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Community Service Awards
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Joanne Rae
Joanne has contributed significantly to the Millers Flat community across several decades, upholding the ideals of the rural/business woman and serving a huge range of causes with seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm.
Currently, Joanne’s primary commitment is to St John where she has demonstrated extraordinary loyalty as an ambulance driver for seven years and the volunteer team manager for four years, devoting long hours to a variety of tasks.
Joanne tirelessly supported many organisations, while raising three children (now grown), supporting her husband John’s career and fire brigade commitments and engaging in her own career, working up to the position of branch manager at the BNZ.
Over the years Joanne has helped to successfully fundraise for the refurbishment of the baths, served on the Millers Flat School Board of Trustees for nine years (from 1989), always honoured commitments to Millers Flat Rural Women and been the driving force behind the town’s weekly bulletin, Molyneux Mail.
Joanne is a ‘superwoman’ who always willingly gives up her personal time to contribute to the community whether it be for a cake stall, a funeral tea, working through an organisation’s funding problem or attending an ambulance callout on a frosty evening.
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Linda Armstrong
Linda is a highly motivated, inspirational, considerate person who exercises initiative and leadership in vital roles in many organisations in the Becks/Omakau area and she has done so for many years.
Arriving 27 years ago as the young bride of a farmer, Linda worked alongside her husband, raised their children and became immersed in the community. A stalwart of the Union Church, she holds several offices and has been described as ‘the best import ever’ to come from Australia.
Linda joins organisations for the long haul and some of those that have benefited from her calm nature, can-do attitude and incredible organisational skills are: Becks Plunket, playgroup, school board of trustees, hall committee, Bulletin, Dunstan PTA, Buddy Programme, St Bathan’s Ghost to Ghost Triathlon, plus schools and the Omakau Operatic Society with her costume making. Individually, many have remarked on the significance of her contribution.
Despite the decline of Linda’s eyesight over the past six years to the point where she has difficulty reading and can no longer drive, she continues to be committed to community causes. She employs strategies to ensure her participation isn’t compromised and has, in fact, increased her volunteer workload during this time.
Linda is ‘a ball of dynamite’ who serves her community with infectious enthusiasm, tremendous skill and ability, and absolute commitment.
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Stewart McKnight
Stewart is an outstanding contributor to the Central Otago community, particularly in regard to sport. He demonstrates integrity and a deep and enduring commitment to the causes he supports and has done so for many decades.
Stewart is the only person to hold life membership for both the Otago Rugby Union and the Otago Cricket Association and has been president of both. He is also a life member of the Otago Country Rugby Referees Association, the Blackstone Hill Curling Club and the New Zealand Curling Association.
Stewart’s curling record is long and impressive. He has held numerous high office positions locally and nationally. He has toured overseas in the New Zealand team and he has coached the national men’s team. As secretary of the Idaburn Curling Council since 1983, he organises the traditional two-day Bonspiel at Oturehua. He is also vice chairman of Maniototo Curling International Inc.
In Cricket, Stewart has been president of the former Oturehua club twice and is now the leading force in the preparation of the wicket at Oturehua Domain. He has served on numerous school and community committees over the years and is an active and high ranking member of the Freemasons.
Stewart has devoted hours of time and service to the community for more than 50 years, giving back to sport, in particular, ‘10 fold’ whatever he may have gained.
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Ruth Reid
Ruth is an accomplished musician and singer, and qualified teacher who has taught singing and piano in Central Otago for 36 years. She inspires her students to be the best they can be and she gives selflessly in many ways, ensuring they are able to make the most of opportunities.
Ruth’s musical career has bought her many accolades. Highlights include mezzo soprano roles in Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, and choir performances under the baton of eminent British choral conductor, Sir David Willcocks. She has been musical director, accompanist, and played lots of leading roles for the Alexandra Musical Society.
Ruth teaches many young people and some mature students with ‘a lavish dose of passion, and a huge helping of fun’. Her exacting standards have resulted in a disproportionate number of her students achieving success. So far, seven of them have been accepted into the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Choir and four of those were selected for the New Zealand Youth Choir. Ruth takes it upon herself to organise and run events, raising thousands of dollars, so that these students can partake.
Every year Ruth donates a great deal of time and absorbs the cost of travelling to students’ competition festivals, which are usually held over weekends.
Through Ruth’s talent, dedication and generosity she has contributed to and opened up the world of music to many people in the community. |
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Hazel Harrison
Hazel has shown outstanding leadership qualities and immense enthusiasm for the Maniototo and Naseby, in particular. Her giving and undemanding nature, coupled with her commitment to making a difference makes her the ‘quintessential volunteer’.
For 16 years Hazel has been instrumental as secretary of the Maniototo Ice Rink working tirelessly to turn around its fortunes and to take it forward, resulting in the advent of the Maniototo Curling International and New Zealand Luge. She has also organised the rink’s annual Highland ball since its inception 14 years ago.
Hazel’s other community involvements include secretary to the Naseby Town Hall Committee and the Naseby Information and Crafts Centre, committee member of the Maniototo Early Settlers Association, assisting with the Bulletin for Maniototo Lions Club and work with the now defunct Naseby Progress League.
A former nurse and enthusiastic craftswoman, Hazel has also produced two published works at her own expense, one on Naseby’s history and another that grew out of it, Sudden Death and Murder on the Mt Ida Goldfield about significant tragedies on the goldfield.
Renown for her ‘unique laugh’ and invariable response of, “not a bother” to expressions of gratitude, Hazel has worked determinedly in her community, applying her wisdom and skills to great effect and with humility. |
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