Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients for

Taranaki

Doug Bell of Fitzroy

Doug Bell is described as being the ultimate community man – having no less than five life memberships to his name is proof of this. Doug has immersed himself in so many organisations over his life time such as rugby refereeing for 60 years, Taranaki Cricket where he was chairman for a number of years, the Laurie Denton Sports Trust as Chairman (current), the Fitzroy Golf Club where he volunteered for 21 years and the Tasman Bowling Club. It is a simple fact that if someone needs a hand Doug will be there rain, hail or shine not once or twice but for a life time.

Jack Chivers of New Plymouth

Jack Chivers started helping the community during the 1940’s and today you can still catch him on the sidelines at sports events all around Taranaki. Jack has spent nearly seven decades volunteering for St John Ambulance, but that is not all. Jack supervises the local school pedestrian crossing daily and has done so for over 20 years. His commitments however still go on and on. Jack also drives for Ironside – which helps move people who are not mobile around New Plymouth, and has done so for the past 35 years. And not to mention he also donated the $80,000 required to purchase a van.

Jamie Fenton of New Plymouth

Jamie Fenton from New Plymouth exemplifies the mantra that ‘Kiwi kids can do anything’. At just 17 years old Jamie has a remarkable list of academic, social and cultural achievements. She has demonstrated time and again that there is no reason to ‘wait until you’re older’ to accept a challenge, prove your potential, and achieve success. She passed School Certificate at eight, graduated from the Western Institute of Technology at ten and had a scientific journalism article published in the Royal Society Journal at twelve.

Jamie is the chair of the New Plymouth District Council Youth Subcommittee, is immersed in leadership projects at her high school, is an accomplished actress and is also a member of the Taranaki Youth Orchestra. At the age of 10, she invented a noise level meter which last year was developed into a Safe Sound Indicator that is being produced by the National Foundation for the Deaf to prevent hearing damage in children at schools across the nation.

Terry Long of New Plymouth

Terry and his wife Tanya lost their beautiful daughter Melissa after a long battle with leukaemia. One of Melissa’s  desires was to establish something whereby Taranaki children who go through adversity could be assisted in some way. She wanted the generous support that she had received during her illness to be carried onto others.

So Terry went about and established the Mellowpuff Charitable Trust. Within just four years of being formed, the trust has given out money, provided experiences and opportunities and purchased items that normally wouldn’t be available to many people, but has more importantly tried to make a difference even for just a short time. This has been achieved in short by Terry. By keeping a promise and helping out other children in need. Terry and Tanya are special people and an inspiration to all.