Volunteer stories: Tiaan Tamahaga
Volunteering with SPAW for the first time was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was a privilege to help the animals in Tonga and witness the impact our work had on the local community.
I first heard about SPAW when Siobhan Marshall appeared on Celebrity Treasure Island and I’ve followed the organisation ever since — watching teams head abroad and dreaming of joining one myself. At the time I didn’t feel I had enough experience, so I held back. But when I saw a post calling for volunteers for the upcoming year, and with my colleague Diane’s strong encouragement, I put my name forward.
Originally I wasn’t on this trip but when someone pulled out, I was offered a spot — and it happened to be the same trip my colleague Diane was on, which was perfect. We work really well together, as a vet and vet nurse team, and that made the experience even more special. The other volunteers all collaborated beautifully and we all learned something along the way. My favourite part was seeing the joy on the faces of locals when they came to collect their animals after surgery — healthy, safe and loved.
I’d absolutely love to volunteer with SPAW again. My first trip left a lasting impression, and I’m so grateful to have been part of it.
