2007 Citizen's Awards
BETTY PEACE
Betty Peace was born in Dunedin and her family moved to Oamaru when she was 9 months old. In 1952 she married Brian and together they raised 3 children.
In 1974 the family moved to a lifestyle block at Ardgowan and Betty's love of horses made it an ideal place for her to rear her own ponies. Betty was one of the first members of the newly formed Pony Club in 1949 and when her children started showing an interest in horses, Betty became an instructor for over 20 years from the early 60's.
In 1985 it was time to do something different and Betty & Brian began breeding racehorses, although Betty maintains they were certainly money eaters and not money-makers!!! After they stopped breeding racehorses, Betty found herself getting more involved in the tidying of the race course gardens; something Betty still maintains an interest in today.
During this time, Betty also found the time to teach swimming lessons at the local pool and many weekends were spent at various pools in the region attending swimming carnivals. One of her proudest achievements is giving children the gift of learning to swim.
Her late husband's involvement in the Oamaru Operatic Society, lead Betty to offer help with ushering and selling programmes. As her children got older Betty turned her hand to making the suppers and looking after everyone's needs in the production. Her love of music meant it didn't seem like a chore to Betty to be involved, as she had the opportunity to see some very fine productions.
Betty teaches weekly puppy class at dog obedience and it gives her great pleasure seeing the results of the training and the joy that owners get when their pet learns new skills. She has done this for nearly 30 years and this contribution to our community has far reaching effects, especially with the heightened awareness of aggressive dogs in today's society.
Betty's life has revolved around her family and she feels fortunate her children and other family members are still in the district, enabling them to stay in contact on a regular basis. Her contribution to the Waitaki community has been done quietly in the background but today Betty; we acknowledge and congratulate you on your outstanding effort.
BRUCE PLANT
Bruce Plant was born in Oamaru and has lived here all his life. His family farmed at Roseberry and moved to Airedale when Bruce was 4 years old, he went to Ardgowan school then onto Waitaki Boys High School. He got married to Yvonne 40 years ago and they have 4 children and 4 grandchildren
He took on an apprenticeship at Gillies Foundry as a floor moulder when he left school, following his apprenticeship, he became leading hand and then promoted to foreman of the Foundry. Upon leaving Gillies, Bruce worked at Placemakers then Mitre 10.
Bruce went onto volunteer work with the IHC, which after a period of time developed into a paid position. Bruce continues to work part time at the IHC today, a job he really loves doing.
When Bruce and Yvonne's eldest son joined Boys Brigade, Bruce got involved as parent help; he then became an officer and served 5 years on the National Executive. His love of the outdoors lead him to organise the Brigade camps locally and throughout the South Island. Last month, he took helped instruct and oversee boys at the Nelson Lakes area where the boys had to spend 4 days and 3 nights camping alone in the bush, having no contact with anyone apart from Bruce, who would check on them a couple of times a day. These trips are indeed a life changing experience for the boys, as they have plenty of time for reflection in the bush.
Every Tuesday & Wednesday, Bruce attends Boys Brigade meetings with the current group of 30 members. A number of boys have received the highest honours in Boys Brigade, the Queens Badge, under the guidance of and leadership of Bruce. He keeps in touch with a lot of the youth even though they have left Brigade and it is a pleasure for Bruce to see them turn into fine young men.
Bruce enjoys the outdoor life and is an active member of the Mountain Safety club. He has been able to pass these skills onto to many in the district and with his farming background and interest in deerstalking, he has learnt lots about the outdoors including how to read weather conditions and how to navigate through the bush.
When Bruce isn't volunteering his time for others, he can be found in his vegetable garden and many people in the district benefit from his produce as he enjoys giving it away. Bruce & Yvonne like travelling and have recently returned from a trip to the United States to see their new grandson. In fact, Bruce needed to be contacted while he was on holiday to inform him of this award and he later said he was only 6 feet away from an alligator that was eyeing him up, when he received the good news!!
Bruce, we salute your contribution to the community of the Waitaki and the dedication you have given to improving the lives of youth in the area and we congratulate you on this award.
GLADYS YOUNGMAN
Gladys Youngman was born in Temuka, the fourth child in a family of six having twin sisters and three brothers. She was educated at St Josephs School then St Thomas's Girls High School. Upon leaving school Gladys began Maternity training at Timaru Hospital, with time spent in Dunedin doing general nursing for 18 months. Gladys's main love was maternity nursing though and this led her to work at Oamaru Hospital for many years.
She met her future husband in Oamaru and they were married in September 1958. They moved to Hakataramea where they worked as a married couple on a farm for 7 years. They raised 3 sons and now have 6 grandsons and one grand daughter, none of which live in Oamaru but they still have close contact with them.
Gladys finished nursing to accept a position of the husband and wife management team at the Haere Mai, now the Galleon Restaurant. This was a big challenge for Gladys but she thoroughly enjoyed dealing with the public and being able to have the children around them while working, was a bonus.
Gladys’s interest in the Stroke Foundation started in 1984 when her husband Ray had a stroke. A public meeting was held in 1994 to form a committee to assist Mrs Jeannie Stringer who had been supporting stroke people and their families since 1985. At that meeting Ray became a committee member with Gladys being quite happy to stay in the background. However, in 1996 Gladys was approached to be the Secretary/Treasurer for the Oamaru Stroke Support Group for one meeting and she continues in this role 11 years later. In November of 1996, Gladys was asked to be the delegate to the Regional Council of Stroke Foundation in Christchurch and in 1998 she became the Southern Regional Representative on the Stroke Foundation National Council in Wellington, a position she held for 5 years. She also held the position of Southern President for 3 years.
As a member of the Asthma Society, it didn't take long before Gladys was asked to go onto the committee but it wasn't until sometime later that she accepted the position of vice president, going on to president for two years and only stepping aside in April this year.
Gladys enjoys the social side of the Society and the exercise classes every Thursday morning have improved her health.
The North Otago Women's Club is another organisation Gladys is involved in as Secretary/Treasurer and she produces a monthly newsletter for all members. Once a week, Gladys freshens the flowers at the Oamaru Hospital for patients, something she enjoys doing for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as well as visiting the sick and people in rest homes in the district.
When Gladys isn't giving her time and energy to others in the community, she enjoys walking, reading, knitting, and playing Bridge and Mah Jong. Citizens of Waitaki have received support and kindness from Gladys throughout the years and her selfless dedication to others in the District, is something Gladys should be proud of.
JOHN LAVENDER
John Lavender was born in Christchurch in 1937, and went to school there until 1952 when he came to Oamaru to start his farming career. He worked as a labourer on a farm until 1960 when he bought his own farm at Enfield. This was the same year John married Marie and they raised 4 children. John has 9 grandchildren and enjoys keeping in touch with his family.
At Enfield, John became involved with the community, including the local rugby club, the local district hall and the small bore rifle club and he served on a number of committees in the area for a length of time. Following his rugby playing days, John became a referee for 16 years and he was awarded a life membership for his services to Rugby in North Otago. Carting hay was the major fundraiser for the rugby club and John feels that this kept the club together in the off season. He was a huge supporter of the Windsor water scheme and enjoyed seeing the project grow to what it is today.
John's involvement in the equestrian world was mainly with the Pony Club and he served on the committee for a time before he was elected the District Commissioner. As the representative of North Otago, John was responsible for teams to be organised to go national comps. He served 7 years on the National Body of the New Zealand Pony Club Association, attending 4 to 5 meetings per year. Since retiring from those positions, John still retains his interest as an advisory administrator, and continues to judge for the Equestrian Federation. John got great pleasure in watching the children that he taught at Pony Club, grow into fine young adults and the confidence and skills they learnt have enabled them to make good decisions for their futures.
As an administrator the North Otago Sports Body Association, John was the representative from the Pony Club, a role he enjoyed especially the fundraising events that they undertook.
John enjoys travelling when he has time and one of his most memorable experiences was his trip to Papua New Guinea with his mate Bill Pile. It gave John a real opportunity to mix with a different culture and they were treated like kings anywhere they went on the island. He would love to travel to Canada one day after seeing some friend's photos.
Marie, John's late wife was a huge support to him on the farm and any organisation which he was involved in and John's recent celebratory birthday brought all his family together for the first time in a number of years.
John has been a helpful, community minded member of the Waitaki District ever since his arrival in the area, his work with Pony Club has been outstanding and John is certainly deserving of this award today.
TERRY O’NEILL
Terry O'Neill, educated at Weston School and St Kevin's College from 1949-53, completed teacher training in Dunedin. He returned to Weston for his PA year in 1957 followed by an acting headmaster position at Five Forks and teaching in Counties Manukau in 1958/59. The lure of his family, and North Otago brought him briefly to Waitaki Girls’ Junior High School until his appointment to St Kevin's College in 1961 where he served the rest of his teaching career, the next 42 years, with the last 25 as Dean of Fifth Form.
Terry dedicated over 30 years to coaching sport, notably the College First XV in 1961 and 1962, and many other college rugby teams. In the 1990s he was appointed Master in Charge of Cricket and coach of the First XI. In addition he coached college tennis teams and was a qualified gymnastic judge in North Otago in the sixties and seventies.
Terry played his first game of senior club rugby in Dunedin in 1955, for the Otago Juniors side in 1956, and was a representative for North Otago, 1957-63. He also represented North Otago in provincial tennis.
It was his interest in rugby that led to a position on the North Otago Rugby Football Union in the late sixties and early seventies and from there he embarked on covering rugby for the Oamaru Mail, the Dunedin Star Sports and the Evening Star, the hobby became a passion, and he continues with the Otago Daily Times and Rugby News, and other publications, 37 years on.
Eminent cricket and rugby broadcaster, Iain Gallaway, used Terry as his comments’ man in North Otago and so began his role on air in 1975. Terry’s regular involvement with Dunedin 4ZB’s Scoreboard team under Bill Francis, with John McBeth and Peter Sellers, continued until 1980 when Radio Waitaki was warranted to broadcast. He developed its sports’ programme and initiated and presented rugby commentaries. Since the early 1990s his radio interest has moved to the private sector and he is the sports’ voice at Oamaru’s PORT FM Local as well as for a current affairs slot.
As a rugby player two games stand out in his memory. In 1957 when North Otago met the New Zealand Maori side in Oamaru, he marked the legendary All Black five-eighth, Bill Gray, not a 100 percent successfully, and in 1962 when North Otago beat the touring Australian side, 14-13, Terry, selected for the game but injured the previous Saturday, was thrilled his replacement and good friend, Bill Pile, scored the winning try late in the game.
Friendship and comradeship during rugby years have never waned, and Terry admits his media sporting interests are always immensely rewarding because he enjoys the people he comes in contact with.
Since retiring from teaching in 2002, Terry has dedicated time each week to Riding for the Disabled and he says this is no effort – his reward is the joy and confidence the young people receive from riding. He recently mounted a horse and declares horses are much wider and higher since he rode years ago.
Terry is a rostered volunteer for Meals on Wheels and, at St Patrick’s Basilica, a special minister to congregations for Holy Communion as well a scripture reader at services.
Terry is married to Frances. They have four children and four grandchildren, and are fortunate they can spend time with them on a regular basis. Terry said without Frances’ support over the years he would never have been able to achieve what he has, and her background in journalism has helped.
Terry has a high profile in the Waitaki District through education, sport and the media: he has dedicated himself and his time to help others.
For that, Terry, you are a worthy recipient of this award.
TINA BUNGARD
Christina Bungard, known as Tina, was born in Milton in 1951 and is one of 6 children. Her family lived on a farm at Katiki and Tina went to school at Shag Point until that closed and they moved to Palmerston in 1969 for Tina's high school years. Upon leaving school, Tina worked at McGregor's Bakery for a number of years until she decided to train as a wool technician. Tina and her partner Dave have raised 1 son and have 3 grandchildren.
When Tina was growing up, she was told that girls didn't ride ponies but that never stopped her pestering her father relentlessly. He gave in and allowed Tina to ride a pony on the condition that she went bareback. After an hour or so Tina began to go numb but her Dad wanted to teach her a lesson. Once she was able to get off, Tina could hardly walk for a week and she never got onto a pony until she was much older and able to use a saddle!!
Tina's love of teaching children how to ride grew and she continued to buy ponies and take children with her to shows. They would load the horses into a truck nearly every weekend in show season and head away to different places throughout the South Island, often coming home with champion ribbons.
Tina established the Palmerston Mini Show with her immediate family, 16 years ago, with 20 entries being received. The event now attracts more than 150 entries from throughout the South Island and Tina makes sure every rider under the age of 12 years old, gets a ribbon and a prize, regardless of their placing in the event. It is a day that is looked forward to by many and without Tina's dedication it would not take place. The Grand Parade is one of the highlights of the day with all riders participating and a piper leading them around the ring.
Following the Mini Show, games and a meal for the children are provided which is the perfect end to their day. The adults enjoy a Country & Western Band, a meal, and raffles are held for the left over donated prizes. It is a well run and successful event for the town and Tina's enthusiasm rubs off on everyone involved.
Every Christmas, Tina invites locals who have no immediate family to her home to celebrate the day with Dave and herself. Around 30 people attend and Tina puts on a wonderful meal with most of them staying for tea.
Tina has a big heart; she gives freely of her time and sometimes money, to make life better for those in the district. She is appreciated and admired by many and is a well deserving recipient of a Citizens Award.