Rewarded for service to community

BACKBONE OF THE COMMUNITY: The 2017 Citizens Civic Award winners are (back) Barrie Rodliffe, Patricia Engert and Kathleen Hurne. In front, from left, are Niki Hitaua, Joan Stevenson, Glenys Niven and Catharine White. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

THE work of a group of volunteers was acknowledged at the annual Gisborne District Council’s Citizens Award Ceremony in the foyer of the War Memorial Theatre on Wednesday.

Led by Mayor Meng Foon, the civic award recipients were presented with a certificate and a handmade wooden dish made by Bruce Smith of Gisborne as well as a native plant.

This was followed by a morning tea to say thank you to the group for the unpaid services they provide to the Gisborne community.

Niki Hitaua received her award for the work she does with the Puha Health League and as a Maori warden. She was nominated for promoting fellowship between Maori and European women, improving the health and welfare of Maori and being part of the night patro,l collecting children to keep them safe as well as mentoring youth and truants.

Joan Stevenson accepted her civic award certificate for her work with the Civic Band, St John Ambulance and Gisborne Cardiac Support Group.

She has given a lifetime of service to Gisborne through these and many organisations by way of committee administration and fundraising, said her nominator Rona Brownlie.

Catharine White’s long involvement with Awhi Mai Awhi Atu, Maori Women’s Welfare League and Te Aka Ora was acknowledged with this year’s award. Her expertise in flax weaving led to the Wahakura Project where she continues to teach mothers and whanau. The wahakura is a flax-woven bassinet seen as a culturally appropriate means of preventing SUDI (sudden unexplained death of an infant).

Work with the Sunshine Service, a bus service for the elderly and disabled, earned a comendation for the only man in the group Barrie Rodliffe.

It is also thanks to Mr Rodliffe that the Museum of Technology is now open more to the public due to his willingness to attend the reception counter three days a week. He also restores old cars, keeps the museum clean and tidy and regularly helps out with working bees.

It was work done with Girls’ Brigade, Rotary and the Women’s Institute that earned Kathleen Hurne the civic award.

With Elgin Quilters, she organises the making of quilts for maternity and neo-natal patients through Turanga Health, as well as knitting for babies and the elderly. She also assists with Sherwood Daycare meals, teaches craft at Elgin School and is involved in fundraising for Matunga Orphanage and other projects.

Two merit awards were given out to Glenys Niven and Patricia Engert.

Mrs Niven received a certificate for work with the Cardiac Support Group, Women’s Returned and Services Association and the Cancer Society where she is well known for her willingness to help others, her nominators said.

Mrs Engert’s merit award acknowledges her volunteer work with the Women’s Institute through which she assists with fundraising for Hospice, Relay for Life, Daffodil Day, Stand Children’s Village and Matunga Orphanage.