Rugby knight ‘chuffed’ at honour
He’s been called a few names during his rugby career and now “Sir Beegee” is being added to the mix.
The former All Black and previous coach of the Samoan national rugby team, Sir Bryan Williams, knighted and awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby in the New Year Honours list, was officially invested yesterday.
Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy kicked off the week of investiture ceremonies at the Government House in Auckland presenting nine honours to “some of New Zealand’s best”.
Williams was honoured for his long involvement in rugby in New Zealand and Samoa since the 1960s.
The 67-year-old was “chuffed” with the honour but admitted “Sir Bryan” felt a little awkward.
“Sir Beegee does have a nice ring to it,” he said. “I’m still Beegee to all my friends, along with Granddad and Dad and some less auspicious names from the family.”
His dedication to rugby included playing for the All Blacks 1970 to 1978, putting Samoa on the map for rugby in the 1990s, being appointed president of the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and overseeing the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Williams said he didn’t go into it looking for awards but he had a passion for the game and fortunately the game loved him back.
Looking back, he said the moment he was named an All Black was still the highlight. “From that day my life changed. I don’t think any day goes by when reference isn’t made to it.”
Hehad had plenty of successes but also many failures to learn from.
“It moulds you and you learn how to take the ups with the downs.”
Embracing his Samoan heritage has been highlighted as one of his biggest successes. Williams said he hoped the Samoan community would be as proud of him, as he is of them.
Gaining a global award for an outfit that cost $10 to make and speaking out about her struggles with depression makes Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet a fashion designer like no other.
The co-founder of World fashion label was invested as a dame and awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit at the ceremony.
The 57-year-old, dubbed “Dame Den” by her workmates, was recognised for her services to fashion and the community.
She said she was grateful for the award and hoped to inspire young people to do things in the community as well as their jobs.
“I think if everybody can do one thing in the community it would be a much better place to live in.”
L’Estrange-Corbet has worked closely with the Starship Foundation since 2005, designed fundraising T-shirts for the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation and bow ties for Muscular Dystrophy.
In 2015 World became the first label to be globally endorsed by the United Nations for its Global Goals project T-shirt designs.
Opening up about her own mental health battles, abusive parents and depression she’s lived with since the age of 5 has made her a magnet for Kiwis who have faced similar struggles. She said the Ministry of Health campaign launched in 1999 to reduce the stigma of mental illness was a special moment in her career.
Valeti Finau, originally from Tonga, was another name making the Pacific community proud. Finau was presented a New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the education and Pacific community.
She founded and directed Laulotaha, a mentoring programme helping Pacific Island students achieve success in education.
Finau also helped to found Whitireia Polytechnic, tutoring the foundation nursing programme and serving as liaison officer.