Service awards for civil defence leaders

LONG SERVERS: Four men from this district have received New Zealand Civil Defence ‘long service’ awards for many years commitment to the wellbeing of this community. They received their awards in the Gisborne District Council chambers yesterday morning. From left are James (Pop) Milner, Ian Smith, Sarah Stuart-Black (Director of NZCD), John Clarke and, Ian Hunter. Picture by Liam Clayton

FOUR long-serving leaders of civil defence in this region has been recognised with long service awards presented by the New Zealand body.

Former Gisborne Mayor John Clarke, Ian Hunter from Gisborne, James (Pop) Milner from Tolaga Bay and Ian Smith from Te Karaka were recognised for service going back to the l980s.

They received their awards from the director of the Ministry of Civil Defence emergency management Sarah Stuart-Black.

Their citations for the awards read as follows:

John Clarke: 1983-1989 local controller for Waikohu County during Cyclone Bola, clean-up activities and trustee of the Mayoral Relief Fund. Since 2002 still serving group recovery manager and alternate group controller. Mr Clarke has organised recovery for three significant flood events and also assisted with training and exercises.

Pop Milner: 1990-1996 deputy community emergency manager in Tolaga Bay, assisting with flood events and training and exercises. Since 1999 community emergency manager and has managed several events involving evacuation. He has built and maintained relationships with response managers.

Ian Hunter: In 1988 joined Waikohu area civil defence at the time of Bola (he was principal of the local school at the time). In 1990 recruited as area coordinator for Waikohu to support the 13 Waikohu communities. Since 1997 response manager and alternate controller during recent flood events and the 2007 earthquakes.

Ian Smith: Since 2002 still serving area co-ordinator responsible for the 13 Waikohu communities, responsible for the support to those communities during times of emergencies. He also organises and assists with training and exercises.