Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients for

Manawatu

Bruce Maden of Palmerston North

Over the past 20 years, Bruce Maden has taken a small state house that assisted the work of a health nurse by providing counselling and family help and turned it into a large community centre.The community centre has become a safe place and place for growth and development for many people. The centre provides counselling, Early Childhood Care, family development services, adult education and community events.Bruce has been a passionate visionary for the people of Palmerston North and in particular the community of Highbury.

Ethel Robinson of Palmerston North

Ethel has always had a social conscience beginning with her time as a school teacher and then later a social worker for the Ministry of Education. Ethel became a member of Multiple Sclerosis Society 32 years ago and has since been awarded life membership to New Zealand MS. Due to Ethel’s daughter having MS, Ethel established the J. Gore Trust to help with education costs for young people, who has a parent suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.

Having a voice for everyone is also what Ethel strives for. Working towards helping people by making sure key issues are known such as rising electricity prices, to many slot machines and the establishment of the Abbeyfield concept of shared housing for the elderly. Other organisations Ethel has readily taken part in are the Samaritans, Age Concern Manawatu and Birthright.

Mark Long of Palmerston North

Mark Long is all for the region of Manawatu. He has referees rugby voluntarily regularly, has volunteered for the Winter Olympics in Canada last year and is a volunteer fire fighter in Fielding. This is all while being a full time student at Massey University. Another of Mark’s notable achievements is producing a world record attempt for Manawatu Rugby for the most people wearing buckets on their heads.

Reginald Platt of Paraparaumu

Reg is almost 90 years old, but doesn’t act like it. For 30 years he has thrown himself into a variety of voluntary roles most notably as the President of the local Lions Club, teaching at Senior Net and holding digital art classes. Another long serving commitment Reg has held is that of Green Keeper, something he has pursued for nearly 20 years after completing a degree at Massey University at the age of 70.

Ron Fisher of Levin

In 2008 Ron started his own business teaching astronomy. He was inspired after years of working at the Carter Observatory to create his own portable planetarium –  Cosmodome, which he takes into schools and sets up to show school students the stars.

It’s not just the subject he teaches that is inspiring but the fact that he is out there doing what he loves and nothing can get in his way. Everyday he is satisfied with the job he does and the people he inspires. This is a rare thing but something we should all be able to achieve. Unlike most businessmen Ron established Cosmodome not to make money but to provide a service that was required. It is therefore no surprise that he spends a lot of his energy on community astronomy outreach.

Shirley Hazlewood of Palmerston North

Shirley Hazelwood developed polio in 1948, when she was just 14 months old, and has been dedicated to changing people’s attitudes to disabled people all of her life. Shirley has been the volunteer field officer for the Taranaki Disabled Persons Assembly for almost 15 years and despite being wheelchair bound, and having her leg amputated, is on call 24/7 to her members, taking them shopping, advocating on their behalf and listening to their problems. 

Shirley’s work to help change attitudes towards disabled people includes assisting to write a book on polio and its effects, writing countless letters to newspapers and magazines, speaking at meetings and conferences and fundraising and advocating to improve accessibility to buildings in the community. Shirley received the Queens Service Medal in 2006 and her inspirational achievements, despite her own disabilities, are clearly remarkable.

Wayne Evans of Palmerston North 

Local Hero can take on many different meanings to different people and to the students that Wayne Evans teaches, they see him as their local hero. Waynes nomination outlined the values he is trying to instill his students that of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

Wilma Robinson of Wanganui

Wilma Robinson is passionate about Wanganui and its people. She has been a part of the Wanganui Regional Museum Committee for the past 8 years and as the Chairperson for the past year. Wilma is also an experienced ESOL tutor, teaching English as a second language for over 25 years.