Five citizens to receive Civic Honour Awards

The outstanding service of five Palmerston North citizens will be acknowledged tonight (Thursday, October 29) when they receive Civic Honour Awards.

The recipients are Marise Clark, Stephen Fisher, Eunice Love, Lilian Rowe and Sue Trim.

Marise Clark is well-known for her involvement with Edwards Pit Park, the former clay and shingle quarry in Featherston Street which is being transformed into a native species park. She has chaired Pit Park People Society for most of the past nine years and currently holds the role. She is also a founding member of REACH (Roslyn Education and Community Health), which began five years ago to support the Roslyn community.

Stephen Fisher’s contribution to the city’s vibrant theatre and music scenes stretches more than four decades. As chairperson of the Globe Theatre Trust Board since 2002, Stephen has been instrumental in the redevelopment of the theatre. Stephen joined the Manawatu Theatre Society in 1972 and has served as both president and secretary. He founded the Globe Theatre Awards and has been musical director for countless shows.

Eunice Love was a member of the group that started selling Save the Children merchandise in the city in 1976. For 22 years, Eunice prepared the roster for shop volunteers and trained them. During her 35 years of service to the Manawatu branch of Save the Children, Eunice was president twice and also secretary. She has also served the community through Scouts and All Saints Anglican Church.

Lilian Rowe has been the roster manager for the Friends of the Regent since 2009, ensuring there are sufficient volunteers on for each event. There are currently 90 names on the register with 60 to 70 of these people available at any one time. She volunteers for the mobile shop at Palmerston North Hospital and teaches religious education to Takaro School students and through Church on Vogel.

Sue Trim has been a netball volunteer for longer than many of us have been alive beginning as a teenager helping Cath Vautier, after whom Vautier Park is named, with team registrations on Saturday mornings. At 75, Sue can still be found at Vautier Park well before 8am helping run Saturday netball, a job she’s been doing for 43 years continuously. She served on the Netball Manawatu executive for 25 years and has done just about every job going in the sport.

“It is hard to imagine what the city would be like without the selfless contributions of these five people,” Mayor Grant Smith said.

“Each recipient has followed their passion, whether it be theatre, sport, the environment, children or welfare, and given up their leisure time to help fellow Palmerston North residents.”

The Civic Honour Awards were established in 1988 to acknowledge those who have contributed their time and energy to voluntary service benefitting Palmerston North.

The awards were last held in 2013.

ENDS

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