From growing up on a farm to building a new life on the other side of the world, Cathy Babin has always been guided by the same values: a love of family, a dreamer's spirit, and a deep commitment to serving her community.

A New Chapter in New Zealand

Cathy met her partner in France in 1988, where the couple lived for nine years while he completed his PhD. In 1996, they made the move to New Zealand. The early months were tough - a new language, a new environment, and odd jobs such as picking apples to make ends meet. They settled first in Hawke's Bay, living with her partner's parents until both found steady work and life settled into a comfortable rhythm.

In 2003, a job opportunity took the family to Blenheim, a move that became a turning point. Cathy was raising three children, then aged three, four and five (two girls and a boy). Blenheim quickly felt like home, offering a vibrant community where her family could thrive.

Deep Roots in Community and Education

Family has always come first for Cathy, and her community involvement grew naturally alongside her children's upbringing. She threw herself into local organisations, becoming heavily involved with Playcentre in the Marlborough area, where she loved connecting with other parents and supporting early childhood development.

Her passion for education led her into teacher aide work, a role she started when her youngest son was five. She got stuck into school life, running motor skills development programmes (PMP) and introducing creative, hands-on ideas such as a “recipe of the week” inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Cathy has also been a cornerstone of local sport and recreation. She played and organised junior badminton for five years. She is club president, of the local Redwoodtown Social Badminton Club, members are adults including a 90-year-old woman.

Fostering Connection and Inclusivity

Cathy's instinct to support others has always drawn her towards migrant and multicultural connection work and community volunteering. She was introduced to Marlborough Multicultural Centre through her friend Wendy, the same friend she met in France 35 years ago. Cathy has been part of MMC for about a year now.

Her first visit to MMC's Weekly Morning Tea didn't win her over straight away. Wendy encouraged her to give it another go, and Cathy is glad she did. She now looks forward to Morning Tea and has invited others along to join her.

Drawing on her experience at school, Cathy has suggested new ways to make Morning Tea more fun and engaging, especially for those with limited English - interactive games and world maps that help people share stories about where they come from. Her focus has always been simple: help newcomers navigate cultural differences and language barriers, and make people feel welcomed and understood.

She also stays active through local health and fitness programmes, believing firmly in looking after both body and mind.

A Proud Family Legacy

Today, Cathy's dedication to her family shows in the achievements of her three adult children.

Margot, her eldest daughter, has travelled to Antarctica and recently gave a talk about the experience.

Her son is mostly based in Te Anau, working with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and currently enjoying time teaching English in Indonesia.

Her youngest daughter, Lily, is a talented 3D animator. Her short film Miro Wine, about the unlikely friendship between a grumpy kererū and a persistent pīwakawaka, won a Digital Design Award for Animation at AUT in 2020, then went on to win the Department of Post Best New Zealand Film Award at the 2021 Show Me Shorts Film Festival, an Academy Award-qualifying festival. Co-created with fellow animator Bree Greally, the film has since screened at festivals worldwide, including Animafest Zagreb, and is currently showing at a festival in Glasgow.

Cathy also loves cooking for her family. She recalls her son rushing home from school simply because he knew she'd cooked something delicious. For Cathy, a warm, loving and safe home shapes how children grow up, and she believes it matters for the wider community too, helping keep young people grounded and out of trouble. She's aware that not everyone can afford to prioritise this, and she doesn't take it for granted.

Behind these achievements is a deliberate choice. Cathy opted to step back from paid work and focus on raising her children herself, and she's the first to say how fortunate she was to have that option. At the same time, she's candid about the flip side: caring for family is real, demanding work, and it isn't valued the way it should be.