Meet-the-Gail | City First Aid Training

Gail – The Heart and Hands of CFA

Writing a “Meet the Team” post is never easy when it’s about yourself—so we’ve taken the pen from Gail this time to celebrate someone who truly deserves it.

Gail has been a steady presence in our CFA whānau—the longest-serving member of our team—and it’s hard to imagine the place without her. If you could picture a well-worn, dependable glove, that’s Gail. Not ordinary, but everywhere—teaching, guiding, supporting—with warmth, purpose, and care.

That glove has travelled from the USA to Italy, tended gardens both at home and in the community, and even picked up a hammer or paintbrush when needed. But most of all, it’s been extended to others—helping, teaching, and holding space for people to learn and grow.

With over 15 years in first aid education, Gail creates the kind of classroom where people feel safe, included, and genuinely confident in their ability to help others. She doesn’t just teach first aid—she invites you in, builds your confidence, and ensures you leave ready to act when it matters most.

We’re so grateful to have her at the heart of CFA—steady, skilled, and always there when you need her.— Vicky

We asked her to answer some questions

What’s your role at City First Aid? I wear quite a few hats at City First Aid. Like many small values-based teams, collaboration and playing to our strengths is key - everyone does a bit of everything to keep CFA flourishing.

I’m the Head of Training, Lead Instructor, part-time admin, and the one who makes sure NZQA still likes us! I look after teaching compliance, quality assurance, and moderation -which is really just a fancy way of saying I annoy everyone equally by keeping our paperwork tidy, our systems up to date, and our teaching solid. I love the variety: every piece of it links back to supporting tutors, heart-focused ownership, and helping learners succeed. Oh, and I’m also responsible for putting together all these social-media posts now. Love ’em or hate ’em, I’m to blame. It’s honestly like learning a foreign language for this old girl. I apologise in advance for my mishaps and foibles along the way, I'm learning as I go!

How long have you been with CFA? Long story! Back in 2001 I was renewing my own first aid certificate when the previous owner, Jude, asked if I’d ever thought about teaching. (She knew my health professional background.)

I wasn’t looking to change careers. I loved being an occupational therapist but she kept gently hounding me for about six months to give teaching a try. Eventually, I said yes.

I started part-time while still working as an OT, and before long I was full-time and completely hooked.

After a few years overseas, I came home, and the first thing Jude said was, “When can you get back in the classroom?” I’ve been here ever since.

What do you love most about teaching first aid? The people. Every class is full of stories, nerves, laughter, and that spark when someone realises, “Hang on! I can do this.”

I deeply believe in community and in helping one another, and since it never occurs to me that I can’t do something, I figure others are completely capable too. That’s really all it take, the willingness and belief that you can make a difference, even in messy, real-life moments.

One person to another, one mama to another, one colleague to another. My belief in people is what keeps me turning up to class.

What’s one thing you’re passionate about outside of work? Learning. I’m always learning something new. I’ve had many five-year passion projects—from photography to essential oils to adult-education study—and they’ve all shared one theme: making life better for myself and others.

Right now, my passion is permaculture and food gardening. Honestly, I’ve got two uniforms in this part of my life: the one I wear at City First Aid, and the one I wear everywhere else -gumboots, apron, headphones, and a suspicious amount of dirt under my nails.

When I’m not teaching people how to save lives, I’m usually out in the garden trying to keep plants alive (often with a grandchild or two in tow). That’s my happy place: hands in the soil, a good audiobook playing, with people I love and a winter store cupboard quietly growing in the background.

Plus I love biking, on long rides, short rides, locally or further afield, either by myself or with friends and family. Being on my bike is another one of my happy places.

Have you ever had to use first aid outside of class? Pretty much every week at home! You can read all about it in my “What’s My Husband Done Now” blog series - tales from life with my Michael, who has a remarkable talent for finding new ways to get injured.

Over the years I’ve had plenty of real-world first aid moments: neighbourhood CPR, family emergencies, and attending motor vehicle accidents both here and overseas.

Those experiences keep me grounded and remind me why teaching first aid matters. Knowing what to do is empowering. It allows you to feel calm, capable, and confident when it counts.

So next time you see Gail in the classroom, bring dark chocolate, or share a story or two of your own. She loves hearing them just as much as telling them.

Read Gail’s latest blog stories:  The Biker Edition  Mental Health Edition  Head Injury: Garage Door Edition

There’s never a dull moment in her whare of boys and grandgirls 😅 (some of whom are pictured below, taken the day after she got caterpillars stuck to her eyebrows… long story, henna!).