‘We must be kind to each other’

• Published date: 02 March 2022
• Publication title: Northern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)

You might have seen Beazley working as a security officer at Fresh Choice, Countdown, Mitre 10, Jane Mander Retirement Village, the Whangarei Library — the list goes on

Beazley had not long finished her study as a security officer before the pandemic began. When lockdown unfolded she was thrown into the deep end as demand for security officers shot through the roof.

“It was horrible because everyone was allowed to be home but I had to work right through the pandemic. I got abused quite a lot.”

Most of the abuse was down to confusion and frustration from people stressed during an uncertain time, Beazley said.

She saw older Northlanders in particular struggle to adjust.

“A lot of the elderly didn’t understand because they are not used to changes. They get pretty anxious and don’t know social distancing skills.”

Security officers were often left at the forefront of enforcement as the thread of new rules, levels and traffic lights unravelled.

“A lot of people get angry because they have to wear their mask or because they don’t have their vaccine passes.”

But COVID has expanded Beazley’s understanding of her role in the community, even if some people aren’t happy with the rules she’s employed to enforce.

“It’s different now, I understand and I have empathy for people.

“One man, he was 96 and he had been going to the library for 33 years and he didn’t have his vaccine pass, so I helped him,” she said.

While working outside the library, Beazley walked locals in need of a helping hand with their vaccine pass down the road to Kowhai Pharmacy where they create them for free.

“I like to help the community, I’m there to help them and protect them.”

Beazley admitted that being on the frontline made her concerned for her safety as the pandemic moves into its third year.

“I’m a bit scared of Omicron, I’m a bit worried about it. It’s my job, so I just still keep going. A lot of people wouldn’t want to do this job but I love my job so much.

“I think people just need to be kind to each other and understand we’re going through a pandemic.

“It’s not easy, we’ve just got to keep moving forward and keep carrying on with life.

“It’s just how life is at the moment.”

Paihia local Amber Younger was only 17 when she became the youngest member in the New Zealand Navy two years ago.

She joined the Navy with the goal of travelling the world but only a month after moving to Auckland the country went into its very first lockdown.

Those first two months were the beginning of an...