2012 Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients
Waikato
Medal Presentation PHOTOGRAPHS click here
Angela and Bill Thompson-Hill of Thames
Angela and Bill own the Corogate Cafe which is on State Highway 25 towards Thames and the Coromandel. Using their cafe as a base for events and fundraising activities Angela and Bill have worked tirelessly for their community over the past 10 years.
They have raised in excess of $25,000 for community needs, families with sick children, victims of fire disasters, local fire services, cancer and heart foundations and for overseas and local disasters. They are involved with the Local life education Trust and through various promotions have raised several thousand dollars for them alone – one event in particular “Dye for Life” involved Bill dying his hair yellow and green and Angela dying hers red, white and blue. These took two years to grow out!
Recent initiatives involve raising over $2000 for the Christchurch Quake appeal and over $1500 for the Pike River Miners. Annual events include collecting and distributing present each Christmas and Easter to the residents of local rest homes. The large thank you board at Corogate Cafe is just a small token representing how appreciated Angela and Bill are in their community .
Bob Anderson of Hamilton
Bob has dedicated more than 30 years to voluntary work for the benefit of Waikato youth and the general Waikato community. He is a founding member and President of the Young Workers’ Resource Centre which aims to empower youth in the workplace so they can gain skills and knowledge in order to contribute to their capability to develop and maintain positive workplace experiences. Bob is a dedicated and supportive president. His experience and passion for helping young people is evident when he speaks of the history, both struggles and successes, of the centre.
Bob also sits as president of the Workers Institute for Scientific and Socialist Education which he has been involved with for 25 years. The institute was established to teach the theory and principles of scientific socialism to both the working class and members of the Union movement. In addition to this he sits on the board of the Aotearoa Credit Union and has had a long-term involvement with Cubs and Scouts.
Jenn Hooper of Hamilton
Jenn co- founded AIM (Action to Improve Maternity), a nationwide maternity consumer advocacy network of approximately 500 New Zealand families and their supporters. These mothers and babies have experienced avoidable injuries from inadequate maternity care and some 50 of their family stories appear on the informative website www.aim.org.nz. Jenn has been tireless in her work for this charitable trust and in all the many related activities since its inception in early 2009. The achievements of Jenn in her voluntary work in this sector are innumerable and unfortunately there is just not the space here to detail them all.
Lois Ryan of Hamilton
At 80 years old Lois has spent most of her adult life in the service of her community. Lois has served as a voluntary driver for the Presbyterian Support service as well as being involved with their Meals on Wheels programme. Lois was involved with the Riverlea Theatre Group for many years, assisting with the making of costumes and backstage productions. The order of St John have benefited from her community spirit as well as many elderly people who she regular drives to do their shopping trips and other outings. Lois joined Friends at Court in 2001 and has performed twice monthly court duties ever since and has also acted as secretary/treasurer for the group.
Lynley Schollum of Hamilton
Within a few days of the Christchurch earthquake Lynley, a Hamilton based dressage rider and riding instructor, decided she wanted to “do something” for the Christchurch community. She went on to organise an online auction and gained support via a large number of product donations. All the products sold and were distributed by Lynley. In addition to this Lynley organised a two day ribbon day which included a dressage competition, mini cross country event, novelty events, show jumping and six ribbon day rings. Lynley found judges who donated their time, sought recycled ribbons and approached local businesses to donate over $1000 of spot prizes. To add to the fundraising she also organised a cake stall, sausage sizzle and a raffle. The ribbon day was a great success, being the best attended event at the Waikato Equestrian Centre in recent years. In total $17,00, all made possible due to Lynley’s commitment, drive, determination and willingness to give up an enormous amount of time for those in need.
Shelley Moriarty of Te Awamutu
Shelley has been the driving force behind the Special Olympics Te Awamutu Club which has been operating for just over two years. Just 5 months after the club was set up Shelley took a team of 3 swimmers to the 2009 National Summer Games in Palmerston North and had fantastic results. The club now trains around 15 athletes in swimming, equestrian and athletics, and hopes to send a dozen athletes to the 2013 National Summer Games in Dunedin. As the swim coach Shelley devotes much of her spare time and expertise to coaching swimmers who have intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Shelley is a positive role model who works tirelessly to give people with disabilities the opportunity to attain personal success.
Paula Law of Hamilton
Paula set up the Hillcrest Park Guardians after several incidents, one involving her own daughter, started to raise questions of the Park’s safety. The Hillcrest Park Guardians are a community group made up of local residents and businesses who work proactively with the council to resolve anti-social behaviour in the Park area. To date, a number of safety measures have been successfully implemented in and around the Park including traffic calming and lighting upgrades. The benefits of the group have been obvious – less crime, more usage of the park and a safer and more positive community feeling. Paula has achieved this by creating ways that the community can come together to celebrate and appreciate where they live and the park they own, in order to foster community spirit and pride. She has organised a family fun day in Hillcrest Park for the last two years in order for the community to celebrate the success of the group. A great initiative, to not only make the community a safer place but also to develop a larger sense of community belonging.
Shirley Ann Boyd of Huntly
Shirley has worked tirelessly in the community for the over 30 years. Children’s tennis and netball coach as well as umpire, founder of the Night Patrols in Huntly, member and secretary of the local Lions Club and Huntly community board member who was a driving a force behind the upgrade of the town. Shirley has been a Justice of the Peace for a number of years and is a sought after marriage and funeral celebrant. Following her retirement she has recently become a Kimihia House for the Aged trustee, Meals on Wheels volunteer, Huntly Coal Fields Museum trustee, organiser of Daffodil day for the cancer society and she regularly provides hospital transport for cancer patients. She has generously sponsored various community projects including an underprivileged youth through Wesley College. Shirley is an outstanding fair and generous individual.
Janny Akkersma of Putaruru
Janny (Pronounced Yarni) is a busy lady – as well as a full-time job and four children, Janny is the chairperson for the Lichfield Support Group. She initiates and runs a BIS programme, organises fundraisers to help support the school and runs events such as calf club every year. She coaches sports teams and supports them every weekend. Her and her husband combined have made and donated a number of items to the school. Despite some unfortunate events in this small community over the last few years - injury, terminal illness, marriage breakups... Janny is the first person there to help with support, a listening ear or a cooked dinner. She is recognised by her community as an amazing lady who puts others first and shows such selflessness and kindness.