National prize for council IT “Ms Fix-It”
Violet Christison from Dannevirke has won the top prize at the Association of Local Government Information Management Awards recently, working for the Tararua District Council.
“Anything less than 100 per cent is not good enough” says Violet.
Pursuit of perfection over 30 years in the Information and Records Management and GIS division of the Tararua District Council had its rewards in Wellington at the ALGIM awards on May 16 when she was awarded the top prize for 2018.
She began her career after leaving school in her home town of Wairoa, initially on the borough front desk. She moved to IT and developed a good knowledge of software management.
After 14 years there dealing with advanced technology she moved to Dannevirke in 1988 and a job as electronic data processing supervisor for the Tararua District Council.
Over the last 30 years her job has had many title changes but currently she has varied roles working mostly in computer support, helping out when software and technical issues crop up. She also prepares new software, gets it ready for testing and use, puts information on the council website, and purchases and helps assign mobile phones and IT projects. Violet isinvolved during most discussion meetings at the outset of any council project.
One of Violet’s achievements recently was to project manage setting up of the Woodville I-Site.
Violet and husband Phil Christison have two children and six grandchildren all living in Dannevirke. She loves her job and gaining this award has thrilled her.
She works in a highly advanced IT department with six colleagues, calling herself modestly a “fix it” and “go-fer” but her colleagues said in their nomination Violet is one of the most successful tools in the Record Manager’s toolbox.
They summed up her importance saying:
“Often we hear about Councils where IT and Records are separated by a great divide of communication and approach.
“Here at TDC Violet is that allimportant bridge — she is the merge between the two disciplines and as a result our council’s approach to IRM (Information and Records Management) is strong and growing stronger with each new project.”
Anything less than 100 per cent is not enough’ good
VIOLET CHRISTISON