Community’s heroes recognised
Horowhenua District Council presents 2020’s civic honours and youth scholarships
Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden and his wife Sharon presented certficates and awards at the annual Civic Honours and Youth Scholarship Awards evening at Te Taker on Tuesday night, hosted by Horowhenua District Council.
Civic honours were presented to people in the community nominated for outstanding community service. There were seven recipients of Certificate of Recognition and four Civic Honour Awards, along with 12 Youth Excellence Scholarship recognising excellence from students from Horowhenua, Waiopehu and Manawatu¯ colleges.
Below are the citation notes read out by Wanden. There was also a special civic honour recognising the late Darryl Small, which was accepted on his behalf by his wife Glennis and daughter Kim.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
Dean Thomas has been an integral part of the Levin College Old Boys Club for decades, serving as a coach, manager, committee member and club statistician.
He has managed the premier team for 27 years, and team coaches describe him as a ‘club warrior who is the first to arrive and the last to leave’.
Dean also looks after the club’s statistics and keeps track of player game counts so the club can acknowledge player milestones such as blazer games, 50 game badges and centurions. This is vitally important for the club’s history, and Levin College Old Boys has grown into a proud family club with lots of players earning their blazers and 50 game badges, and even the right to call themselves club centurions. This is very special accolade for those players that wouldn’t have been possible without Dean personally taking on the statistician role.
Dean has been a life member of the club for over a decade, as well as being awarded ‘Best Non-Playing Club Member’ at this year’s club prizegiving.
He was also acknowledged as a Grassroots Hero during the Covid-19 lockdown for his outstanding dedication to the club.
Peter Dyer has been a valued member of the Levin Citizens Advice Bureau for many years, and has filled executive roles within the Bureau for most of that time.
He is the Levin bureau’s longest serving president, and continued to serve as a valuable member of the board after stepping down from his role as president when he had reached the maximum allowable term of office.
Peter also plays a vital role as the bureau’s training and induction officer, where his years of experience are put to great use.
Furthermore, Peter is very active in Grey Power and Age Concern, where once again his life experience is used to maximum effect. He is much respected and admired for the boundless enthusiasm and energy he devotes to these organisations.
Peter has worked diligently for the benefit of the people of Horowhenua for many years, and is familiar to many as a passionate and hardworking advocate for older people.
While Peter has never sought recognition for his outstanding voluntary contribution, it would be difficult to think of anyone more deserving of acknowledgement.
Garry Good has
served as a teacher, principal, and university advisor for almost 50 years. During this time, he has actively improved the educational environment, and has mentored many others in the delivery of excellence in education.
Garry served as a councillor for Horowhenua District Council from 2004 to 2016, holding the positon of deputy mayor twice. He sat on many external and internal committees, including the Hearings Committee, Grants Committee, Horowhenua
Library Trust,
Creative NZ and Community Wellbeing Executive. His diplomatic, honest and frank approach won the respect of all who worked with him.
Garry volunteers countless hours serving trusts, charities and organisations that benefit our community, in particular using his expertise from the education sector to improve learner outcomes.
He became a member of the HLC board in 2005, and has served as board chairman since 2008. He was instrumental in establishing HLC at its purpose built learning facility in Liverpool St, where students are thriving.
From 2008 to 2016, Garry served on the board of the Life Education Trust, and from 2010 to 2019 he was a member of Education Horowhenua, a forum established to oversee and co-ordinate implementation of the Horowhenua Education Strategy. He was a key driver of initiatives such as He Whare Manaaki, the teen parenting unit at Waiopehu College, the establishment of Life to the Max youth co-ordinator positions, the Pacific Learners initiative and House of Science, to name a few.
Garry’s expertise in the education sector and governance experience was called upon again in 2016, becoming first a board member and then deputy chairman of the Horowhenua College Board of Trustees, where he has been instrumental in building and facility upgrades at the college.
Garry received a civic honour for Community Affairs and Services to Education.
Therase Apatu
possesses a deep social conscience and a passion for helping those facing hardship and deprivation.
While serving on the Horowhenua Strengthening
Families Local Management Group and as social worker in 2014, Therase recognised some children were missing out on the joy of getting a Christmas present through no fault of their own.
She led a team of volunteers determined to provide gifts to children who would otherwise miss out. This project evolved into ‘Fill a Shoebox’. Gifts for children of all ages are gathered and matched to young people nominated by community services and groups.
The initiative grew rapidly, from meeting its target of delivering gift parcels to 200 children in its first year to delivering 1600 parcels in 2019, a mammoth effort which has brightened the lives of thousands of Horowhenua children.
Therase’s determination, enthusiasm and organisational skills drove this project to the success it is today. She mobilised community groups, gathered business support, and received donations from schools, workplaces and individuals, as well as arranging an army of volunteers to ensure the precious parcels were delivered.
Therase has also served for many years as a volunteer, committee member and chairwoman for the annual Children’s Day event at Levin Adventure Park. Every year, hundreds of families benefit from this free day of fun activities to celebrate our children and young people.
Her volunteer service doesn’t end there. In 2018, Therase saw another need in the community and launched Bare Essentials to distribute hygiene products to women experiencing financial hardship.
SPECIAL CIVIC HONOUR
A special civic honour was presented to Darryl Small before the ceremony in the days before his passing following a battle with cancer. At the ceremony, Darryl’s wife Glennis Small and daughter Kim were invited to the stage in public acknowledgement of Darryl’s contribution to the community.
Darryl Small was known as an active community man, who would simply always be there to support and assist in keeping organisations and groups on an even keel both financially and governing wise.
Over many years, Darryl volunteered his time willingly for various organisations and trusts, and as a chartered accountant, he would often be asked to take on the treasurer role — not always the most sought-after role, but he would do it willingly and competently.
Darryl joined the Levin Little Theatre in 1991, and in his early time with the theatre was an avid participant both onstage and back stage. He immediately joined the committee and became the treasurer in 1995, and was still doing that role until he passed away. As with many of Darryl’s contributions to this community, it was never done to seek the limelight but to support and ensure they survived financially and operated in a business-like manner.
Those of us who have been in this town a while will know what a huge community project the establishment of the Donnelly Park Hockey Turf was. Darryl was a foundation development member for that project and has been a trustee of the Horowhenua Sports Turf Trust since its inception in 2000.
Another trust which benefited from Darryl’s generosity of time was the Kids In Sports Trust, for which Darryl was on the board for the last three years, Darryl had also been on the Fairfield School Board of Trustee for six years, and took on the role of treasurer.
In addition, Darryl had been involved in setting up the Heritage Horowhenua Charitable Trust for the last three years and once the trust was formed in February this year, he became a trustee.
Arguably, one of Darryl’s most passionate roles he took on was with the Levin Cosmopolitan Club which he joined as a member in 1993. Not being one to stand back, in 1997 he accepted a nomination to join the club’s executive and in 2011 he took this up a notch by taking on the role of president, which he held for six years until 2017. Darryl was made a life member of the club in 2018.
Darryl’s contribution to this community has been immense over many years and it was extremely fitting and apt that we could recognise that before his passing. His contribution will not be forgotten.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
Tony and Yvonne Green are being recognised this evening for Services to the Community and Religious Affairs.
Both Tony and Yvonne have been volunteers at the Levin Baptist Adult Day Club for more than 50 years. They are described as the epitome of kindness, decency and selflessness. They are tireless volunteers with wonderful attitudes, who are always ready to lend a helping hand.
Tony is a member of the team that sets up Adult Day Care, including preparing the hall for bowls, games and the day’s activities. Once set up is complete, Tony begins his regular rounds to pick up attendees. While this is happening, Yvonne is busy in the kitchen, being the games coordinator, or organising the next activity.
She wears many hats at the centre and is known as the ‘go-to’ person for absolutely anything and everything.
Tony and Yvonne who also provide mentoring for the young and not-so-young who are in need of support, advice and understanding without judgment.
They are a perfect team. Those who have benefited from their dedication to others describe them as ‘a pleasure to know’ and an example of integrity, reliability and trustworthiness that can inspire us all.
Chris and Gerry Bennett epitomise the people in the community we should all aspire to be. They give without wanting reward; they appreciate that all people are different and treat everyone with compassion and dignity; they are sensitive towards all cultures; they always greet others with a warm smile; and they have a sense of humour that brightens everyone’s day.
Chris and Gerry have been volunteers for the Horowhenua Health Shuttle since 2008.
They are a dynamic duo and stand out for their unwavering commitment to this invaluable service. With Gerry at the wheel and Chris as his support crew, they are