Dame Susan Devoy - Super Mum
Dame Susan Devoy needs very little introduction; she is a well-known New Zealand sports figure of whom we are all aware. Between 1984 and 1992 she won 8 New Zealand Open titles, 8 British Open Titles and 4 World Championship titles.
She was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, was awarded an MBE in 1986, a CBE in 1992, and was honoured as Dame Commander of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998. Dame Susan was the youngest New Zealander since Sir Edmund Hillary to receive such a high accolade from the Queen.
In her recent professional career she has been the chair of the Halberg Trust, and is now their trustee for the Bay of Plenty. The Halberg Trust was founded by Sir Murray Halberg over 40 years ago with the twin aims of honouring sporting excellence and ensuring people with a disability have the opportunity to be more active, more often.
Dame Susan has also been the Chief Executive of Sport Bay of Plenty for the past 3 years, and has now stepped into the role of Chairperson. She has worked diligently to make sports and fitness activities more accessible to families in this region, and is a firm supporter of the national Push Play campaign.
But did you also know that she’s a mum? After retiring from squash she rapidly had four children under five. They are all boys and are now aged between 10 and 14. Susan, Jon and their family are based in Tauranga, but Susan still maintains a national presence with her professional work, celebrity speaking engagements and voluntary work.
Dame Susan is absolutely passionate about parenting and the role that we, as parents, can play in raising fit, healthy, active children. It is for this reason that she has been involved in the Halberg Trust and Sport BOP. She has a personal drive to ensure that disabled people are given as many chances as possible. To this end, in 1988, she walked the length of New Zealand to raise $500,000 for Muscular Dystrophy and is now the patron of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
We are very excited to be working with Susan. Each month, she will be writing on topics about which she is passionate: raising boys, tackling teenagers, getting kids active and supporting kids with special needs. We are greatly looking forward to her articles!
Mark Leishman - Super Dad
Mark Leishman’s broadcasting career stretches 30 years and includes hosting some of New Zealand’s favourite television shows such as the oldies like Top Town and That’s Fairly Interesting, to Wonder Dogs and The Young Farmer Contest and most recently, The Great New Zealand Spelling Bee.
Mark and his wife, Jo Raymond, have three children Paddy 13, Molly 8 and Rosie 3. They own the television production company, Dexterity Productions, through which they produce Wonder Dogs and other shows for TVNZ.
Mark has also written, produced, and directed six prime time television documentaries. He has a keen interest in supporting Guide Dogs and his last documentary, Kohi Comes Home, was a heart warming story of their work in New Zealand. Mark’s documentaries have helped raise millions of dollars for the Guide Dogs.
He writes and produces the ING Golf Show for SKY TV each week and does MC work for video production for various NZ companies.
In August 2006 Mark returned to his first love, radio, as the afternoon host of the Easy Drive Home on Auckland’s 93.4 The Breeze.
Mark has no hesitation in saying that his most important job will always be remaining a devoted father to his children.
Diane Levy - Super Granny
Diane is a well-known Family Therapist, counsellor, parenting coach and speaker. She has a private practice in Auckland and is the proud mother of three children, mother-in-law of one and grandmother of two.
She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Diploma in Secondary Teaching, is a member of the New Zealand Association of Counselors (MNZAC) and has been counseling for almost thirty years. She considers that her best qualification – and hardest to get – has been the raising of three children to independent adulthood.
Diane is an accomplished author and has published two highly successful books - Of Course I Love You...NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM which is listed as a Best-Seller, and They Look so Lovely When They're Asleep. Diane is also a prolific article-writer and has been published in the East and Bays Courier, Essentially Food, Littlies, the New Zealand Herald and Parenting with Confidence.
In recent times Diane has become a TV celebrity, through fronting the TV3 series Demons to Darlings. In this programme Diane took on the role of "super granny' and helped many parents to win back control of their wayward children.
Diane is also in demand as a guest speaker, and frequently addresses Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools, Plunket groups and other parenting organisations, as well as providing Professional Development for teachers and counselors. Above all, Diane is passionate about helping parents in the task of raising their children.
Diane has a delightful way of imparting wisdom through wit - so we are sure you will enjoy reading her monthly column as much as we do.