Territorial Forces Employer Support Council Awards

Territorial Forces Employer Support Council Awards - Winner Named

Television New Zealand was named last night as the winner of the 2010 Territorial Forces Employer Support Council (TFESC), Employer of the Year Award.

The award was presented at the annual TFESC Employer Awards hosted at Parliament by Associate Defence Minister, Hon Heather Roy.

The TFESC awards have been presented annually since 2008. The awards were instituted to acknowledge the sacrifices that employers make in allowing employees time away from work to serve in the part-time military.

TVNZ were recognised for their outstanding support of their employee Able-Seaman Lea Scott-Donelan of the Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve, said NZDF Director General of Reserve Forces Brigadier Sean Trengrove.

“TVNZ have demonstrated their commitment to the Reserves by supporting Lea’s service in the Navy Reserve. Of note, they released him at only two days notice to deploy on HMNZS Te Mana when she sailed to China. Lea was allowed to take his TVNZ camera equipment with him to document life on board a frigate at sea.

“Lea’s employers have already commented on how his service in the reserve forces has gone some way toward creating greater awareness of the NZDF and its actions amongst news and current affairs staff.

“The award for Public Sector Employer of the Year was presented to the Wellington District Command of the NZ Police for their support of NZ Army Territorial Force Staff Sergeant, and Police Constable, John McGrail. In the last 8 years, Staff Sergeant McGrail has been granted leave to deploy with the Army to Timor Leste, Bougainville and Afghanistan.

“Dunedin based Otago Business Systems won the award for Private Sector employer of the Year for their ongoing support of their senior salesman Steve Aydon. Steve is a Lance Corporal in the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army and was recently granted four months leave to serve with the peace support operation in the Solomon Islands. It was a significant gesture of support for Steve that his employer, a small business allowed him to deploy during an economic downturn”, said Brigadier Trengrove.

ENDS

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