Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients for
Auckland
Bob Kerridge of Meadowbank
At 71, Bob is still working full time for New Zealand’s best known charity, the SPCA. Since 1984 Bob has worked for the SPCA as CEO and has driven the organisation to become the well respected charity it currently is today.
Bob has also played a large role in a number of other organisations including the Variety Club of New Zealand, is a Justice of the Peace, Knight of the Order of St John, and holds the role as director of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) among others.
Colin Reive of Auckland
Colin has played a pivotal role in a range of organisations including St John’s, Lauran Fergusson Trust, IHC and Epilepsy New Zealand for many years.
In his role with Epilepsy New Zealand Colin has been responsible for the growth of the organisation in Auckland and the whole of New Zealand. Specifically Colin has been the Manager of the IHC branch since 1992 and has paved the way for a new branch to be opened on the North Shore as well as supporting groups to be established in West and South Auckland.
Denise Krum of Greenlane
Denise Krum is the driving force behind the Tableside Charitable trust – helping connect communities and people for the betterment of each other. Along with directing the Trust, Denise is the Chairperson and founding board member for the Halogen Foundation which operates ‘ Young Leader’s Days’ for approximately 13,000 primary, intermediate and secondary school students.
John Gray of Ponsonby
John is probably the most active and respected advocate for leaky home owners in New Zealand. John seeks to support leaky home owners so that they go into the remedial works and claims processes being fully informed, by people who are impartial and who do not have a vested interest in the owner going down certain paths.
John’s work has allowed many home owners the chance to receive appropriate settlements for damage sustained to their homes and in many ways to reacquire their quality of life.
Lynne Bowe of Remuera
Lynne Bowe has been helping those who have diabetes for more than 40 years. In 1990, when Lynne and her husband relocated to Auckland, she began her involvement with Diabetes Auckland, giving diabetes self-management education classes, telephone support, one-on-one guidance and assistance, speaking to local Support Groups and encouraging the unwilling and motivating the reluctant to take care and manage their diabetes.
Over the ensuing years, Lynne has been an innovative leader and has filled many roles at Diabetes Auckland.
She has been a nurse, an educator, a diabetes supplies shop manager, organiser of the annual Camp for children with type 1 diabetes and also contributed incalculable hours as a volunteer.
Rani Thuraisundaram of St Johns
Rani has worked tirelessly in her community for the past 25 years and is thoroughly devoted to her culture, community and women’s affairs. She has been the president of the Pans Pacific South East Asian Women’s Association and is an active member of the Auckland Multicultural Society, NZ Tamil Senior Citizens Inc and Auckland Regional Ethnic Council.
Along with commitments to these groups, Rani has spent numerous hours teaching young students and organising multicultural performances.
Willam Delacey of Auckland
William runs a programme called Epic Coast, which involves organising and running a weekly youth event called EPIC for 13-18 year olds at the Orewa Youth Centre on a Friday.
EPIC is a safe social environment for young people to bring their friends, hang out, and have fun. Much of the teaching and focus is on young people discovering themselves, their strengths, their goals and standing up to peer pressure to make good choices.
Sinnakuddy Thuraisundaram of St Johns
Sinnakuddy has worked and contributed to his local community for over 26 years. Over this time he has worked with and supported the Refuge Council of New Zealand, Auckland Multicultural Society, NZ Tamil Society and the NZ Federation of Ethnic Councils.
On average he spends 25 hours per week assisting migrants, refugees and New Zealand asylum seekers. He has provided varied services from translating documents to enrolling children into schools.
In conjunction with this, Sinnkuddy’s main goal has been to build strong networks to help communities to integrate into New Zealand society, specifically in Auckland.
Thilliar Varnakulasingham of Greenlane
Thilliar Varnakusalingham has decicated years of voluntary service across a multitude of organisations and areas. His involvement has specifically been with the New Zealand Thirumurugan Temple Society, Arthritis New Zealand, Royal Society of Arts and the Community Policing Centre among others.
Thilliar has been a great role model for encouraging the Sri Lankan community to be self reliant, retaining their cultural identity and all the while positively contributing to New Zealand as a whole. Thilliar has a burning lifelong conviction to pursue giving and to ensure his work leads to better communities. Congratulations Thilliar.
Roy Bartlett of Greenlane
Roy Bartlett is the co-founder and full-time volunteer office manager, stage manager, secretary of the board of trustees and general all-rounder at StarJam; a charitable organisation that creates performance and limelight opportunities for young people with disabilites.
Roy is no stranger to working in charitable organisations; he founded the Eastern Bay of Plenty Asthma Society and spent thirty years with organisations such as the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand, MS Society, Home and Family and the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Although he suffers from multiple sclerosis, Roy doesn’t let anything much slow him down. The countless hours and complete dedication that he provides to the organisation are repaid with the total satisfaction that he gets from seeing how StarJam transforms the lives of young people with disabilities.
Roy was one of three finalists in the Senior New Zealander of the Year Award 2011.