WHO’S WHO?
the Keepers of the Vine
(and other key personnel)
JOHN (& ROBYN) COONEY
Founder, Editor, Managing Director & Big Cheese
John was born after the war, emerging naked and without his reading glasses. He grew up (totally unnoticed) on the foggy streets of Hamilton, and achieved absolutely nothing at Hamilton Boys High School – aside from being the shortest kid in the third form.
He met Robyn in Woolworths one afternoon: he, a cute little guy with short-back-and-sides (plus pimples) … she, an angel in stiletto heels. And, upon discovering that he would die if they couldn’t be together forever, asked for her hand in marriage.
In 1981 John and his colleagues launched GRAPEVINE – to improve (at least in some small way) the quality of family life in New Zealand. And the rest (as they say) is history. Today, he and Robyn are the weary parents of three adult kids … and the youngest-looking grandparents in this part of the known universe.
John speaks each year to thousands of Kiwis at seminars (e.g. for parents: Home-Sweet-Home: When It All Hits The Fan) and at family/relationship events. He also features at motivational functions, business conferences, etc … was keynote speaker for six years in a row at the Auckland Mayoral Fathers Breakfast … is a sometime radio personality plus regular contributor of ‘Scrubcutter’ recordings for the ZB network and Radio Rhema … and leads Kiwi tour groups on Midlife Madness adventures to exotic parts of the world.
Favourite naughty snack: Whittakers Peanut Slabs!
Favourite quote: “Men are from earth – women are from earth – get used to it!”
Contact: john@grapevine.org.nz or jc@johncooney.co.nz
READ MORE … on John’s personal website: www.johncooney.co.nz.
FRANCES (& NOEL) COVENTRY
Staff-Writer, Promoter & Finance Whiz
Frances was born without a silver spoon in her mouth, and raised (wearing gumboots) on a Northland farm. Following a busy few years living in California, she returned to Godzone as a single parent with four children. Those kids are now all adults, and Frances has recently remarried an unsuspecting ex-marathon runner called Noel.
She joined Grapevine in 1992 and is currently Promotions Manager, Finance Manager, Staff-Writer and right-hand man/woman/person to the editor.
In her spare time she writes radio scripts for the ZB network … escorts travel-hungry Kiwis to Spanish-speaking destinations … speaks to single parents and clubs around Auckland … ballroom dances with Noel … and spoils her three grandchildren rotten.
Favourite naughty snack: Scorched Almonds … a box at a time!
Favourite quote: “Pain is inevitable, misery is optional, so stick a geranium in your hat and be happy!”
Contact: frances@grapevine.org.nz
BRENT & NORA CURTIS
Street Sponsor & Database Gurus
Brent & Nora are married with seven children (5 girls & 2 boys). So it’s hardly surprising they ended up working for a family organisation. They both have a background in finance and banking: “We even worked for a couple of the same institutions, but never really knew each other at either of these places!”
Today, Brent keeps himself busy as Grapevine’s Supporter Services Manager – ably assisted by Nora.
Nora’s a “soft-touch” (according to Brent) who loves teaching Pilates at the gym, coaching netball and generally keeping fit. When Brent’s not staring at a PC screen, he can usually be found doing physical stuff – around the home, watching his kids play sports, helping out at the local athletics club (with Nora) and most importantly … blobbing out with the family watching footy on TV.
Favourite naughty snack: Choc Vitasoy on the rocks or a cool glass of bubbly!
Favourite quote: “Life’s like a marathon – it’s not about how fast you run, it’s about how well you pace yourself”
Contact: brent@grapevine.org.nz
MIKE (& DONNA) COONEY
Projects Manager, Staff Writer & Heir to the Throne
Mike was born in the Chinese year of the ‘rat’, which apparently isn’t as bad as it sounds … His parents were a couple of middle-class dreamers who put it all on the line to follow a dream, and as such, Mike grew up without a TV, wearing home-sewn pants and eating mince on toast. At 10 years he bought great shame upon his family by being expelled from Sunday School for making the teacher cry.
In 1993 he met Donna, and after a whirlwind romance involving surfing trips and car crashes, she finally agreed to marry him. The following 12 years saw him employed as a teacher, youth worker, life-skill educator, national director and father, the latter being his most rewarding achievement yet!
Now in 2006, following an offer he couldn’t refuse (plus threats from his mother) he found himself working for that same ‘dream’ his old man started decades earlier.
When Mike’s not doing Grapevine stuff, you’ll find him working with Team Xtreme, in the bush hunting, surfing or hanging out with his best friend Donna and their four gorgeous kids.
Favourite naughty snack: Condensed milk out of the can!
Favourite quote: “If the world was an orange, it would be too small.”
PAUL (& MARGARET) FREEDMAN
Assistant Deputy Associate Vice-Editor
Paul was born in Wellington barely two days before Adolf Hitler shot himself (although there is little evidence Paul had anything to do with that). Paul emigrated with his parents to the USA, but he couldn’t understand the language and never fitted in. So the three returned to Godzone where (despite heavy resistance) Paul received an education at two Marist Brothers schools.
Paul married Margaret (with no obvious sign of resistance) in 1973, and between them they raised three children and several disgustingly hairy dogs.
Paul has written advertising copy, produced radio and TV programmes, survived a stint as a Radio Hauraki pirate, edited a national Catholic magazine, and been associated with the Grapevine team long before Grapevine. When he grows up, he would like to be a train driver.
Favourite naughty snack: Oddfellows!
Favourite quote: “Most of life’s problems can be solved by asking, ‘How would the Lone Ranger handle this?’”
Contact: paul@grapevine.org.nz
IAN & ELAINE DUNWOODIE
Globe-Trotter & Counsellor
Ian and Elaine both joined the Grapevine team very early in the piece (having been rescued from rather dull, wind-blown lives in Wellington). Ian endured many long years as Grapevine’s researcher/feature-writer – tearing his hair out over lapses in grammar and punctuation. Elaine, meanwhile, set up Grapevine’s OPENLINE counselling service – offering readers volunteer telephone counselling and professional face-to-face counselling. She still operates the latter excellent service to this day – and can be contacted on 09-625-1115.
Elaine must be more understanding than most wives, because in more recent years, Ian’s hardly ever been home – gallivanting around the world and writing travel stories for Grapevine.
Favourite naughty snack: Waist-busting Toffee Pops!
Favourite quote: “Ah, but I was so much older then – I’m younger than that now.” (Bob Dylan)
Contact: dunwood@ihug.co.nz
CRAIG HAYTHORNTHWAITE
Art Boss & Graphic Genius
Craig was born in Auckland on the same day as Elvis Presley’s daughter, but that’s where any similarities end. As a young boy he was hit on the head with a golf club and knocked unconscious. He assumes he’s never been the same since (although he can’t really remember what he was like before he got hit).
Craig still feels young, despite having worked for ad agencies, design firms and publishers for nearly two decades (but, the truth is, it’s all downhill from here). He has one wife, two kids, a handful of chickens, a freeloading cat, and a whinging pregnant pig.
Favourite naughty snack: Sour-Worm lollies!
Favourite quote: “Life is an adventure or nothing at all.” (Helen Keller)
Contact: 09-631-1400 or www.urban-i.co.nz
GARY POLWART
IT Consultant
Gary’s our technical whiz. We don't understand what he does but he makes our computer things hum along much better. (At least that’s what he says – we just take his word for it!) We often find him working at 3am to keep our systems running. He's been consulting with Brent over the last few years to improve our database and delivery programmes.
Gary's been self employed forever – first as an industrial electrician, then as a software developer/business system fixer-upperer. In his spare time he administers a national sport, teaches martial arts, takes his dog running and coaches his daughter's netball team.
Favourite naughty snack: Marshmallows
Favourite quote: “Walk on!” (Bruce Lee)
Contact: gary.p@futurebyte.co.nz
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tammy Cooney (Grapevine’s back-covers & more)
Contact: 027-279-7793
ILLUSTRATORS
Tim Tripp (cartoons: Pick of the Bunch, Home-Sweet-Home, etc)
Contact: 03-359-1577 or www.ttdesign.com
Vasanti Unka (Far Far Out, Scrubcutters, etc)
PRINTERS
PMP Print
Auckland & Christchurch
Contact: 0800 767 546 or www.pmpprint.co.nz
DELIVERY
PMP Distribution
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
Contact: 0800 938 555 or www.pmpdistribution.co.nz
GRAPEVINE’S DIRECTORS
Murray Grainger
Adrian Padfield
Alex Baldwin
John Cooney
ACCOUNTANTS & AUDITORS
HLB Wylie McDonald Ltd
Takapuna, Auckland
SOLICITORS
Gaze Burt
Nelson St, Auckland City
Contact: www.gazeburt.co.nz
