Decades of helping Hawke’s Bay community honoured
By Victoria White
The pivotal role of one Hastings resident in helping Hawke’s Bay and its residents over the past decades has been recognised, with James Morgan being awarded the Queens Service Medal.
Mr Morgan said it was nice to receive the honour for his services to the community, but felt he never needed the recognition.
“What’s happening in all the organisations that I’ve been involved in, that’s more important than this,” he said.
His motivation was simply about helping people, and “doing my share” for the community.
He felt his interest in helping the community was highlighted during the 44 years he spent in the newspaper industry – including being editor of the Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune until 1998.
This background sparked his passion for his recent project – he initiated the digitisation and preservation of Hawke’s Bay’s historical records by establishing the Hawke’s Bay Digital Archives Trust, followed by the Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank in 2012.
Mr Morgan said this was a “hugely important development” which would allow Hawke’s Bay’s history to be readily available to its residents.
He has also been involved in the early stages of many organisation’s and trusts which still benefit the community – he was also an initial Trustee of the Hawke’s Bay Community Foundation, was the foundation Director of Trust House Ltd, and spearheaded the formation of the Friends of the Pekapeka Society to fundraise for the restoration of the Pekapeka wetland.
“Creating something is a great deal of fun, it’s a great opportunity to work with others and to learn from others,” he said. “If you get involved in something you have a desire to ensure it succeeds. I’ve been fortunate in being a part of all of that.”
He was also the founding Chairman of the Flaxmere Licensing Trust from 1975 to 1990, which he said grew from a desire to help the community his family lived in.
It may have “started off with nothing”, but had since returned around $6 million to the Flaxmere community, mainly in the form of support for education. He was stumped when trying to pick the project he was most proud of.
“They’ve all had their great and glorious moments, when I look back on them I look back with a nice warm glow,” he said. “You always wish you had been able to do more, There’s still so much more out there to be done.”
Mr Morgan also served as director of the Hastings-Quilin Sister City Board and was National Administrator of the New Zealand Sister City Board from 2000 to 2002.
He is a Life Member of the Hastings Group Theatre and Napier Operatic Society and was a stage director for the Napier Operatic Society in the 1970s and 1980s. He introduced Napier Operatic workshops for young actors.
Mr Morgan organised the landscaping of a garden area for the Head Start Unit at Hawke’s Bay Hospital for the benefit of long term patients.
Photo caption – HONOUR: James Morgan has been recognised for his services to the community, which include being instrumental in the opening of the Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank (pictured). PHOTO/FILE
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