Dunedin man recognised with national award

February 17 2012

Dunedin man recognised with national award

The incredible community contribution by Dunedin man Malcolm Cameron was recognised at a gala dinner in Auckland last night (Thursday, February 16) when he won the Countdown 2012 Senior New Zealander of the Year Award.

The award, presented at the function at the Langham Hotel, recognises people aged over 60 who have made a positive contribution to the welfare of New Zealand through excellence in their chosen field. Mr Cameron is a leading social entrepreneur, not only launching the Malcam Trust in Dunedin in 1995 (helping provide life skills and work experience programmes to disadvantaged youth) but being involved in the launch and/or development of around 60 other programmes and trusts.

Recently described by Sir Ray Avery (overall 2010 New Zealander of the Year Award winner) as a “hidden icon”, Mr Cameron said the recognition was a huge honour, not just for himself, but for all the people and groups he had worked with over the years.

“I thanked the community and volunteer sector last night when I spoke because it’s the good work people have done in communities throughout the country over many, many years that cleared the way for people like me to pick up awards on their behalf.”

Mr Cameron was one of three nominees for the award and after receiving his nominee certificate in front of the 500 people gathered, he took his jacket off and sat down, not expecting to be called to the stage again.

“I hardly got my backside down on the chair when my name was called out and I had to put my dinner jacket back on and go up again. I was like, ‘how did this happen?’”

He says he cannot describe how he felt when his name was read out, but his wife Annabel joked it was “absolute terror”.

He was pleased to be supported by about a dozen people including family, trustees and sponsors. He is spending the next week or so out of Dunedin but plans to have a celebration when he returns.

“There are a whole lot of people who kept saying I was going to win it. I kept saying I was just making the up the numbers. They were right and I was wrong so there’s a wee payback required there.”

Malcam Trust chief executive Rosey McConnon said she and everyone at the trust was delighted the huge community contribution from Mr Cameron had been recognised at a national level.

It is the second time in two years a Dunedin man has been recognised by the award – Sir Eion Edgar won the same award in 2010.

The programmes and trusts Mr Cameron has been involved with include the Youth Service Corps, Conservation Corps, Logan Park Services Academy, The Princes Trust, 4 Trades, SuperGrans and the Restore Recycling Emporium, Neighbourhood Support, and Lend a Hand Foundation.

For further information on the awards, please click here.

ENDS