Two Tauranga Age Concern volunteers received Honours for their work in 2010.
Age Concern New Zealand Board member Dorothy Stewart and Age Concern Tauranga president Lorraine Wilson both received Queen’s Service Medals for services to senior citizens and the community.
“It’s a great thing for Age Concern. It recognises the importance of our work and it validates our messages about the needs and potential of seniors in communities,” Dorothy says.
Due to the embargo after their advance notice of their honours, neither woman could tell the other of her award till the public announcement. “It added to the celebration for both of us to realise we had received QSMs.”
Dorothy Stewart
Dorothy Stewart comes from a lifetime of community support, most recently in Tauranga. “I was a Plunket nurse till I retired, and I haven't stopped working for the community since."
In addition to her Age Concern New Zealand Board role, Dorothy represents older people through the Tauranga Community Health Liaison Group, Tauranga Elder Forum, Positive Ageing Tauranga, the U3A and the National Council of Women.
Dorothy notes that many people working for older people are also active in working at the other end of life – the beginning. “Children and seniors have much in common: they’re two vulnerable groups which need to be given a voice, they have unique needs, but they can also make unique contributions to society.”
Lorraine Wilson
Lorraine Wilson is thrilled with the level of recognition and congratulations she’s received since her QSM was announced.
It caps 50 years’ work in the voluntary sector, including sports administration, and 12 years with Age Concern Tauranga, including 10 years as President.
Lorraine represents Age Concern on the Community Health Liaison Group, Positive Ageing Tauranga, Tauranga Tomorrow and is an independent member of the Population Ageing Technical Advisory Group.
In her time with Age Concern, Lorraine has seen awareness of older people’s needs and their importance to the community grow; an improvement she has had an important role in. Promotion of Age Concern’s work has been a big part of her work, with many speaking engagements and skilful administration.
“This isn’t just an award for me: it’s a team award for the staff and volunteers that make up Age Concern Tauranga.” Lorraine says.
“It’s wonderful recognition for Age Concern and a big acknowledgement of the importance of our work.”
>RETURN TO Age Concern Tauranga's web page