Lex Spencers efforts as a volunteer have earned him the monikers 'Mr Fix It' and the 'crazy bike guy'. Photo / Supplied
Lex Spencers efforts as a volunteer have earned him the monikers 'Mr Fix It' and the 'crazy bike guy'. Photo / Supplied
Lex Spencer has been announced winner of the Lifetime Service Award in the TECT Community Awards.
A lifelong volunteer for more than 60 years, with seven of those in Tauranga, Spencer freely shares his time and knowledge of cycling with the community.
Fixing bikes for Waipuna Hospice, Travel Safe, Salvation Army and others across the community at no cost, has earned him the monikers 'Mr Fix It' and the 'crazy bike guy'.
Spencer first got into fixing bikes for students in the Kids Can Ride cycle programme in 2013. Since then he has had about 65 bikes passed on to him which he has repaired and donated to schools as part of the programme.
Along with checking and repairing about 85 bikes a year for Waipuna Hospice shops, he also runs cycling maintenance student and women's workshops and has designed many wacky bikes for family-friendly community events.
In addition to his unassuming but engaging voluntary involvement in cycling activities, he is passionate about environmental conservation matters, providing ongoing maintenance and ecological restoration of Hammond St Walkway Esplanade. He also creates sculptures for the community to enjoy, which can be found along the walkway.
Spencer said a lifetime of volunteering was built on the help others provided him over the years.
"I volunteer because I can. I've always enjoyed doing these things for the community because over the years there have been times in my life where people have helped me and, as a result, it gives me great pleasure to help other people. It doesn't matter what it is – it could be anything.
"You've got to have a reason to get up in the morning, and I think if these things are in front of me, I'll do it. I enjoy meeting so many people along the way, and you feel most appreciated for what you do.
"As long as the council are happy for me to carry on my work on the walkway, and the Waipuna Hospice and other charities still want me to fix bikes, I'll carry on doing it."
Karen Smith worked closely with Spencer while a Travel Safe team leader at Tauranga City Council, putting his name forward for the awards as the community's "cycling gem".
"Lex is a very humble person who has a passion for cycling. He freely shares his time and knowledge of cycling with the community – people of all ages and abilities, and from a diverse range of backgrounds, enjoy and benefit from time spent with Lex," she said.
Lex Spencer received his Lifetime Service Award. Photo / Supplied
"He is our community gem. Whenever we would ring him up for a community event to bring his crazy bikes along, do a maintenance workshop, or help with any of our children or adult programmes, he has always been willing to go the extra mile and come out and help.
"Travel Safe congratulate Lex on his award, he is a worthy recipient, and we know his community appreciate the time and effort he gives to volunteering."
This concludes the 2020 TECT Community Awards, which have been held online throughout the last six weeks. All finalist and winner videos can be viewed at www.tect.org.nz/community-awards-videos and on the TECT Facebook page.
The winners of the awards were: · Event Excellence Award – STEMFest · Sustainable Future Award – Good Neighbour · Diversity and Inclusion Award – The Search Party Charitable Trust · Rising Star Award – RRR - Rescue, Revive, Rehome · Youth Spirit Award – James Power · Volunteer of the Year Award – Bryce Dinneen · Lifetime Service Award – Lex Spencer
