2012 Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients 

for Auckland

Medal Presentation PHOTOGRAPHS click here

Marie Jujnovich of Auckland

Marie affectionately known as “Nana Marie” is an icon at Starship Hospital in Auckland, giving her time for free to work with children who have heart conditions. Marie became involved with @Heart, a charity supporting families affected by heart defects, 21 years ago when her Grandson Nick was born with a complex heart condition. She has been supporting families at the hospital ever since and has become “Nana” to thousands of New Zealand Heart Children. She arrives at the crack of dawn everyday and even spends Christmas day handing out presents to the families. Marie is referred to as an “angel” by the parents of the extremely sick children. In the words of her nominator “She gives us hugs, holds our hands, lets us cry, listens to us and shares her stories...she brings warmth and friendship to the ward”.

Mark Little of Howick, Auckland

Motivated by his four year old daughter being diagnosed with Cancer, Mark set up the Purple Heart Foundation in order to raise money for children with cancer. The foundation is aptly named as the Purple Heart bead is the last bead given as part of the Beads of Courage program when children have finished their treatment for cancer. Through his foundation Mark has raised money and encouraged others to raise money for Camp Quality, an organisation that runs camps for cancer patients in order to provide some fun, hope and happiness into their lives. Mark’s fundraising initiatives include running a 100km race, organising trivia nights, golf days and raffles.

Philippa Pitcher of Parnell, Auckland

As General Manager of the Parnell Community Trust, Phillippa is the driving force behind the many community events and services that the Trust provides. This includes the Parnell Community Centre, a weekly farmers’ market, heritage walks, community classes, several early childhood centres and a number of out-of-school care programmes for school-aged children. Primarily interacting with people in the Parnell, Newmarket, Grafton and Auckland city communities the trust has a strong focus on community wellbeing and connectedness, with a particular motivation for providing services and activities which enable people to live richer and fuller lives. Phillippa’s energy, good humour and commitment provides an invaluable asset to the Parnell Trust and without her the amazing work and outcomes of the Trust could never be achieved. These include activities which remove barriers to isolation and others which celebrate their community and services which assist families to thrive and also for people of all ages to enjoy lifelong education.

Javeed Ali of Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

Javeed is a 21 year old entrepreneur, student, rugby referee, premier reserve cricketer and youth grade cricket coach. Javeed began coaching for his brother’s rugby team in 2004 which led him to get involved with referring, progressing to be a well respected rugby referee in senior levels. He has also coached the Birkenhead City Cricket Club’s U18 premier team and led them to ranking second in 2010/11 season. In addition to this, Javeed is a talented on the field player, being a member of the Premier Reserve team and progressing to cement his position in the starting XI. Off the field Javeed is a successful businessman. Launching his own business as a teenager in 2009, Best Promotions through which he has created the brand Cyclona Sportswear. With little experience in the business world, Javeed has excelled in his industry, supplying sportswear to many large schools and clubs within the Auckland region.

Bob Wakefield of Glen Innes, Auckland

Bob Wakefield has been an advocate and developer in the community for 34 years. His roles in local organisations, business, church and economic development programmes have given him the insight and abilities to foster and enable growth within the Tamaki area. Bob is the manager of Sharat Trust a non profit organisation currently working in the Tamaki area. Sharat’s goals are to see the area improve primarily through direct employment and fostering employment opportunities. The goal is to see 500 job placements in 5 years based out of the Glen Innes/ Panmure / Mt Wellington areas. Bob and his trust have so far developed several businesses in order to offer employment, including a cafe, gardening business, baking and catering company and an accounting, administration and marketing business. Bob leadership, dedication and passion are dramatically transforming the lives of his community.

James O’Malley of Waiheke Island

James has struggled with learning difficulties his whole life and it was not until he was 40 years old that he plucked up the courage to attend literacy classes. Armed with his new found skills James is now dedicated to helping others in the community. He has joined the Waiheke Island Volunteer Fire Brigade, joined the local Sea Scouts as a parent leader, has been on the Tertiary Education committee as a student representative, completed many fire brigade courses and has even passed his Tutor certificate. James has coached his son’s rugby team for six years and was once the captain adding to his responsibilities. He gives his time freely to all these causes and expects nothing in return. James is a role model in his community of how with determination and commitment you can overcome great challenges and go on to achieve amazing things.

Malcolm Law of Auckland

Malcolm is using his passion for trail running to raise funds for some wonderful causes as well as encourage others to put their passions to good use. Malcolm raised over $250,000 for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation when he ran 7 of NZ’s great walks in 7 days! His next challenge is set for June 2012 where he plans to run the 1014km South West Coast Path in England in just 2 weeks. This time he is raising money and awareness for the Mental Health Foundation. Malcolm recently set up ‘Running Wild’, an organisation that encourages runners of all levels to explore and share our beautiful trails in a selfless way. Malcolm’s aim is to inspire people to use their pastimes as a way of helping others, based around the idea of a Challenge, encouraging people to push their limits and make those limits so inspiring that they can fundraise in the process. One initiative he has developed is ‘Challenge for a Cure’, five overseas challenge adventures, from trekking in the Andes through to running through Australia’s deserts, where participants must dedicate themselves to fundraise a certain target amount in order to join the trip.

Stephen Fletcher of Glendene, Auckland

Stephen has been an active volunteer involved with Street Football Aotearoa, a charitable trust that aims to help homeless and marginalised people get involved in sport and to make positive changes in their lives, since its inception in 2008. Stephen has attended training week in week out, committing his time and energy to coach participants and fitting this around his already busy life and full time job. He has been a consistent and positive presence, actively engaging participants. He brings a non judgemental and welcoming approaching that makes all feel included and valued. Stephen has coached over 200 homeless people through the project and was the coach of the New Zealand soccer team that participated in the 2010 Homeless World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Stephen’s involvement and massive contribution has been crucial to the countless positive life changes that the players have made as a result of their participation.

Kangarasa Sivaraj of Avondale, Auckland

Since migrating to New Zealand in 2000 Siva has dedicated himself to his new community. He has been a volunteer for the Sri Satya Sai Service Organisation for 11 years and has raised money for Diabities Auckland, volunteered as a St John Caring caller and been involved with the Lions Club of Point Chevalier, all for 10 years. He is committed to helping those who visit him when volunteering at the Citizens Advice bureau and is also an active member of both the Onehunga and Shakthi Senior groups. Siva has taken a keen interest in creating awareness among the migrant community about Maori culture, Treaty of Waitangi, the environment and participating in ANZAC day celebrations. Siva’s dedication, commitment and enthusiastic participation in all these organisations has inspired and motivated many to take up volunteering irrespective of age and to take on leadership roles themselves.

George Arulanantham of Hillsborough, Auckland

George has been President of the New Zealand Tamil Society and worked to help Tamil refugees and migrants settle into New Zealand. He helped to establish a school in Auckland for Tamil children. After his term as President of the New Zealand Tamil Society ended he worked to establish an umbrella organisation, the Consortium of Tamil Associations of New Zealand. He has kept the links with Sri Lanka and organised for Tamil Members of Parliament to meet with New Zealand Members of Parliament to discuss human rights issues in Sri Lanka. In 2003 he formed a ‘Poonga’, or Tamil Community Education Centre, and continues to be a board member. Mr Arulanantham is an executive member of the Refugee Council and liaises with the department of labour, Immigration Service. He is a board member of the Ethnic Voice New Zealand and ran seminars on multi integration aimed to help various ethnic communities to interact and help each other integrate into New Zealand. George was awarded the ‘Queen Service Medal’ in the New Year Honours 2012 list for the service to the Tamil community. He is also an active Justice of the Peace.

Pat Buckley of Auckland

Pat Buckley is the Founder and Managing Director of the Amped4Life Trust formed in 2002. Amped4Life is a non-profit organisation that was formed to help bring insight and understanding to teenagers about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of making good choices. Pat is passionate about his subject content and speaks from the heart and a lifetime of experience. He addresses thousands of young people across New Zealand, challenging them to reflect on their own choices and implement change where it is needed. He brings credible and powerful examples of the full implications of bad decisions and desires to empower the individual to take ownership for their choices and mistakes, to learn from them and to grow through them. Pat imparts critical life skills and tools to help them on their journey and transition from childhood to adulthood. Pat is a dynamic and powerful speaker with an authentic message which drives home the reality -”your life can change with one bad choice”.

Don Mackenzie of Waiheke Island

Since losing his sight at the age of five, Don has dedicated his life to helping those in need despite being unable to do many of the things we take for granted. Don has given his time and commitment to countless organisations, having served for more than 15 organisations in the physiotherapy, blind and disabled sectors throughout his lifetime. Don worked as a physiotherapist, owning his own practice for 40 years and even now at the tender age of 71 he is still helping the locals of Waiheke Island by treating their different aches and pains. He has helped others with vision impairments through serving on the board of the Royal Foundation of the Blind for 28 years and being the Chair for 18 of those. He is currently the Chair of the Vision 2020 Trust which is committed to the prevention of blindness and vision loss in New Zealand.

Donna Scott of Onehunga, Auckland

Seeing through the eyes of her dog is a way of life for Donna Scott, but it doesn’t stop her living life to the fullest and giving back to the community. Donna was born blind and had surgery to give her limited vision at the age of 16. She is completely tireless and selfless in giving her time and energy to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Working with children with intellectual, physical, sensory and behavioural disabilities at Sunnydale School is a prime example of her devotion to helping others. She also provides respite home support for families with intellectually disabled children, helps out at school holiday programmes and collects for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. Donna is a humble and strong advocate for the well being of children with disabilities, often speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves.