POWER LIST 2008: The heroes in our midst

The influential decisions in Christchurch may be made by individuals on the Power List, but the real cement that builds this city and holds it together are the day-to-day heroes we see in every community.

WHO ARE YOUR COMMUNITY HEROES? IS THERE ANYONE WE'VE MISSED? EMAIL US BELOW TO NOMINATE YOUR HEROES

These are the people who take action to help others, and not for the rewards.

The Press asked our readers to nominate their own community heroes, and the response has been overwhelming.

Some of the names that popped up are well- known identities in the wider community, while others have only touched a handful of people in a very special way. Some deal with millions of dollars in their charities, and others simply sell a homemade cake to keep their club going.

The names appear in alphabetical order because there is simply no way or reason to put one good deed ahead of another, and no doubt there will be 10 other heroes for every person mentioned in this list of honours.

PHILIP BAGSHAW and RANDALL ALLARDYCE

Surgeons Philip Bagshaw and Randall Allardyce are chairman and deputy chairman respectively of the Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust, whose charity hospital opened in a converted villa on Harewood Rd last year. Their aim has been to meet the needs of those who have fallen off the end of public waiting lists and can't afford to go private. Both men say they have been astonished by the number of doctors, nurses and businesses willing to donate their services. Last year, North and South magazine made Bagshaw its New Zealander of the Year for his charity work.

MIKE AND TAMMY BELL

Living in Hoon Hay, Mike and Tammy Bell run www.move2nz.com, a free website for skilled migrants arriving in New Zealand. The Bells, with three young daughters, left their own cramped rented house in London in 2000 to land in New Zealand jobless and with only $20,000 in their pockets. They launched the website and forum in 2005 to help other immigrants. In 2007, this operation expanded into a Christchurch office with a walk-in centre for migrants. With nearly a quarter of migrants failing to settle after arrival, Move2NZ offers a unique and valuable community service.

KEVIN BLOGG

Kevin Blogg is a director of Catapult Employment Services, a charitable trust set up in 2003 to help those with disabilities and long-term illnesses to find employment. This followed his pioneering work in the 1990s setting up JobConnect, a job-seeking agency for those with mental illness. Apart from founding most of the Christchurch initiatives in supported employment over the last 15 years, Blogg manages the Blogg Charitable Trust and has helped fund other non-profit organisations, most notably About Face, which supports individuals with facial disfigurement, and the Queer Friendly Alliance, which helps the gay community access mainstream support services.

JUDITH BRUCE

Judith Bruce is the chairwoman of the Burwood Daycare Centre for the Elderly and has been on the committee for 20 years. Working with a tiny budget, Bruce spends long hours to ensure the funding to keep the service going is available, and she still finds time to help out in other community organisations.

MAJOR LYNDON BUCKINGHAM

Major Lyndon Buckingham came south from Wellington last year to head the Salvation Army's South Island operations. While the army's numbers have been dwindling in Christchurch, Buckingham is dedicated to reviving its influence. Insiders talk about his energy and commitment, while a recent purchase of land for a new central-city headquarters should enable the Sallies to streamline their operations and services.

ROB BURROUGH

Linwood College looked like it was in serious trouble before Rob Burrough took over as principal in 2000. The low- decile Christchurch secondary school had seen its roll fall dramatically during the relaxation of zoning rules in the 1990s, and by 1999, some 45 per cent of its students were leaving without qualifications. But within three years, that figure had dropped to 12 per cent and the college has since come off the Education Review Office's endangered- schools list.

DAVID CHING

David Ching has been the driving force behind the success of conductive education, a programme to rehabilitate children with motor disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, and adults who have suffered a stroke or head injury. The former principal of Addington Primary School has set up three education centres in Christchurch. Aside from his tireless work with the schools and conductive education, he still found time to be a longtime administrator for the Canterbury Rugby Union.

MURRAY COMPTON

Murray Compton has been on the board of Nurse Maude for a staggering 20 years now, from 1993 until recently as chairman. After a long career as chartered accountant and partner at Ernst & Young, he set up his own firm in 1995 consulting in the tourism industry. He is also heavily involved in the education sector as trustee of the University of Canterbury Foundation and chairman of the Riccarton Rotary Youth Trust.

ROBERT AND JAN CRAWFORD

The husband and wife team, both doctors, have been nominated for spurring community spirit in the Hanmer area for the past 40 years. Robert is the former superintendent of Queen Mary Hospital. He and his wife campaigned to have part of the site held for public access. Jan has been a leading light of the Amuri Players. Both have been keen supporters of cricket, tennis and other sporting events in the area. They have donated money to the development of the township and Jan was a major player in securing the covenant over the historic areas of Hanmer Forest.

ROLY CRICHTON

Roly Crichton is at the QEII pool most mornings at 6am to coach triathletes, and back again in the afternoon to coach children. He is known as the man behind Sophie Pascoe's Paralympics success, but he has just as much time for any beginning athlete. His sense of humour, combined with his relentless drive, gets the best out of his athletes.

BRUCE DAVIS

Would you like community spirit with that? Bruce Davis runs several McDonalds restaurants in Christchurch, but he's on this list because of his charity work with Ronald McDonald House. In 1999, Davis was a founding member of the RMH South Island Trust which worked towards the 2002 opening of the Ronald McDonald House South Island. Since it opened in 2003, some 55,000 nights of accommodation have been provided to 1400 families.

MIKE FIELD

Mike Field is general manager of the Cholmondeley Children's Home in Governor's Bay, said to be the only charitable children's home in New Zealand. Since 1925, the home has taken in thousands of children who come from difficult circumstances. Field has described Cholmondeley as "a wonderful group of passionate, committed Cantabrians providing childcare, education, social work and psychological support to children and their families under stress". Under his leadership, their service is invaluable.

MICHAEL GORMAN

Michael Gorman has been the main man behind the Christchurch City Mission for the past four years. The Christian social-service agency has been around for more than 100 years and provides a food bank, drug and alcohol counselling and detoxification, a night shelter for men, a drop-in centre for women and social-work support. Aside from running these programmes, Gorman spends much of his time raising the $3.2 million each year to operate its services.

KAREN GORTON

Lending a hand at Christmas parties and holiday camps for under-privileged children, and helping those with special needs or struggling mothers having hard times, Karen Gorton is there for many Christchurch folk. She takes the elderly in the community under her wing, helping with their shopping, even buying essentials and personal items when they cannot afford them. Gorton is there for anyone, listening to what you have to say, then helping out any way she can.

RENZIE HANHAM

Renzie Hanham is the head instructor at Seido Karate in Christchurch and, according to those who know him well, he has touched and turned around thousands of young lives during four decades in martial arts, other sports and his business involvement. Recognised as a top-class graphic designer, he is on the judging panel for a global graphic award and is also a partner in Gazing Performance, a London-based training company for top executives and sales staff. Hanham previously received a Christchurch Civic Award and recently earned his eighth-degree black belt at Seido Karate World Headquarters in New York.

TANYA JENKINS

Woolston environmental education consultant Tanya Jenkins has been the volunteer stalwart of numerous wildlife organisations. For eight years she worked as an educator with the Friends of the Estuary. In 2002, she was a founder of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai trust. During 10 years with Marine Watch New Zealand, Jenkins attended numerous callouts to assist stranded dolphins and whales. For nine years she was a member of Trees for Canterbury and developed the nursery's education programme. She was a founder member of the New Zealand Marine Environment Trust, helped establish the Charlesworth Reserve, a haven for wading birds, and instigated the now annual "Farewell to the Godwits" ceremony.

DUNCAN LINDSAY

Duncan Lindsay, who has lived in the Cracroft area for 40 years, was a founding member and first secretary of the Cracroft Residents' Association, set up to counter any socially inappropriate land development within the Cashmere Valley and surrounding hillsides. Lindsay publishes the quarterly newsletters for the association. He was also involved in the establishment of the Cashmere Stream Care Group. Each new resident to Cracroft is personally greeted by Lindsay and given a welcome pack containing information on local services.

AMY AND DAN MARSDEN

The pair work with children and families in crisis in East Christchurch. Their programme includes intervention with troubled children in the area's schools, morning pick-ups from homes of children who would not otherwise get to school, breakfasts for children who have none and responding to calls from Child, Youth and Family. The Marsdens co-ordinate a team of youth volunteers and get no guaranteed funding from any agency. The person who nominated the Marsdens said the pair play a vital part in promoting the well-being of children and families in the Eastern suburbs.

BARBARA MILLAR

Barbara Millar has been giving up huge amounts of time to organise triathlons in Canterbury for nearly 20 years, including the women's triathlon series. She also organises and motivates a running group, and sends out weekly motivational emails with training or nutrition tips.

JANE MCMEEKEN

Now Christchurch's principal Youth Court judge, Jane McMeeken was once dubbed the first girl from Gore High School to become a judge. She is on the board of Odyssey House which opened a youth rehabilitation facility in Christchurch this year - in her view, treating drug and alcohol dependency is an important way of stopping crime before it happens. She is a former New Zealand women's basketball captain and mother of Tall Fern Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe.

PAULINE MOORE

Pauline Moore has been on the committee of her ten-pin bowling club, Club 55, for eight years, running the club, fundraising and organising social events. In addition, she gives one morning a week to Meals on Wheels, rarely misses a visit to a friend in hospital and finds time to help any neighbour who might need assistance.

JAN MURPHY

This senior speech and language therapist at the Champion Centre has dedicated her life to helping young children with disabilities, and their families. Over 25 years, she has helped families adjust to life with disability and feel good about themselves. She is a tireless campaigner for getting special-needs children the best preparation and access into mainstream education.

ALLISON NICOL

Allison Nicol is CEO of the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, established to raise funds toward the building of Christchurch Hospital's bone marrow unit in 1991. Further fundraising allowed the trust to buy land next door on Cambridge Tce and build Ranui House to look after patients and their families. Nicol led the extensive fundraising that added further accommodation this year. A QSM is among her honours.

PAUL PRITCHETT

Yachting enthusiast and Church Bay builder Paul Pritchett has been nominated for volunteer work in the Banks Peninsula community. He is chairman of the Church Bay Residents Association and a community representative for the harbour issues group. Pritchett has organised various yachting events and is always prepared to lend people a hand getting their boat in the water. Working with other locals who call themselves "the last of the summer wine", he has helped to repair the Church Bay jetty, monitor water quality in the harbour and care for the Hunters Gully Reserve.

RIK TAU

Rik Tau has always been a champion of the little people. The University of Canterbury graduate serves as a senior cultural advisor for Te Puni Kokiri and the Internal Affairs Department, is trustee on several Maori reserves and was one of the original negotiators for Ngai Tahu's Treaty of Waitangi settlement. He will share his skills with any young people eager to learn and is often called upon to speak at events of cultural significance.

DAVE AND TRISH RIDDELL

This husband and wife team are the voluntary backbone of Athletics Canterbury and the driving force behind the St Martins Athletics Club. Dave is a firefighter while Trish works fulltime at the Christchurch College of Education. Both referee and coach at school sports.

JANE SHERRIFF

Jane Sheriff is the income development manager for the Canterbury and West Coach branch of the Cancer Society. She is part of a dedicated team of 30-odd colleagues - paid and volunteer - "who all do a lot more than they get paid for", according to their manager. Sheriff is one of the key people raising the $2.5 million the branch needs each year to fund its work.

GLYN STRANGE

Glyn Strange has been nominated for his "quiet, understated and certainly under- paid" contribution to Christchurch's literary scene. He is the founder and director of the Christchurch School for Young Writers, which has been going for 15 years. A non-profit organisation with charitable status, it nurtures creative writing in young people.

ANNE STUBBERSFIELD

Christchurch marriage celebrant and JP Anne Stubbersfield has started three community organisations and been involved in the establishment of at least three more. During the 1970s, she launched the Co-ordinating Organisation for Prisoner Education, teaching parenting and basic life skills to young male prisoners. In the 1980s, she initiated the telephone service Parentline. This led to Child Helpline a few years later. She was then instrumental in the Spring Wedding Show from which more than $50,000 has been raised for Child Helpline and the Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind. Professionally, she has been involved in setting up the Civil Union Celebrants Association.

SHARON TORSTONSON

Sharon Torstonson hit the news earlier this year when the Council of Social Services (COSS), which she manages, challenged city hall and won. It was COSS which took the legal action that resulted in the Christchurch City Council's 24 per cent rent increase for its social housing units being overturned in the High Court. This was a remarkable achievement for COSS, which is run on a shoestring budget and has a staff of 1.1 people.

BRENT TWEDDLE

Well-known in the Bishopdale community, Tweddle at the local Caltex service station became an instant hero to Christchurch mum Lois recently. If it had not been for Tweddle, doctors are convinced Lois would have severely damaged her eyes and face after feeling faint while pumping petrol and losing control of the nozzle. Litres of toxic, acid fuel sprayed into her eyes, sending her children in the car into panic and her elderly mother into shock. Tweddle acted quickly, rinsing out Lois's eyes for a long period, while reassuring the children and making a cuppa for the grandmother, before calling her husband. "If even a third of New Zealanders acted and cared enough to get involved what a wonderful nation we would be," said Lois. "Brent, you're my hero, and I say thank you."

FIONA WALKER

Fiona Walker manages the Delta Friendship Link in Richmond, working to improve the lives of people with intellectual disability by organising social events for them at Delta Community House. The Delta Disco, held once a month, brings together many members of this community in a safe and loving environment.Walker has an adopted daughter with Down Syndrome.

WAYNE WARD

Twenty years ago the Canterbury Community Trust was established to distribute funds for charitable, cultural, philanthropic and recreational benefits. Wayne Ward is responsible for the day- to-day management of a trust that, in the 2007-08 financial year alone, donated $21 million to more than 1100 community projects and groups in Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough. Major recent decisions include an affordable housing project and funding of the Christ Church Cathedral restoration.

TJEERD WIERSMA

Ilam Primary School caretaker Tjeerd Wiersma is held in high regard by pupils, staff and parents for his "can-do" attitude. He is unfailingly cheerful in the mornings as he supervises the school pedestrian crossing. He shows great concern for the pupils and takes pride in the appearance of "his" school. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and he is often busy long after the last child has left for the day.

JOHN WILSON

John Wilson has been on the board of the Christchurch Methodist Mission since 2005. He was previously a partner at Deloitte, and financial services manager for the administration division of the Methodist Church, which means he combines a high standard of financial management expertise with a comprehensive understanding of the community and voluntary sector. His established professional relationships in the city combine with a compassionate concern for the wellbeing of others.

NORM WITHERS

Norm Withers is well-known as a Shirley/Papanui ward councillor, Christchurch's deputy mayor, and the instigator of the 1999 referendum on tougher jail sentences after his 71-year-old mother was violently attacked at his Wairakei Rd store. But Withers has been nominated here for his not-so-high- profile work with many other community organisations, including Sporting Chance (which funds low- income families to do sport), the Family Help Trust (a child-abuse prevention agency) and Canterbury Arthritis.

 

PAULINE MOORE

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