
KATE YESBERG
IRENE VAN DYK
CAM CALKOEN
JEHAN CASINADER
SARAH ROBB-O’HAGAN
KATE YESBERG
What happened to the villagers in Cambodia? And what happened to their village?
The villagers were taken to a relocation site 20 km out of Phnom Penh and had to set up makeshift camps. Some stayed with family and friends in Phnom Penh. The village was bulldozed and the land still lies vacant. There is a lot of information and footage online if you Google “Dey Krahorm”. There’s also good information about land evictions in Cambodia generally on the LICADHO website: http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/. This is the organisation we worked with in Cambodia and they do great work.
The latest update from Cambodia is that the Dey Krahorm land is still vacant, it has become a place for playing volleyball and football, and there is a sale sign at the gate.
What did you study? Where and how long did it take you?
I studied Law with Honours, and a BA in Anthropology and Religious Studies at Victoria University (with one semester at the National University of Singapore). It took me 5 and a half years, including 6 months off in the second half of my fourth year to work in Cambodia and Indonesia.
What do you do when people don’t want to listen to the why?
Keep talking, and follow your instincts.
IRENE VAN DYK
How did you focus to work towards your dreams?
I had a lot of wishes and dreams, to peruse one you have to kind of go through all the stages, so you can see the light and make the right decisions, that’s where your parents and teachers come in and help with the decision making!
Where do you consider your home to be?
NZ is definitely without a doubt MY HOME!!
How did you know that netball was the right thing for you?
I love netball but that is not the only thing I do, I am a qualified teacher as well so for you guys and girls that think sport is the only way to go, think again! You need to have something substantial to fall back on to for if you get injured:-(
How do you get through the media slagging you off?
Action speak louder than words, the only way to silence them is to get back up and prove them wrong! It does cut deep when they write nasty things.
What was it like growing up in South Africa?
It is a beautiful country with a lot to offer, I loved growing up in South Africa and wouldn’t change it, it changed a wee bit as I grew older and I made up my mind that I want my child to grow up in a safe environment, here in this amazing country of ours.
I have also competed overseas in Equestrian mounted games; I was wondering how you tell people without ‘skiting’ if you like and asked for sponsorship?
Netball is in the lucky position to be a high profile sport in NZ so we as individuals do not need to ask for sponsorship, NNZ does everything for us players, aren’t we lucky!
When you were in school were you heavily involved? And if so, how did you manage your time and find a balance between everything?
Yes I did everything I could, and sadly my schoolwork wasn’t my first priority , I got told off very often for this, but my amazing parents helped me to balance everything, so in short make sure you have a support system and plan everything ahead.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your career?
I’ve been in the lucky position not to have any injuries, so haven’t had challenges like that! My advice to challenges, go for it head on, take your chances and make the most of every opportunity you get!
What is your greatest achievement as a netball player for either New Zealand, South Africa or Waikato?
My greatest achievements have been winning 2003 World Champs, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games and selection for the Silver Ferns in 2000.
It is really important that we have people we can talk to, and if you don’t, go out and find them. My principal at intermediate school once said to me “talk to me when your sad, but don’t forget to talk to me when you’re happy”. It’s important that we build strong relationships with people and the strongest are those ones we nurture by informing of our lives, the good and the bad. Don’t be afraid of the elders that surround you in your community, they to were young one day, and many remain young at heart, be open with them, they’ll be open with you. Outside of quality relationships, find a sport, hobby, recreational activity. When times get tough for me, it is through activity that I have time to distract my thought pattern and evolve new ideas to overcome any bad situation. Lastly, change is the only constant in this world, through mental strength, talking and activity, bad situations do past – life is an adventure, enjoy and learn from every experience.
What’s the best thing to say to people who frown on people who are different? I run a sports programme for disabled and I’d love to give my members a message from you.
Firstly, I believe difference is a good thing, how boring would it be if we were all the same, . Prior to being an athlete I saw know importance in my physios directions to stretch, it took up time, it was painful and I was comfortable as I was. But it was through sport that I saw the long-term importance of maintaining my body so I could achieve peak performance. Stretching became part of everyday life, I now had a purpose to do it and the physical exertion became the most enjoyable form of physiotherapy that I had ever done. Apart from the achievements on the track, the result is that; I developed the coordination it takes to play golf, the balance it takes to ride a bicycle, and the strength it takes to ski from the top of Mt. Rupeahu. While sport stretched my mussels to give my body freedom, it also stretched my mind to give my imagination freedom, nothing is impossible.
The benefits of sport, whether socially or competitively are huge, not only for the individual, but for the family as a whole, any concerns my parents had about my quality of life have long been dismissed. It is often through the process of attempting the seemingly impossible that the most extraordinary outcomes are achieved.
If anyone gave you strife at school, how did you overcome this?
No matter who we are are or what we do there are going to be people who get a buzz out of giving others strife. The sad reality is that they are putting limitation on their own lives, the miss out on so much that this world has to offer. I often remind myself that people who are different, are people who get noticed, so capitalize on this as much as you can and make your difference a trade mark, no one can take that away from you. Keep true to your dreams and don’t let anyone stop you, no one! The people who give us strife are fueled by our reaction, so as hard as it may be, try not to react in a way they expect, for every bit of strife you get, give a compliment to another, this will build your friendships, this will show you’re true colors – stay strong, hold your head high and smile, a smile is a universal language.
How does your family and friends help you with the challenges you have had?
By simply seeing me as a friend, a son, a brother, a grandson, a cousin etc. They positively challenge me when I need it and they bring my head back down to earth when I get a little to excited. My friends and family make me who I am and I know that they are always there for me.
My brother has a disability that makes him half his age in his brain. What can I do to help achieve his dreams?
Focus on what he can do, not what he can’t. To many people will focus on what he can’t do. You be then one to ask him what he wants to do and then find the best support that is going to guide him the right way. Be honest, open and encouraging but most importantly, see him as a brother, a friend, a contributor to this world – think outside the square and stay by his side.
JEHAN CASINADER
Have you ever had a moment where you felt like you wanted to give up? How did you overcome this?
I can’t remember one defining moment where I wanted to give up. But when I was younger, I faced a real uphill battle to get into this industry, because of my age and my level of experience at the time. But I was determined. I knew exactly what my dream job was, and I knew I could do it well. I felt like I had a contribution to make. That’s why I jumped through so many hoops to get into television.
With regards to the abusive builder story, how do you deal with this sort of offensive behaviour and persevere with your career?
On this story, I had to approach a builder who was working on a construction site that neighbours were concerned about. When I approached him, I was astonished that he responded with racial insults, especially because the camera was rolling. It didn’t affect me on a personal level. But I’m glad we caught it on film, because the story gave an insight into some of the deeply-held prejudices that, sadly, some Kiwis still hold.
What got you into journalism? And what inspired you to be a reporter specifically?
My dad was a journalist for many years, so I grew up in a house where we often talked about what was happening in the world. But it wasn’t a career that I was pushed into. I really enjoyed watching television as a kid. I genuinely believe that television changes the way people think, feel and act, and I wanted to be part of that industry. It’s a huge privilege to be a reporter, and no matter how many stories you’ve done, there are thousands more, waiting to be told. That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.
Do you get emotionally involved in your work and how do you stop this from affecting your work?
On some stories, it’s hard to avoid being emotionally involved. I’ve worked on a lot of social issues stories involving dependency, depravation and child abuse. When you’re interviewing a victim of sex abuse, who is talking about what they experienced, it’s impossible to not be affected by that. Current affairs is about engaging people’s hearts and minds, so if I’m feeling something, I know there’s a good chance the viewer at home will feel something too. But our stories still need to be fair, accurate and balanced, and not just driven by emotion.
If you were in year 13 again, what would you do differently? What would you change?
Year 13 was a crazy year for me. I was trying to keep up with my schoolwork and extra-curricular activities, as well as trying to kick off my journalism career. I was freelancing for print and also doing a weekly segment on breakfast television. If I could have my time again, I’d slow down and chill out a bit more. When you have hundreds of things that you want to do, it can be easy to lose track of time. But as I’ve got older I’ve realised that you’re only young once. That’s something to savour and appreciate while you can.
What was your favourite story and why?
I don’t have a favourite story, but I’m proud of any piece of work which creates change. We did an investigation into child support and youth benefits in 2010 which led the Government to change its policy. Earlier this year, we discovered an illegal drug was being sold online, and we got it taken off the streets. We’ve campaigned on many social issues, from truancy, to mental health, to child abuse. I work with talented producers, cameramen and editors, and whenever one of our stories helps to bring about change, we’re happy.
How would a young guy like me get into a reporting position like you’re in?
Read the papers, watch the news and surf the web. Get a sense of what’s going on in the world, what interests people, scares people, challenges people and moves people. Think about what issues you’re passionate about, and what kind of stories you want to tell. Build on your skills by selecting useful subjects at school, and using extra-curricular opportunities to develop your talents. Seek work experience in a real newsroom, to get a feel for how the industry works. Try and get some writing published in youth magazines or in your local paper. After school, I recommend doing a bachelor’s degree, and if you need it, you can always pick up a post-grad journalism qualification.
Does your belief in God influence or interfere with your line of work?
It’s an important part of my life, but it’s not something I try to force on people. Everyone’s identity is made up of different parts, including your culture, socio-economic background, family structure, life experience, and sometimes faith. Being a journalist requires you to set all of that aside and tell stories that are fair and balanced. My faith doesn’t interfere with my work, in the same way my culture and gender don’t interfere with my work. But all of those things influence my worldview and my outlook on life, and it’s impossible to separate that from my work.
SARAH ROBB O’HAGAN
How do you achieve balance in your life?
For me – balance in my life doesn’t come from how much time I spend working versus how much time I spend at home – because in this day in age when you have a corporate job you are pretty much working any time you respond to an email that pops up on your iPhone. So for me the more important thing is simply to LOVE what I do. That is what brings me balance. In my case –
getting to dedicate my working hours to helping people achieve their athletic goals is so incredibly fun – and its also something that my family can participate in really easily. My job gives me so many fun opportunities to expose my kids to amazing sports opportunities and stuff. So I honestly can say I don’t really have many moments when I’m feeling “out of balance”.
Do you have any regrets?
Only that I wish I could have had more time with the people in my life who are no longer here. I lost my father after he battled Parkinsons disease for 20 years and when I look back, I am sad that I missed out on more hours with him when he was healthy – simply because I wish now I could ask him so many things that I never had the time to ask him when he was here. I guess the lesson is that there is NOTHING more important in life than the people you love – so cherish them and enjoy every moment you can with them.
How did you manage to get your break into marketing?
I studied marketing at Auckland university and then I got my first job at Air New Zealand in marketing. I was actually rejected by Air NZ when I first applied but I went back and relentlessly kept trying to prove to them that they needed to hire me and eventually they gave in. Never ever give up on your dream!