Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients for

Canterbury

 

 

Corry Ann Langford of Christchurch

Cory Ann is responsible for one of New Zealand’s rarest treasures - the Kiwi. With only 350 Rowi Kiwi’s left in New Zealand and Cory Ann’s work has secured the Rowi Kiwi’s future. But helping young Kiwi’s of another kind is also on Cory Ann’s agenda. As a Girls Brigade leader she coordinates weekly events and activities for young women in and around Canterbury. When she is not busy with the brigade Cory Ann is also delivering food parcels through 0800 hungry.

Dr Kate Dewes

Kate has worked for peace in excess of thirty years where she initially played a leading role in the New Zealand peace movement during the 1970s and early 1980s. This succeeded in securing the world's first national nuclear-free legislation. She was also a pioneer of the World Court Project, an international campaign that led to a legal challenge to nuclear detterence in the International Court of Justice. Kate was the Government advisor to the UN study on Disarment Education between 2000-2002 and is currently a disarmament advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, where she has been able to raise the profile of Pacific Island issues. Most recently, Kate has been awarded the inaugural Annie Cook award for the most outstanding ex-pupil to mark the centenary of Hamilton Girls' High School.

Les McFadden of Christchurch

Les McFadden is Christchurch rugby personified. He has put in countless hours into the sport and coaching of so many players in the region. Les does a lot of rugby liaison volunteering and he looks after visiting teams when they come to town. Les has been volunteering his services for nearly 40 years and received a QSM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006 for this. Les is also a Special Life Member of the Belfast Rugby Club.

Mollie Clark of Christchurch

Summing up Mollie’s commitment and contribution to volunteering is no easy task.
She has been a member or chair of dozens of committees, clubs, associations, trusts, boards and councils spanning back to the mid 1960s, at one stage even stepping in as Acting Mayor for the City of Christchurch.
She is a more than worthy recipient of the Queen’s Service Order for Public Service and truly lives up to her motto: A busy person always finds time.

Rebecca Luxon of Christchuch

In her early 20’s Rebecca Luxon already has years of voluntary community work under her belt, starting with leading Brownies at the age of 12 and then joining her mother as a supporter of the Ronald McDonald house three years later.Rebecca’s recent gap year saw her doing volunteer work in London at a residential facility for people with severe autism. She has also recently been a part time teacher-aide.

Shiva and Shirin Khosraviani

Shiva and Shirin are two sisters who are members of the Christchurch Baha'i community and who have been giving up their weekends for at least 2 years to run free workshops for children and the youth in their area. These classes are used to develop the children's moral and social character and empower them to take responsibility for their actions and find their place within society. The classes are a huge success, are not religious in instruction but are based on the moral principles of the Baha'i Faith and are proving to be crucial to the behavioural development of local youth.

Steven Reid

Steven is passionate about youth and pursuing their own personal progression towards functioning members of society. Steve is currently the Managing Director of Agape Trust. Steven’s heart has always been for disadvantaged youth but his leadership and mentoring extends to men and women of all ages. This can be seen in a few programmes Steve coordinates, Grace Vineyard Church valiant man course, Kapa Haka coaching and bush and sea camps.

Tony and Annette Gibson of Cashmere

Tony and Annette Gibson started the Glove Up campaign in response to the death of and as a dedication to their son Jason Gibson. Unfortunately Jason contracted Leukemia through industrial solvents. Ever since this tragic event Tony and Annette have made it their mission to educate New Zealand of the risk of industrial solvents. Tony and Annette have held road shows, printed pamphlets and told their story all in the name of this mission and still do so today.

Vivien McCaskey

Vivien McCaskey is a Christchurch mother of two and triathlete who created Tiddlers Multisport in order to organise and run triathlon events which cater for 2 - 7 year old children.  Until Tiddlers was created there were little to no sporting activities to target children of this age group in the region. The triathlons have been so well received that between 200 to 300 children show up to each event and take part. Having so much success Vivien now coordinates four Tiddlers Multisport events per year that are run in a local domain.