Two stalwarts of Northland's orchestral scene originally from Japan are among those recognised at the Whangarei District Council's premier awards ceremony.
Each year the council recognises four of the city's outstanding citizens who by their personal leadership and devotion to a cause have made a significant contribution to the communitywell-being of the district, Mayor Sheryl Mai said.
A common theme among winners Atsuko and Naotake Fukuoka, Margaret Hibbert and Peter Coates was a humble sense of shock and surprise at the honour.
Margaret Hibbert.
Mr Coates' citation covered a record of almost five decades of community work in the district, though he said there were "50 million people [who] deserved it more than I did".
Mr Coates, 69, arrived in Whangarei as a young teacher in the late 1960s, before settling at Whangarei Heads School as the principal, chief lawnmower and courtyard sweeper until his retirement in 1995.
Since then his life has been a flurry of community work through the local ratepayers' association, Farm Forestry Association, Northland Rural Support Trust and Whangarei Heads Landcare Forum.
Naotake and Atsuko Fakuoka.
Despite deprecating his talents as a singer and ukulele player -- "Anybody that's a real musician and knows me would say that's a case of not letting the truth get in the way of a good story!" -- Mr Coates has been a loyal member of Whangarei Heads Music Makers, the Manaia Singers and Whangarei Theatre Company. He was also involved in returning Whangarei Heads Church to community ownership.
"It was lovely to have all our supporters there as well," Mr Coates said of last week's ceremony. "Without them, nothing is done, even though there has to be a person who is the figurehead."
Mrs Hibbert, too, is quick to say her achievements are as much a result of people who supported her as her own hard work.
The 75-year-old is responsible for the existence of Forget Me Not Community Adult Day Centre, which she ran from various spare spaces around Whangarei before it settled in its current Tikipunga home. The facility supports 9200 clients each year and provides relief for primary caregivers.
Mrs Hibbert is also working to provide necessities like bed linen and furniture for Northlanders in need and initiates "whirlwind" disaster relief collections.
"You just follow your heart and you just know you have to do something," she said. "You know when someone needs help so you just do it. I have lots of people behind me [who] helped me."
Naotake and Atsuko Fukuoka moved to Whangarei with their five children in 1991. They have played in, conducted and directed a variety of Northland groups including Whangarei Youth Music, Northland Sinfonia and the Institute of Registered Music Teachers.
