Team Turtle: Robyn’s Bucket List

Robyn and Shane Schrafft are two of the most selfless people I know. Together they have racked up a total of over 60 years of voluntary work for the Paihia St John’s Ambulance Service. The crazy thing is this voluntary work was completed alongside their normal employment as Senior Paramedics in Kerikeri.

They have both been admitted to the Order of St John for community awareness and training within their community. At the same time, Shane has completed, with Robyn as support person and chief fund raiser, 33 years of voluntary work in the Paihia Fire Brigade – 12 of which he was Chief Fire Warden.

I first met Robyn and Shane through their voluntary work in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. They assisted with the first aid at Vaka Eiva for many years. But also, helped train and up-skill local ambulance officers, firefighters, first-responders and the general paddling community. They have been instrumental in sourcing defibrillators to be installed around the island even setting up the app noting all their locations. Of note this is all usually done during their supposed “holidays”.

As many of you will remember six years ago, Robyn was involved in a sea rescue in Rarotonga but was herself injured, rendering her unable to return to her work as aparamedic. Since then she in constant pain, unable to have any clothing touching her lower leg, which has her wearing shorts and her Raro “safety boots” (jandals) all year round, even in winter.

In 2019 Robyn was supposed to travel to her second home Rarotonga to celebrate her 60th birthday with friends and family. However after a routine medical checkup she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer which meant she spent her mile-stone birthday starting her treatment. Since then she has received multiple rounds of both chemotherapy and radiation having to travel from Paihia and stay in Auckland to receive the treatment.

Through these rounds of treatment Robyn has remained positive despite many side effects and other complications. She bravely will tell you the hardest part of the treatment has been having to leave their “baby” (cat) Princess each Monday. Although I’m sure the long commute between Paihia and Auckland (4hr+ each way) wore thin along time ago.

Despite her prognosis Robyn still devotes so much time to helping others. She has an amazing spirit and continues to maintain a strong sense of humour as she communicates her treatment updates to friends and family through her “TeamTurtle” posts. These post last are not only humourous but informative to the point their could almost go towards continuing education points!

Positive but realistic, Robyn has adopted the turtle “ono” as the symbol of her journey –strong outer shield, resilient, keeps on going, travels big distances and observes life. In many aspects it reflects Robyn’s personality.

With an unknown timeframe Robyn and Shane have been doing their absolute best to tick off some of their bucket-list adventures. This has been difficult negotiating between treatment regimens, Covid lock-downs, the side effects of treatment and Shane’s shift-work. We want to make sure that as soon as the Pacific bubble opens Robyn and Shane have the funds to return to Rarotonga to swim with the turtles that have been giving her strength along this journey. Most importantly if our fundraising allows we want Shane to be able to take leave to spend time with his soulmate.