Council celebrates community service

• Published date: 29 September 2022
• Publication title: North Canterbury News

The Waimakariri District Council community service awards were presented last week

Mayor Dan Gordon said the awards celebrated those people who had made ‘‘outstanding’’ contributions to the district.

‘‘Deputy Mayor Neville Atkinson, and I, have found it very interesting talking with award recipients to learn how much voluntary work is completed in our community. Our unsung local heroes are usually very humble people, who do not seek recognition for what they do.’’

This year’s awards saw the introduction of a youth service award, a collaboration between the council and the youth council. There were nine recipients of community service awards, including one couple, three youth award recipients, the Mayor’s award for exceptional community service and a business award.

■ The recipients were:

Community Service Awards:

Marion Brown was Loburn Plunket president from 1986 to 1992, setting up the first home help scheme for new mums in the Ashley/Rangiora district. She received a Canterbury Rose Society life membership in 1996, and is involved in Rotary, Lions and St Vincent de Paul.

Gwen Creek was a founding member of the Kaiapoi Toy Library, worked for the Kaiapoi iSite, Enterprise North Canterbury and the Kaiapoi Promotions Association, and is a Coastguard volunteer.

Winsome Dormer and late husband Mike were founders of The Willows Cricket Club in Loburn. She was made honorary consul of Poland in 2011, in 2020 she became Dean of Christchurch Consular Corps and has served on the boards of Ranui House Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, the Rata Foundation and Odyssey House, and was instrumental in the Woodend Beach Walk.

Kerry Ealam has been a member of the Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade for more than 35 years and deputy chief fire officer for 12 years.

Trevor Ealam has served 46 years with the Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade, including 21 years as chief fire officer, an Oxford Working Men’s Club life member and a Waimakariri Gorge Golf Club member.

Harry and Marion Lamplugh are life members of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, were instrumental in the restoration of the Scott Rose Garden at Trousselot Park and maintaining the Kaiapoi Rhododendron garden. Harry is a life member and patron of the Cure Boating Club, a New Zealand rowing umpire and judge, life member of the Canterbury...