Kia ora everyone and welcome to Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu National Volunteer Week! If you follow our Facebook or Instagram pages you may have already seen that we're taking the time to celebrate our volunteers even more this week. We're continuing this today with our first Why Do You GBB story of 2021 (it's clearly been far too long)! Our first profile for the year is Natasha, a Good Bitch from our Hamilton chapter. Natasha became a Good Bitch to fulfill the volunteering requirements of her Duke of Edinburgh award but decided to stay on as a permanent Good Bitch after completing her award.
Thank you for your selflessness Natasha and for being our first of many ‘Why Do You GBB?’ profiles for 2021 (and including a delicious bonus brownie recipe as well).
When did you join Hamilton GBB?
July 2020, I was looking for some volunteer work to do for only 3 months as part of my qualification for Duke of Edinburgh.
How did you hear about our Chapter?
I was talking to a friend at mum's work and she told me about the organisation, Then I reached out to join. What do you like about GBB?
Most volunteer work focuses on the big issues in the community e.g. refugee work. Which I think is awesome, but I love how GBB might not make a long term impact on people, but it shows kindness to people needing cheering up, and sweets and goodies putting smiles on people's faces are great to see. Because of this, I decided to carry on with the work after my 3 months of service was completed! I also love the friendly people I get to meet when dropping off baking.
What's your favourite GBB experience?
My favourite GBB experience has actually been my mother's when she stayed with my newborn brother in the NICU at Waikato Hospital, she was obviously very stressed and tired. I remember her telling me about the hospital giving her and other parents in the ward delicious treats, and that just made her day knowing that there are others that recognise her difficult time and trying to help her. I just think it's awesome I'm working for the same organisation.
Your favourite recipe?
I'm a sucker for anything chocolate, and brownies are by far my favourite dessert, that's why I love making them (and eating them). This is my favourite gooey, fudge brownie recipe, that I make WAY too often and I always seem to have the ingredients at home so it's very convenient.
Ingredients
- 240g melted butter
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
-3/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of cocoa powder
- 200g chopped chocolate or large chocolate chips Method
1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius
2. Combine melted butter, oil, sugars together in a medium-sized bowl
3. Whisk well before adding the vanilla and eggs and beat mixture until it's a lighter colour
4. Then sift in the flour, cocoa powder and salt
5. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well combined. (Do not
overbeat)
6. Fold 3/4 of the chocolate pieces into the mixture
7. Pour batter into a lightly greased pan and sprinkle the remaining chocolate on top
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes until you test it with a toothpick and there is no wet brownie batter on it.
9. let it cool for 10 minutes and ENJOY!
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to spend time with family and friends, but I also love to read. I can honestly read any books, other than non-fiction because they are way too boring! I also just love anything artsy, whether that be calligraphy, acrylics or playing the piano.
Which 5 famous people would you want to share a dinner party with?
I would like to have dinner with are Amal Clooney, Rez Gardi and probably Malala Yousafzai. And 2 that are dead, Muhammad and Ertrugrul Ghazi. Weird combination, but all amazing people.
Happy National Volunteer week to all our wonderful GB's across 28 chapters around the country. You are at the heart of what we do, spreading kindness in our communities and making Aotearoa the kindest place on earth. Ngā mihi everyone.