by Andr? Hueber
Russell resident Heather Lindauer has worn many different hats in her time - oyster farmer, marriage celebrant and museum curator.
Now she's been recognised with a Queen's Service Medal for her years of community service.
When Mrs Lindauer opened up the letter telling her she had been awarded the QSM,
her first thought was "what - me?"
"I was quite overwhelmed. Russell is a small community which lots of people give their service to. I didn't think I'd be singled out.
"I'm quite a shy person but my husband [Lynton] said I must accept it. I'd like to pay tribute to him. There's many things I wouldn't have done without his encouragement and support."
Mrs Lindauer has been involved with the Russell community for more than 40 years.
After growing up in Auckland and training as a teacher, she moved north where she met and married Lynton Lindauer. She worked as a teacher at Kawakawa and Russell Primary schools, as a volunteer with the Order of St John and as a Justice of the Peace.
When she first arrived in Russell, it was smaller and much less international, Mrs Lindauer said.
"Now there's more businesses and more absentee landowners but there's still that tremendous balance between what's special and making money. Russell is not your typical village - it isn't insular - there's always fresh ideas."
In the 1990s Mrs Lindauer trained part-time to be an Anglican minister.
"I felt a tap on my shoulder from people saying `you should do this'. It was a slow journey and it took me a while to accept."
In 1998 she became part of the ministry team at New Zealand's oldest church - Russell's Christ Church (built in 1836).
Mrs Lindauer has always enjoyed the fact Russell is a bicultural town. She has been a strong supporter of a plan to build a marae on the sea shore.
"There's been many a tangi crammed into a tiny house. The dream to develop the Department of Conservation headquarters into a marae is becoming a reality."
