September 28, 2006

Outstanding awards for two outstanding men

Two Cantabrians today received outstanding contribution awards from Environment Canterbury (see citations below).

The man who set up the Total Mobility Scheme in Ashburton, Oliver (Snow) Luxton received his award posthumously in recognition of the outstanding contribution that he had made to the local Ashburton community. Ashburton regional councillor Angus McKay said Mr Luxton had been a remarkable man, who was respected throughout his community. “A forward thinker,” was how Cr McKay described him. The award was received by Mr Luxton’s daughter, Karen Porter.

A former Environment Canterbury employee, Bob Simpson, received his award in recognition of the outstanding contribution he made to protecting and enhancing Canterbury's natural and physical resources. Mr Simpson was instrumental in developing Environment Canterbury’s 24 hour Environmental Incident Response system and is recognised as a dedicated professional who goes the extra mile to ensure that environmental incidents are fully investigated and actioned.

Photographs of Karen Porter and Bob Simpson receiving the awards from Environment Canterbury Chairman, Sir Kerry Burke, are available on request.

Outstanding Contribution Awards
Bob Simpson

In recognition of the outstanding contribution that
Bob Simpson has made to protecting and enhancing Canterbury's natural and physical resources.

Bob Simpson joined the Canterbury Regional Council in August 1994 after a career which included many years with the Wildlife Service.

Bob was instrumental in developing Environment Canterbury’s 24 hour Environmental Incident Response system. Bob is recognised as a dedicated professional who goes the extra mile to ensure that environmental incidents are fully investigated and actioned.

Highlights of Bob’s work with Environment Canterbury include the prosecution arising from the Opuha Dam collapse in 1997 and the rat poison spill into the Kaikoura coastline in 2001 where Bob was thrust into the international spotlight.

We certainly appreciate your dedication and contributions to Environment Canterbury over the past 12 years. Thank you Bob.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
MR OLIVER LUXTON (SNOW)

In recognition of the outstanding contribution that Oliver Luxton (Snow) has made to this Council and the local community in helping to establish and support the Total Mobility Scheme in Ashburton.

Mr Luxton (Snow) was one of the forward thinking people that set up the Total Mobility Scheme in Ashburton. It was a time of change, and the newly formed Regional Council had new responsibilities for public passenger services. The Canterbury Regional Council also had a source of on-going funding for this purpose from property rates and central government grants.

After a lot of organising by the new committee, a van was purchase and fitted with a wheelchair hoist, and the Ashburton Total Mobility Scheme was launched on June 19, 1990.

Snow Luxton represented Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Society (ADARDS) on that inaugural Ashburton Total Mobility committee. He continued to serve on the Ashburton Total Mobility committee representing ADARDS, then the Alzheimer’s Society, followed by Aged Concern, and finally serving as Chairman of the Ashburton Total Mobility committee representing Environment Canterbury.

Throughout the years we knew Snow, we witnessed first hand the extensive experience he so willingly shared in his involvement with various care groups in Ashburton. The respect he gained from the Ashburton community often helped him guide the Ashburton Total Mobility committee through the potential hazards that could have occurred as the Total Mobility Scheme evolved in Ashburton and through New Zealand.

Many of the recommendations for improvement and expansion that Land Transport New Zealand proposed for the scheme nationwide had already been in place and operating successfully for several years in Ashburton. Under Snow’s chairmanship there was always a good turnout at committee meetings, training sessions and other functions organised by the committee.

An excellent relationship has been established with the District Council in support of Total Mobility and we still use their facilities for the committee meetings. Snow Luxton’s dealings with individual Total Mobility clients were always with compassion and fairness.

We would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the sterling work and assistance this Council and the community of Ashburton received from Snow.

ENDS

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