Among his innumerable contributions to the betterment of the Papamoa community, perhaps Alan Bright's most significant and lasting achievement was the birth of the local football club.
He was one of the brightest lights of Papamoa for the last two decades and he brought the Papamoa Football Club into life almost single-handedly.
Club president Barbara Caie said it owed its existence to Mr Bright's foresight and continued dedication to the sporting cause.
"He started the club. Without him, who knows if it'd be there. The club owes him," she said.
Treasurer Paul van der Salm agreed that Mr Bright's involvement was the crucial ingredient in getting things off the ground.
"Alan's knowledge and experience of central and local government workings was invaluable to the development of Gordon Spratt Reserve and growth of Papamoa Football Club.
"Papamoa Football Club will always be indebted to him for his past input and support. He will be sadly missed."
In 1994, three years after he arrived in the community, a group of parents decided to form a football club at recently realised Gordon Spratt Reserve. They were told they needed 56 players signed up before they could enter a club into the Western Bay of Plenty junior league.
A membership drive ensued, with Mr Bright taking the matter into his own hands and biking door to door through the neighbourhood to secure the necessary numbers.
Within two months he had managed to sign up more than 100 players for the fledgling club.
"Papamoa Football Club started its first season in 1995 with 140 registered players, thanks largely to Alan's efforts," Mr van der Salm said.
"The club had a team in every grade, even though 90 per cent of the players had never played before. At the club's first prizegiving Alan was voted Most Valuable Club Member."
And his shining example at the club never dimmed in the subsequent years, Mrs Caie said.
"He was down every Saturday he was in town. He was still doing the lines, he was re-marking, he was going down and painting. He'd stop and support the kids, and cheer them on and give them words of support. [And] he was famous for his yodel.
"He was still very much involved, right from ground level right up to the committee."
But his generosity of time and effort didn't stop with the sports club.
Mr Bright was born in Blenheim in 1931. After a brief stint in Wellington, when he was 22 he joined the merchant navy without telling his family and sailed the world for the next five years before returning to New Zealand.
After attending university in Christchurch he was ordained as a deacon and served for a brief time in Levin before heading to government to work in several agencies in various roles. He was to become the energy conservation officer for the Ministry of Energy and travel the world analysing conservation options for New Zealand.
He retired in 1988 and moved his family to Papamoa to live at the beach.
Since his move north Mr Bright was also involved with Papamoa Progressive Association reviewing council papers and speaking for the community on issues of roading, footpaths and drainage, the United Seafarers' Mission, the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, and the Papamoa Beach Patrol where he volunteered as a Night Owl and a Day Lark since its inception 11 years ago.
His son Isaac said that even though his father was busy lobbying, organising and working on behalf of the community, he always had time for family as well.
"He never missed an important occasion, a school trip, a soccer match or anything, which is a rarity in today's society. He was always there for me when I needed him. My dad is my hero."