Editorial: Putting others first sets a fine example for life

A good yardstick for us all when we reach the end of our lives will be to look back and think not only what did we achieve but how did we help others.

Did we help those less fortunate? Did we get stuck into charity work and help people facing challenges most of us cannot even fathom? Did we help someone facing huge adversity? Did we support someone in their hour of need? Did we make a difference? Did we save a life?

In our community there are people who can answer yes to one or more of these questions - and I had the privilege of sharing a few hours with some of them this week.

The people I am referring to are finalists in this year's Bay of Plenty Times Person of the Year 2014 awards.

We held our awards ceremony at the Bay of Plenty Times on Wednesday to celebrate their work and to award the supreme winner as selected by the awards judging panel and people's choice winner as voted by the public on bayofplentytimes.co.nz

Six of the eight finalists were at the presentation, supported by family and friends.

They were Paul Adams, Dan Allen-Gordon, Buddy Mikaere, Adrian Oldham, Lindsay Smith and Michelle Whitmore.

Finalist Bryce Dinneen was unable to be present and was represented by his father, Rob. Finalist Lance Scullin, who died in Merivale just over a year ago, was represented by family and the Merivale community.

As we built up to announcing the winners, I spent some time talking about each finalist, and about why they were nominated.

It was a humbling experience.

Each has made a dramatic difference to other people's lives and our community.

They have either contributed to the Western Bay in terms of charity, fund-raising or other non-profit organisation; had achieved remarkable business, career or sporting success; or had demonstrated courageous actions.

Collectively, they have had a positive impact on thousands of lives in the Bay.

Each finalist deserved their place and it was difficult for the judging panel to choose eight from a record number of nominations.

It is great this year that we could give the public their say on who they thought deserved the title.

The public voted over a period of just under a fortnight and, as we report today, they chose Bryce Dinneen as the People's Choice Winner.

Bryce was left a tetraplegic after a swimming accident.

But as he lay in Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch, his love of the sea was still strong and he began figuring out how he could help people with disabilities access saltwater recreational activities.

And so Wish For Fish was born.

Each month, Bryce's charity takes people with disabilities on fishing trips. This is a fantastic charity and what Bryce has done is give people facing huge adversity the chance to experience one of life's most rewarding pastimes - catching a fish.

Good on you, Bryce. You have used your own tragic experience to help others and make a difference in their lives.

CHOOSING the supreme winner, who would take home the title of Bay of Plenty Times Person of the Year 2014, was a difficult process.

The judges - The Hits presenter Will Johnston, Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Liz van Welie, and myself - met and worked our way through the profiles of each finalist.

But as we discussed the great work each had done, we unanimously settled on the winner - Senior Constable Adrian Oldham.

As you will have read in today's edition, Adrian risked his own life to save a 77-year-old woman from her burning Mount Maunganui house.

He ripped a window off its hinges and had three attempts at dragging the woman out from the thick, acrid smoke, before eventually managing to save her.

The woman, Neta Lawrence, would not be here today without him.

Like last year's winner - Constable Deane O'Connor, who saved a man from the icy, cold water off Maungatapu Bridge - Adrian showed tremendous courage and saved a life.

It is one of the most selfless acts anyone can do and is difficult to surpass.

And like Deane O'Connor, Adrian, in true hero fashion, is humble about his award.

Adrian is a credit to himself, his family and the New Zealand Police. We are fortunate to have him in our community.

Our winners and finalists are all heroes and deserve a round of applause.

They should be proud of their achievements.

They have helped people. They have made a difference.