'Arm-twister' Jack Inglis honoured

ANDREW BOARD/The Nelson Mail

HEALTHY RESPECT: Motueka Hospital Trust founder Jack Inglis has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Relevant offers

The "cantankerous, chief arm-twister" behind the Motueka Community Hospital project has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in today's New Year honours list.

Of the five honours awarded in the Nelson region today, Riwaka's Jack Inglis' is the highest.

In July, Mr Inglis realised a dream when the Jack Inglis Friendship Hospital was opened in Motueka. He has been the driving force behind the $12 million project which started back in 1993 when the Government threatened to close the town's hospital.

This month Mr Inglis' role in building the hospital was recognised by North & South magazine, which named the "chief arm-twister" behind the project as its New Zealander of the Year in the health category.

His New Year honours citation stated that "since being awarded a Queen's Service Medal for public service in 1996, Mr Inglis has continued to contribute to his local community. He established the Motueka Hospital Trust which built the Jack Inglis Friendship Hospital".

Although Mr Inglis insisted this week that the 45-bed community hospital was "built by the people of Motueka", there is no question he deserved the latest award. He has spent the last 16 years organising charity events, persuading businesses to donate time and products and spiriting money off wealthy Motueka residents so that the community could retain its own hospital.

"It is an honour to receive the award and it's very humbling but that's not what you do these things for," Mr Inglis said. "You also have to remember the hospital was built by the people of Motueka, not me – all I did was steer the ship."

Mr Inglis also paid tribute to his wife Anne for her support during the past 16 years and to the Friends of Motueka Hospital Trust members. He said it was a reflection of the trust's dedication to the project that none of its members accepted any remuneration for their tireless work.

"I have always had a good team around me and you have to have that."

Despite Mr Inglis downplaying his role, Nelson MP Nick Smith, a former member of the trust, said earlier in the year that the hospital would not have been built without Mr Inglis' tenacity.

"He's cantankerous, he's sometimes bullying, and he's been like a dog with a bone," Dr Smith said. "Nothing has been allowed to get in the way of his vision that Motueka needed to have a damn good community hospital.

"The long and short is that the town wouldn't be celebrating the opening if it wasn't for Jack Inglis. He's been the power behind it from day one. It's a tremendous tribute to him personally that's he's stuck with it right from 1993 and seen the vision through."

Now that the hospital is operating successfully, Mr Inglis said he was fundraising for a new 20-bed wing, and hopes its construction will start next year.

"We knew we'd have to expand, but it's happening faster than I expected."

- © Fairfax NZ News