Dannevirke stalwart recognised
A Tararua man devoted to sport and business in his community has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours.
Dannevirke man Suresh Patel has been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to community and sport, having been involved in both for years.
Patel said he was surprised at the recognition and it took until the last day before he accepted it after wife Nayna convinced him.
‘‘She said it’s a prestigious award and you should accept it.’’
Owner of fruit and vegetable shop Shires, Patel has been involved with Dannevirke’s chamber of commerce for about 18 years, having had two stints as chairman, and he said it had been a big part of his life.
Patel said a year ago there were 18 empty shops in town, but in the past eight months 15 of them had filled.
He is also chairman of the Christmas parade committee and a busy justice of the peace.
In sport, Patel has been heavily involved in Central Dis
tricts Indian Sports Club, Dannevirke club sport and with Southern Hawke’s Bay, when it was its own sub union for rugby and sub association for cricket.
He was president of the CD Indian Sports Club from 1996 to 2010 and now his son Sanjay is president.
Patel has been a delegate and selector for the New Zealand Indian Sports Association and
has organised tournaments. He is an honoured member of the national association and a CD life member. He played cricket, football, rugby and hockey. He also coached hockey and refereed rugby in Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu¯ until 2002.
He got into club cricket administration, became chairman of Dannevirke Cricket Association from 2002 to 2010 and had a short stint as chairman of Southern Hawke’s Bay. Dannevirke had multiple cricket and rugby clubs in those days.