As with most training courses, the day starts with a round of introductions. "Hi, my name is...and I work at..."

Training commences and you realise it's hard work sitting down listening to someone all day! Thank goodness the trainer keeps the content interesting and interactive and injects some good humour.

Morning tea time arrives and we all cram into the onsite tea room. This is a time to chat with the other nice people on the course – from various workplaces around the city. Rain is pelting down outside, and after we talk about the weather, I am asked by a retail manager the all-too-frequent question "So when is the Gallery re-opening?" Others join in the conversation and some good discussion continues for several minutes.

After my cup of tea, I go back into the training room feeling good that people really do care about our Gallery, its repairs and its reopening.

That sense of ownership and missing the Gallery was further expressed during our lunch break that day. A man from a local foundry, told me enthusiastically his favourite work at the Gallery was a Bill Hammond painting. Then a woman who works in respite care told me her favourite was the black panelled work by Ralph Hotere. I was quite moved when she told me, "Although it is very black, I realised it is about light".

So here are those favourite works from our Collection (I hope I've got the right ones!):