Volunteers honoured at National Games

Monday 2 December 2013
Media release

Volunteers honoured at National Games

Distinguished Service Awards and Life Membership Awards
Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games 2013
Wednesday 27 November–Sunday 1 December 2013
Dunedin

Twenty one New Zealanders have been recognised for their outstanding support of Special Olympics New Zealand at the organisation’s eighth National Summer Games in Dunedin.

Special Olympics New Zealand, which runs year-long sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities, held its inaugural Distinguished Service Awards this week. Six awards were given out along with the Special Olympics Founders’ Award. A further 14 volunteers were conferred with Life Membership Awards recognising the meritorious service they have provided to our organisation over many years.

Grant and Wendy Quinn were formally acknowledged as the Founders of Special Olympics New Zealand with the Special Olympics Founders’ Award. The Quinns began Special Olympics 30 years ago with just four athletes. The organisation now supports more than 6,500 athletes and 3000 volunteers across New Zealand.

The six recipients of the Distinguished Service Award (the highest honour that Special Olympics New Zealand can bestow upon an individual, company or body corporate, which makes or has made a significant and/or on-going contribution to Special Olympics in New Zealand) were: Rob Cameron (and Cameron Partners), The Holdsworth Charitable Trust, Dr Paul Johns, Ross Bragg, Evan Brown and Grant Dabb, and Provender.

The 14 Life Membership Awards went to: John Towns (Special Olympics Nelson), Merrill Holdsworth (Special Olympics Wellington), Robin Sheffield (Special Olympics Tamaki), Carol Melville (Special Olympics Otago), Margaret Baker (Special Olympics Hawke’s Bay), Stewart Hewett (Special Olympics North Otago), Joan Fairhall (Special Olympics North Harbour), Caroline Leong (Special Olympics Manukau), Jocelyn Sweney (Special Olympics Auckland), Helen Johnson (Special Olympics Manawatu), Glynis Collins (Special Olympics Whangarei), Dave Shaw (Special Olympics Marlborough), Colin Smith (Special Olympics Manukau), and Sue Rudduck (Special Olympics North Otago).

“The Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games was a fitting opportunity to launch our inaugural Awards. We were delighted that almost all the reciepients were able to receive their awards in person, and stay on to watch the Games. These recipients have all continued to make outstanding contributions in their chosen area of support which ranges from provision of medical services, leadership through our sports programme, financial management and investment,” says Kathy Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics New Zealand.

“Many of the recipients have been involved extensively with the National Summer Games 2013. Grant and Wendy Quinn were here to open the Games, Grant Dabb and Evan Brown once again took the leading role in the Special Olympics–Lion Clubs International ‘Opening Eyes’ screening programme, Ross Bragg was Aquatics Technical Delegate, Stewart Hewett was again involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run ahead of the Games supported by Sue Rudduck. All the Life Membership Award recipients were involved in the lead up to the Games in some shape or form, and Joce Sweney, Caroline Leong and Carol Melville led the Auckland, Manukau and Otago teams (respectively) to the Games.”

Follow the action online:

Special Olympics New Zealand: www.specialolympics.org.nz

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsNZ

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SpecOlympicsNZ (@SpecOlympicsNZ)

Words Matter—Special Olympics Language Guidelines for media

About Special Olympics New Zealand

Special Olympics New Zealand is a year-round programme of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 6000 athletes throughout the country train and compete in 13 different Olympic-type summer and winter sports.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides athletes continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community.

About the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games 2013

The Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games will take place in Dunedin between 27 November and 1 December 2013 (with athletes arriving in Dunedin on 26 November).

Around 1200 athletes selected from Special Olympics’ 44 Clubs around New Zealand will compete in 10 Olympic-style sports including aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, football, golf, indoor bowls, powerlifting, and tenpin bowling during the National Summer Games.

The Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games 2013 will be based at a number of Dunedin’s sports venues: The Edgar Centre, Moana Pool, Logan Park, Caledonian Ground, Chisholm Park, Bowl Line Tenpin Bowling, and Telford, Balclutha. The athletes will stay at the University of Otago’s Residential Colleges during the competition.

Special Olympics New Zealand will also run a Healthy Athletes Programme during the Games, with athletes offered the opportunity to take part in screenings focused on hearing, eye sight, dental care, and podiatry. Around 70 voluntary clinicians will be on deck to undertake these free health screenings. The data gathered will be used to provide valuable evidence-based research which will be shared with key influencers at government level and in the wider disability sector.

ENDS

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