Queen's Service Medal

Coming from a "family of givers" Glenis Crutchley says her volunteer work is not motivated by the thought of gaining recognition.

Mrs Crutchley (53) was "humbled and shocked" to be nominated for a Queen's Service Medal. The honour was doubly special, as her father, the late Colin Carr, was also a recipient of the medal for his services to the community. Mr Carr was the last chairman of the Maniototo County Council.

"I'm part of a wonderful network of volunteers in this area and I'm grateful that I've been able to serve the community in whatever way I have," she said.

Her service includes 21 years as a Maniototo St John ambulance volunteer, the past 13 years as station manager. She is also a district nurse, a Victim Support volunteer, the chairwoman of the local branch of the Cancer Society and the chairwoman of Maniototo Youth Inc. She also trains the Maniototo Area School choir.

Mrs Crutchley has made herself available to help people in physical or emotional distress at any time of the day or night.

Living in an isolated community, it was important to ensure services were available 24 hours a day, she said.

She has attended a wide range of incidents, including farm accidents, car crashes, suicides and family violence.

"In all those groups I work in, I've got great support and great teams behind me. I enjoy giving my time and dealing with emergencies. I've had lots of things dished out to me in my life, and those experiences have probably helped me.

"I've learned so much from the training that's been offered in the various roles and it's very satisfying work. You also learn so much from the families that you help along the way."

She was grateful for the "constant support" of her own family - husband David and children Zara, Charles and James.

Samoan community leader and artist Misa Emma Kesha says her Queen's Service Medal is an award for the whole Pacific community.

"I feel very pleased and humbled. For my community to vouch for me like this is wonderful. It was their love that made this happen. I love them, too, so it's a two-way thing," she said.

Mrs Kesha (70) came to New Zealand from Samoa when she was 18, in 1958.

"I grew up in a village in Samoa where the women were the backbone of every family. I saw my mother and aunties and grandmother doing all the work, so when I came here I wanted to help be a force for creating things for our families and children and husbands," she said.

In 1998, she became the first woman in her family to be honoured with the chieftain title Misa.

Last year, Mrs Kesha was awarded the $10,000 senior artist award at the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards.

It was the completion of a circle, for it was when Creative New Zealand recognised weaving as an art form in 1982, that she decided to take it up again to keep the tradition alive.

Mrs Kesha established the Dunedin Multicultural Weavers Association in Dunedin and has exhibited and tutored in New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Noumea, New Caledonia and Australia.

The mother of six, grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of one is also a Pacifica Dunedin Central foundation member and life member, Dunedin Seventh Day Adventist Church women's ministry co-ordinator and Dunedin Samoan Advisory Council of Chiefs secretary.

She was a Creative New Zealand Pacific Island Arts Committee member from 1992 to 1995 and a member of the Pacific People's Trust Board from 1998 to 2008.

"Life is good for me and I believe God has been leading me through my journey. My church plays a very important part in my life," she said.

Violet Lynch
(Gore)
Services to netball

Gore woman Violet Lynch's more than 50 years of volunteer services to netball in Southland has been recognised with Queen's Service Medal.

Mrs Lynch (75) has been a local umpire examiner, coached theory classes, and was an active member of the Netball Eastern Southland Committee for over 50 years.

"I was surprised but very proud and humbled when I found out I had been recommended for the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Last week I got a lovely letter from John Key and I was thrilled."

Mrs Lynch began her involvement in netball in 1953 first as a player and later a coach.

"I just love coaching. I did love umpiring too, but with umpiring there's only one set of rules - with coaching it doesn't matter the way you coach and I love that about it."

She played the centre position when netball was nine players per side, and then wing attack when the sport switched to seven players per side.

She coached Ex High for 27 years, Gore High School for 17 years, and the St Peter's College year 10 team for six years. She has also coached umpires.

In 2007 Mrs Lynch received service awards from Netball New Zealand, Gore District, and was named Southland coach of the year in the lifetime category.

Although she no longer coaches netball, Mrs Lynch is an avid netball fan, watching the championships on television, and she practises with her grand-daughter and watches her play.

"It's not just about playing netball or coaching or umpiring ... I've made so many friends through netball, and some of those that I've coached or umpired have gone on to represent New Zealand or become international umpires."