Southland salutes local heroes
Everyday Southlanders doing exceptional things have been celebrated at the annual Kiwibank Local Hero Awards.
As part of the 2019 New Zealander of the Year Awards, eight Southlanders were presented with specially made medals to officially recognise their achievements at a ceremony held at Civic Theatre last night.
Southland Mayor Gary Tong attended the ceremony to present the medals.
‘‘Our region’s eight local heroes demonstrate the acts of charity, commitment and selflessness which is what holds a community together. ‘‘Many of these individuals are inspiring members of our community who have all uniquely touched the lives of others,’’ Tong said.
The Kiwibank Local Heroes for Southland were: Eric [Tracker] Black, of Bluff, Stephen Connor, Leon Hartnett, Sandy Borland, Bernadette Pope and Caley Hall, all of Invercargill, Jim Geddes and Caroline Dore, both of Gore.
This year, 322 medals will be presented nationwide with one New Zealand Local Hero of the Year winner announced at the New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala in February next year.
About the Southland finalists:
Eric Black
Black is a member of the Bluff Hill Motupohue Environment Trust. For the past 47 years, he has ensured the local beaches are kept clean by regularly picking up rubbish and lost fishing gear. Stephen O’Connor O’Connor works with a wide range of organisations making Southland a better place to live. His 25-year involvement with the Invercargill Rotary Club has seen him at the forefront of many communitydriven initiatives.
Jim Geddes
Currently governor of the Gore’s Arts Foundation, Geddes’ long career in arts and culture began when he founded the Eastern Southland Gallery in 1984. He established the Hokonui Heritage Centre, which includes the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, the Croydon Aviation Museum, East Gore Arts Centre and the Gore Historical Museum.
Caroline Dore
Dore, known as the ‘‘Nattering Knitter’’, is the founder of Hug Rugs – a charity supporting new refugees in Otago and Southland with donated knitted rugs and blankets.
Leon Hartnett
Hartnett has helped organising many charity events in Invercargill, including Free Comic Book Day – an event run by the Invercargill Rotary Club to provide 1000 comic books to the library and children.
Sandy Borland
Borland is a nurse working with the Pacific Island Nursing Service as well as running the Cantre Street Dairy. Borland often responds to after-hours phone calls voluntarily.
Bernadette Pope
Pope is manager at Cornerstone Care, the South Island’s largest childcare centre. Pope often cares for more than 150 children a day, with a focus on building strong family bonds between children and parents.
Caley Hall
Hall is an Invercargill artist who donates many of his paintings to charity, including Cure Kids. Last year, he donated a $6000 piece to the Invercargill Grief and Loss Centre, which was raffled with all proceeds going to the organisation.