He has since served other roles in the education field, but is also secretary of social reform platform the Napier Pilot City Trust and has organised its recent annual Unity Week forums.
"Solutions lie within communities and this has been reinforced for me with the development work I have been involved with," he says.
"The only way for initiatives to be successful is to build capacity from within."
Cleary was one of seven honoured at the 2022 Napier City Council Citizens' Civic Awards Ceremony at the Napier War Memorial Centre.
The others are Heather Brown, Graeme Findlay, Keith James, Jenny Too, Tofilau Talalalei Taufale, and Isabel Wood.
The organisations the seven volunteers are associated with also include the Multicultural Association Hawke's Bay, Bay Independent Hockey Club, the Hawke's Bay Seafarers' Welfare Centre, Mahana, Grey Power Napier, Taradale Senior Citizens' Association, USO Bike Ride, and St Joseph's Māori Girls College.
Hastings District Council held its Civic Awards last month, recognising 20 individuals who had given back to the community, helping improve and enrich the lives of others.
The annual Hastings District Council Civic Honours Awards took place at Functions on Hastings at Toitoi - Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the awards was one of the most important and anticipated civic events in the council calendar.
This year's recipients were:
Mohinder Singh Nagra – Heavily involved in the Sikh community and temple in Hastings
Marion and Mike Shakespeare – Long-time Nourished for Nil volunteers
Leah Baterbonia – Hawke's Bay Filipino community mentor
Sayeed Ahmed – A founding member of the Bangladesh Association of New Zealand
Kane Koko – A champion of the Pakipaki community
Owen 'Jerry' Hapuku – Jerry has spent 45 years in voluntary roles throughout Kahungunu, Hawke's Bay and Heretaunga districts generously sharing his knowledge of kaupapa Māori
Vivien (Viv) Brown – Involved with Hastings Lions for many years, Vic was also instrumental in creating and continues to organise the annual Young Achievers event
Traci Tuimaseve – Traci is a highly respected member of the Flaxmere community who volunteers his time
Ruiha Tiakina Erueti Woodward (Nanny Nana) – Ruiha is a long-standing advocate of the kōhanga reo movement
Christina McBeth – One of the co-founders of the food rescue project Nourished for Nil
Lara Ventura – A dynamic chair of the Philippine community of Hawke's Bay
Ross Webb – The sport of rowing, both local and national, has benefitted hugely from the countless voluntary hours Ross has given
Julie Hart – Julie has volunteered both locally and nationally for Women's Refuge since she first started with Hastings Women's Refuge in 1994
Edward 'Joe' Simmons – Joe has dedicated more than 50 years to the Maraekākaho Volunteer Fire Brigade
Barbara Walker – Lead chaplain at Hawke's Bay Hospital from 2009 to 2021
Ave Faka'osi – After spending years volunteering to support Pasifika learner drivers to gain their licence, Ave has now shaped and delivers a targeted drivers licence initiative
Ron Wilkins – Long service with Grey Power
Tofilau Talaleli Taufale – Tofilau has provided passionate leadership and worked tirelessly for the Pasifika community
Kevin Hodges – For 23 years Kevin has contributed to the community through fighting rural fires
