City honoured with three Dames
An important year for women’s suffrage has had a significant ending, as Felix Desmarais reports.
Three Wellingtonian women have been named Dames on the last day of the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage. Former mayor Kerry Prendergast, film-maker Gaylene Preston and former Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan all became Dame Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year honours list.
It was the first time in at least 10 years that three Dames had been appointed in the same region in the New Year list.
Prendergast said it was particularly special to receive the honour in such a significant year for Kiwi women.
‘‘What a wonderful year. I’m really proud and honoured.’’
Preston and Prendergast met on Wellington’s Oriental Parade last week to share in their thensecret joy at becoming Dames.
Both had chosen to wear jewellery pieces that gave homage to women who had come before them – Preston with one of her mother’s rings and another from her Aunt Ida, and Prendergast with special earrings in honour of Suffrage 125 – celebrating women winning the right to vote.
Preston, awarded the honour for services to film, most recently made the documentary film My Year With Helen (2017), following former prime minister Helen Clark on her bid to become secretary general of the United Nations.
She described the honour as ‘‘thrilling, humbling, funny and serious – all of those things together’’.
Her award-winning work had screened extensively at international festivals.
Appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002, Preston also wrote, produced and directed the 2010 film Home By Christmas.
In 2014, she wrote, directed and produced Hope And Wire –a documentary about the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes.
She was also a category winner in the 2018 Wellingtonian Of The Year awards.
Preston felt her appointment represented an acknowledgement of the wider film community, particularly those that told ‘‘New Zealand stories’’.
‘‘For me, I feel like it’s amazing, because I don’t think film-makers like me, artists like me, the home crowd, get acknowledged enough,’’ she said. ‘‘So I’m happy to take one for the team.’’
Prendergast, who was appointed for services to governance and the community, said she had ‘‘cried a bit’’ when she read the letter from the governor-general advising of her appointment.
She was a ‘‘workaholic’’ and hoped the honour would make up for some time lost with family.
‘‘I hope in some small way it will be payback for the many times I wasn’t there when they needed me.’’ Prendergast, who was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2011, was mayor of Wellington from 2001 to 2010. She has made other contributions to governance boards across many parts of society, from tourism, arts, sport, business and health. She is the chairwoman of the New Zealand Film Commission and the New Zealand Conservation Authority. Crossan had been on holiday at Waihi Beach so was not able to meet on the waterfront with her fellow new Dames.
The former retirement commissioner, whose honour was for services to the State, said she was most proud of her work enabling equal employment opportunities and promoting awareness about saving for retirement. Crossan was the first manager of the Equal Employment Opportunities Unit at the State Services Commission.
Her appointment was ‘‘completely out of the blue’’ and she wished it could be a group prize. ‘‘It bowled me over. There have been people all throughout my career who have supported me.’’