Kiwibank Local Heroes Medal Recipients for Waikato

Aaron Fleming of Hamilton

At age 16, when Aaron was on the verge of a promising future in gymnastics, his right lung suffered a series of collapses. After numerous operations he was told that he would never be capable of physically over-exerting himself ever again. He subsequently became addicted to painkillers and suffered from severe depression, even contemplating opting out of life. Right then he decided to turn his life around.

With his 'anything is possible' attitude, Aaron began a journey of self-discovery, eventually competing in the grueling New Zealand Ironman. Despite a serious cycling accident during the build-up, he went on to represent New Zealand at Ironman USA Lake Placid.

In conjunction with his sporting endeavors Aaron raised a considerable amount of money for cystic fibrosis, is a motivational speaker and supports young people facing depression through thelowdown.co.nz programme.
Congratulations Aaron.

Dr Eric Deakins of Cambridge

Eric is a senior lecturer in e-business strategy and information systems at the University of Waikato. He has served on the Board of the Cambridge Childcare Centre Trust since 1995 and was elected Chairperson in 1996, a position he still holds today. Cambridge Early Learning Centre is the towns only all-day community based early childhood centre and provides education to children aged 0 to 5 years.

Eric has spent literally thousands of voluntary hours working with Trust pouring his time and energy into developing the centre into the wonderful asset that it is to the people of Cambridge.


Francie Gray of Maeroa

Early in 2009, 73 year old Francie Gray took her courage into her hands and walked into Maeroa Intermediate School saying, “I want something to do, I’m going crazy sitting at home”. With no official experience in education she had spent countless hours since making a difference to the school and its students.

Francie started work at Maeroa with a couple of children who needed extra support.
Over the nearly two years that she has been with the school, she has created an area in the classroom that the students love to visit and to work in and Francie gets particular enjoyment out of helping the students that require special assistance. Francie’s pride in what the students can do is immeasurable and she has made significant breakthroughs with students in need.

Although she does not have any money to spare Francie has bought books to use with the students and will support the school anyway she can including assisting the school choir and has helped train them for the Hamilton Operatic show of “Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat”. Francie works close to 25 voluntary hours per week and  has truly impacted on the lives of both staff and children at Maeroa Intermediate.

Jeanette Holm of Hamilton

Jeanette is at the forefront, of social work in the low income suburb of Fairfield, Hamilton. She started this work 18 years ago when, as an assistant pastor she became aware of the day to day struggles faced by many families in Hamilton. Jeanette gathered a team of like-minded people together and they set to work helping families where they could.

Through this Jeanette has been able to establish Te Whanau Putahi (The Family Centre) which provides whanau social services, childcare services, counselling, holiday activity programmes for kids and church services on a Sunday’s for the wider community. They also run a food bank and education and assistance for acquiring a drivers licence. Te Whanau Putahi currently employs over 20 people part time and has considerably helped the community of Fairfield with family matters thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of Jeanette.

Lorraine Walker of Hamilton

Lorraine has been involved with Friends at Court for the last three decades, having been initially involved at the groups very first meeting. Friends of court is a volunteer group that has two members attend court each day to help anyone unfamiliar with the court and its processes. Lorraine is the Roster Manager and spends countless hours committed to this role, preparing the rosters and finding replacements when necessary when volunteers are unable to do duty.

This is in an unenviable task that is completely voluntary. Lorraine has seen a lot over the last 30 years having often been in contact with some of the worst elements of society but she has provided a necessary service to those in need.

Nicky Atkinson of Piopio

Nicky Atkinson was the driving force in establishing the Project Piopio Trust, a small but dedicated group whose focus was to prevent the further demise of the once thriving country town. She mobilised people and resources to develop a number of initiatives to revitalise the town.

These initiatives include reinstating “Bird Talk” the Local community Newspaper, developing a landscaping group who redesigned and replanted Piopio’s gardens, upgrading the community hall, setting up a new information centre and art gallery, developing a monthly Piopio market and running a number of community events to foster local pride.

The Project Piopio Trust have had great results but the group feels none of this would have happened without the drive, determination and hard work of Nicky

Pele Lolesi of Te Awamutu 

In June 2007, mother of 6 Pele Lolesi, from Te Awamutu, was told she had just two years to live. After operations to her scalp and liver, she decided not to wallow but to make the most of the life she has left. In 2009, she started a successful photography business, One Life Photography. Born with one arm, she can’t use fancy equipment so takes photographs on autofocus.

Backed by The Melanoma Foundation as part of Melanoma Awareness Month, Pele created a digital-photography exhibition to raise awareness of and money for melanoma. SCAR: a mark of hope was 23 photographic portraits of people the length of New Zealand with their melanoma scars, living their passions, from hockey to a Harley’s

Pele is determined to raise public awareness of this silent killer and feels that spreading the melanoma message is her destiny. New Zealand has the highest melanoma incidence rate in the world and every year it kills nearly 300 New Zealanders and there are 2000 new diagnoses of a cancer per year that is largely preventable but often overlooked.

Shirley Frew of Matamata

Shirley Frew has taught at Matamata College for nearly 40 years and has become a bit of a legend in the school and community. Shirley is an extremely skilled clothing designer and tailor and she has passed these skills on to countless numbers of students over the years, inspiring them to be creative and also teaching them the important skills for garment construction. 

She has pioneered the move into Ag Art and Wearable Art and her students have entered and won many awards at local, regional and national level for their creative garments.To showcase her student’s work, Shirley has worked with Rotary to organise an annual fashion show with funds raised used to help support students attend national competitions.

Shirley goes well above and beyond the call of a normal teachers duties and has had a huge impact in the lives of many young people over the years.