Newspaper Article 2017 – Volunteers ‘worth their weight in gold’

Volunteers ‘worth their weight in gold’

The devotion, time and energy of several Hastings volunteers has been recognised at a Civic Honours Awards ceremony in the Hastings District Council Chambers.

At an official ceremony last week for the annual awards, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule commended the recipients for their selfless efforts.

“The work of volunteers makes a clear and demonstrable difference in our district. As we thank them for their contributions, we also thank those people who have nominated them for these awards,

“Typically, our hardest working volunteers are also very humble.

“It is not easy to get them to put their hands up for recognition.

Mr Yule said the awards recognised four individuals and one group who worked in health, education, youth and culture and told the audience they were “worth their weight in gold”.

“They have given their time and talents without compensation, and I, on behalf of all our residents, acknowledge their contributions to our community.”

A group award was presented to the DIY Coffin Club for their compassion and family support; the charitable organisation meets once a week to build coffins for themselves and others.

Throughout the past three years they had made tiny coffins for the Ata Rangi Maternity Unit to offer to grieving parents who have lost a newborn baby.

Dr David Barry was presented with an award for his leadership in children’s respiratory health and his ongoing commitment to improving the general well-being of children and families in Hawke’s Bay.

Following his retirement as a paediatrician, Dr Barry had continued to support the community as the chairman and trustee of the Scott Fund, serving on the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and as a trustee of the Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank.

Colleen Marshall also received an award for her faithful and invaluable voluntary service to the Heretaunga Seniors’ Community Centre throughout the past 13 years; helping in whatever capacity needed as well as fulfilling the formal committee roles of secretary and treasurer.

Ms Marshall was also a volunteer with the Hastings Red Cross, delivering Meals on Wheels and assisting with this organisation’s annual street appeal.

Pam O’Keefe was also presented with an award for her work with families as an administrator at Te Aranga Marae, a member of the Kai Collective Food Bank and a vital part of the Flaxmere Boxing Academy.

Considered by many Flaxmere residents as the “Mother of Flaxmere”, Pam’s incredibly caring and empathetic nature enabled her, with her husband Henare, to foster more than 200 children over 30 years and help reintegrate prison inmates back into the community.

Susan Melville was given an award for her devotion to developing and enriching the lives of children through music.

In her roles as conductor of the Hawke’s Bay Youth Orchestra, volunteer for the bi-annual Festival of Youth Orchestras, faculty member of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC) Handa New Zealand Singing School and loyal supporter of the Havelock North High School choirs she has spread her love of classical music to hundreds of young people.

After the formal presentations to the volunteers by the mayor and the chief executive Ross McLeod guests were treated to a musical performance by three of Susan Melville’s students: Nesta Lade and Miru Shimaoka on violin and Christopher Eldridge on piano.

The awards evening also included a keynote address by Anna Pierard, creative director of Festival Opera and the creator of Project Prima Volta; a mentoring programme for young people.

During the evening Ms Pierard emphasised that the success of the opera productions could be largely attributed to the hard work and dedication of volunteers.

Photo caption – HONOURED: Top row from left are Helen Bromley, Phil Thompson, Roger Terry, and John Jones; bottom Row from left are Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule, Colleen Marshall, Kay Flett, Susan Melville, Pam O’Keefe, Brian Thrussell, Dr David Barry, and Hastings District Council chief executive Ross McLeod.
PHOTO/SUPPLIED