Te Omanga co-founder Marion Cooper was congratulated on being elected patron of that organisation in my Mayoral Statement to the full council meeting on 11 December 2012.
Betty and Peter Hodgins who have been delivering meals to the elderly for 30 years and contribute to the Lower Hutt Food Bank and Kickstart breakfast programmes at St Michael’s Primary in Taita, received Wellington Local Hero medals. Scott MacKenzie, a Wainuiomata volunteer who set up a charitable karate academy also received a Hero Medal.
Mayoral Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Rod Gillespie and James Young for demonstrating business leadership in Lower Hutt.
Education
Secondary Schools across Lower Hutt have all completed their annual prize giving with an impressive list of academic and sporting achievements. Top scholars across the city were:
Damon Hutley, St Bernards College, Yuxuan Zhou. St Bernards College,
Hayley Markland, Wainuiomata High School, Shannon Admas, Wainuiomata High School,
Daniel Browne, Taita College, Wadza Munatswa, Taita College,
Vicky Watson, Sacred Heart College, Barbara Parren, Sacred Heart College,
Brian Ng, Hutt Valley High School, Madhuri Shenoy, Hutt Valley High School, Sobhanya Kim, Naenae College, Courtney Brown, Naenae College,
Allie Eathorne, St Orans College, Tamra Lindsay, St Orans College,
Karen Zhang, Chilton St James, Ruth Benitez, Chilton St James.
Sport
Petone Rugby Club chairman Brian Simmons has decided to stand down from that position. He has served on the committee for 36 years which is a commendable effort.
Colourful Naenae resident Michael Stewart completed his 500th marathon, a southern hemisphere record.
Community
A Chinese delegation led by the vice Mayor of Xi’an Municipal People’s Government, Li Jing, visited during the month. As one of the largest cities in China, Xi’an shares an aspiration with Lower Hutt in developing science and technology as a key focus for future growth. The on-going relationship has the potential to create opportunities in areas of tourism and education.
Three young dancers from Lower Hutt, Kia Jewell, Olivia Nash, from the Mary Rodgers Ballet Academy, and Georgia Ryan , the Children’s Dance Centre, have been selected to take part in the regional heat of a national final for the Denee Dance challenge. This competition is run by the prestigious London-based Royal Academy of Dance.
Bereavements
Former All Black and Petone player Bob Scott, who played 17 tests for New Zealand, was a well-known identity who is honoured in the Walk of champions in Jackson Street,.
Ian Atkins, former stalwart of Hutt Valley cricket and former member of the New Zealand Junior Cricket Advisory Board, who contributed to the development of Hutt Valley cricket.
A prominent member of the Lower Hutt legal fraternity, Greg King, who established himself as a national identity through his courtroom work defending high profile cases.
Former Hutt City Councillor Margaret Ryan, QSO.
Lower Hutt-born Sir Stuart Macaskill CNZM, QSO, who was a former Wellington Regional Council Chairman. He served on the Upper Hutt City Council from 1971 and was deputy Mayor for six years