2010 Intrepid National Volunteer Awards

Thank you Te Radar, for your introduction, and your unique style as our Master of Ceremonies.

This is a fabulous and absolutely appropriate setting to be celebrating the 2010 Intrepid National Volunteer Awards.

In the midst of this glorious church with its exquisite stained glass windows, one can really feel the sense of history dating back to 1843 when Bishop Selwyn opened the one room school which was to be the foundations of St Matthews in the city.

Over the centuries, it was this church that held the memorial service for Prime Minister Richard Seddon; for the silver jubilee of King George V; to farewell troops and offer thanksgiving for their return.

And now in 2010, you can tune into iGod for podcasts and videos of sermons; you can browse through the Lucky Bear Blog; or stay connected through OMG!, the theological e-zine.

It is a mark of the times - the times which tonight's event is all about.

But there is another special part of this setting - and that is its diverse congregation which I am told dares to do things differently.

The Intrepid 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award is about celebrating the diverse strengths and talents of so many amazing New Zealanders, who dare to do things differently, to move outside of their comfort zones, and to give a little, live a lot.

It is about the people who keep our communities going; who build on the history and the heritage that makes us unique; each and every one of you building a better New Zealand.

I am really delighted to be here tonight and to see the growing numbers of New Zealanders who are getting in behind the Awards, nominating their local individual stars and voting online.

And I want to acknowledge Martin Bell and Gavin Healey from The Good Magazine; and Jo Olds from Intrepid Travel who have teamed up to highlight the work of some of our local heroes - those ordinary people who make us feel extraordinary; who give so much to invest in our communities.

One of the most incredible features of this event is the support it has attracted from the public. I am told that 6771 votes were received - double the number of votes that came in to the inaugural event last year. That to me is a clear indication of the high regard in which our volunteers are held.

It is also really heartening to see the level of respect that our volunteers have engendered in others around them - and in this light I want to particularly acknowledge Give-A-Little which sponsored the special Fundraiser Award.

The concept of being an intrepid leader is something that we have heard reflected throughout the stories tonight.

And I want to really mihi to all of our award winners who can truly be defined as brave, bold and resolutely courageous leaders - those who are prepared to rise up from the eye of the storm and help to lead their communities, their organisations forward.

Tonight then, we celebrate:

• John and Anette Money from Scripture Union;
• Pat Shepherd from Children on the Edge
• Susan Frear, from Cleft New Zealand
• Katie Owen of Street Football Aotearoa
• Darryl Pascoe of Star Jam
• Colin Ryder from Forest and Bird
• And Albie Shepherd from the SPCA.

Each of you had a calling -; it might be responding to the issues for the homeless by providing fitness and football training; or supporting the forgotten children of Burma; or supporting the needs of people with Cleft lip and palate.

You have gone beyond the call of duty - whether it's going out of your way to prepare special meals for children with food allergies; devoting endless hours to the eradication of mice on Mana Island; or caring for the animals and pets that society has abandoned.

There was one theme that resonated through all of the stories - and that was in the reaction of Darryl Pascoe when he was told he was nominated for this award. Darryl said, "Why me though? I'm not anyone special. I don't do anything special".

The humility; genuine commitment, and dedication of each of our leaders that we honour tonight is indeed special and worthy of national acclaim.

But perhaps one of the most wonderful things about this event tonight is that these local champions stand as a great source of inspiration to us all, for the quality of society we want to live in.

We all know that our lives are made immeasurably better by the people around us who use their different, knowledge, skills and capabilities to make a difference.

I am delighted that the theme of Volunteer Awareness Week - which takes place from the 20th to 26th June - reflects the way in which we are seeking to encourage our families, our whanau, our communities to work together, to lift the wellbeing of all New Zealanders.

The theme of ‘volunteering across the generations' is a great opportunity to encourage families to give of their time and efforts to invest in their communities.

One of the most exciting results of this evening would be that the stories we have heard tonight, reach into every home, and remind us all of the potential we all hold, to be brave, fearless, bold intrepid leaders in our own right.

Finally then, I want to thank all of the volunteers who have been nominated and acknowledged by their organisations and communities. I thank you for your commitment; your passion and your collective investment in our wellbeing.

And so it is now my great privilege to be able to announce the highly commended Volunteer of the Year......Katie Owen, Street Football Aotearoa.

Now, I would like to announce the 2010 Intrepid Travel Volunteer of the Year..."

and the winner is...Darryl Pascoe from Star Jam