Decorative photo The Proud To Be Me series focuses on ordinary and extraordinary people in the Selwyn District. This week Coen Lammers speaks to Marie Carrodus, the President of the Ellesmere Senior Citizens Club.

This week is National Grandparents Week in New Zealand and Marie Carrodus from Leeston is well-placed to talk about the important role grandparents play in modern family life and the wider community.

The 69-year-old is not only the President of the Ellesmere Senior Citizens Club and been part of the committee for 5 years and also has nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She explains that some of her grandchildren have already grown up and have kids of their own, and she enjoys spending time with the newest generation in the family.ve

“We love doing things together like going to the Hanmer Springs pools and we look after my great-grand son two days a week. It’s beautiful and we really enjoy it,” says Carrodus, who has seen the role of grandparents changed in the past few decades due to the cost of living.

“These days both parents often have to work, so grandparents have to help out and look after the children,” says Carrodus, who feels fortunate she was able to stay at home with her three daughters and support husband Richard building the family trucking business Carrodus Bros trucking dealership.

Carrodus was born in Westport but moved to Leeston at an early age when her dad started farming in the Brookside area, before he took over the local milk run.

Back on the West Coast and in the early days in Ellesmere, the family lived remotely and relied on their own skills, hard work and ingenuity to get by.

“My grandparents had eight children, and they learned lots of skills from the older generation and they handed that down to our generation.”

Living remotely, with access to schools or medical assistance requiring a two-mile walk to the nearest rail connection to Westport, the family relied on homemade remedies to fix ailments and learned how to make and fix their own things.

“When we had our own kids, I didn’t have to take them to the doctor every five minutes because I knew what to do when they got sick.”

Carrodus says the knowledge that older generations have can be invaluable for younger generations but fears a lot of that knowledge is getting lost.

“Young people are just so busy with their work and barely have time and I do worry how much time they can spend with their children or their partners.

“Sometimes I wonder how they do it. When I had my three kids, I had my hands full and I was always busy sewing and making things myself so we didn’t have to buy them.”

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Carrodus has been supporting the local elderly for eight years as part of the Ellesmere Senior Citizens Group and thinks her passion stems from missing her own grandparents back on the Coast.

“I used to love visiting my grandparents in Westport, so when we moved to Ellesmere, I really missed them, so in a way it’s lovely to have a whole lot of grandparents,” laughs Carrodus.

“I just love their humour, the way they just say what they think and the way they say things. They don’t worry about feeling unsafe about something or saying the politically correct terminology.”

Carrodus explains that the social activities of the group are vital for many seniors to keep active and connected to the community.

“We are lucky in Ellesmere that there are lot of different things for the elderly to get involved in, whether it is the Day Club, where you can get a meal, Probus, the Bowling club and other sports and crafts groups.

Decorative photo The group organises an activity each month as well as an annual trip to a South Island destination, which is decided on through a voting system.

“So, it’s all very democratic. The members decide the programme.”

Carrodus says there are plenty of activities, but the lack of public transport makes it impossible for many elderly to get to town, so the group uses a community van for those who do not have a car.

“You need a car to get around, so if you can’t drive anymore, it gets very difficult, so many people then even have to move out of the district to Lincoln or Prebbleton to a home that is close to a bus route.”

She says the Selwyn District Council is investigating possible options and hopes they can come up with a solution so the elderly can stay keep living in their own town.

“If we had a small bus that could take people to Rolleston or Lincoln twice a day would make a huge difference.”

She says that the social interaction is particularly important for elderly who have live alone of have lost their partners.

“You wouldn’t got to tenpin bowling by yourself would you? You could go for a coffee by yourself but it’s just not the same if you can share what you are seeing or what you have been up. And that’s what groups like us can offer them.”

Carrodus never stops to be amazed by the ability and energy of her group despite some of their advance ages.

“What's considered old anyway?” laughs Carrodus. “Just because you've got a walking stick, they seem to put you in a slot, which isn't accurate at all. Don’t judge a book by its cover because these elderly will surprise you.”

Last modified: 30 Oct 2025 2:37pm