Sarah J. building a career close to home
Sarah Jamieson has the same first name as me and grew up in the same area. We used to work at the same dairy. There is one obvious difference between us, however: I left and she stayed.
The Thames-Coromandel District, found on that little peninsula that points out and up in almost an accusatory way at Auckland, is home to several small towns and villages that consist collectively of just over 30,000 people.
Residents aged between 65-69 years make up 10% of the overall population, while those aged 20-24 make up just over 3 per cent.
This is because the young people often flee to big city life the minute they finish up at one of our three high schools.
But Sarah (Sarah J, that is) did not.
“Everyone wants to come to Coromandel. We’re already here so why leave?”
Sarah, now 20 years old, grew up as the third of four siblings on a farm in Patetonga, a village just south of Ngatea. Patetonga’s population is a few hundred I guess; I have to, as apparently nobody has thought it necessary to record online.
But as we small-town-raised know, the places you can’t find any solid information about on Google can be the best places of all – especially for a child.
“I’m the third of four siblings. I grew up rurally and went to Kaihere School which had roughly 30 kids. [..] I got to know everyone on a personal level.”
There are two types of small towns: the ones with shops, hotels, and an abundance of places to eat, and the ones with a single fish and chip shop and maybe a dairy. The latter often circle the former, like pilot fish.
Those of us from the smaller small towns know the neighbouring big town is simply referred to as ‘town’. For Patetonga, town is Ngatea.
“I always envied the kids who lived in town because they were able to walk to their friends’ houses,” Sarah said.
“Most of my memories on the farm were with my younger brother in tow, forcing him to play with dolls and promising to play tractors and bikes soon.”
There was no strong desire to venture outwards after her school years for Sarah. This was in part because she did not feel a call to a traditional tertiary education.
Neither did she need one. She had barely passed NCEA level three before she called up local law firm Miller Poulgrain and asked if she could work there.
They took her on as a receptionist at first before moving her up to secretary when she asked for more work.
“I told them I wanted more of a challenge.”
That’s the kind of person you have to be to cling on to the Coromandel quiet life through your 20s: the kind that is ready and willing to contribute to that same society.
It’s also a credit to the businesses that reside here. It’s certainly not the first time I’ve heard of Thames, Whitianga, or Whangamatā businesses helping young people to hone their craft.
“It was a bit weird coming straight out of high school and then everyone talking to me like an adult. I’m like, I’m just a girl,” Sarah joked.
“But after a while you realise, ‘Oh, I’m just as knowledgeable as you.’ And they know that.”
Now on the weekends she engages in her hobbies of crocheting and photography. She said one day she might venture outwards, but for now she’s content still living on her parents’ farm.
“I was never a huge fan of the farm, but I’ve always loved how peaceful it is. Especially at night, being able to see all of the stars in the sky.”
The stars shy away the further you get into the city. It’s as good a reason as any to stay home.
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