2009 HONOURS:
" Cameron Leslie, Whangarei, for services to swimming, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
" Professor Russell and Gina Garcia, Kerikeri, for services to music, Queen's Service Medal
" Heather Elizabeth Lindauer, JP, Russell, for services to the community, Queen's Service Medal
" Anna Marshall, Whangarei, for services to the
Pacific Islands community and the community, Queen's Service Medal
" Clement Rudolph Simich (former National MP) was born in Te Kopuru on June 2, 1939; Queen's Service Medal
Cameron Leslie is a driven and talented young man.
Just 12 months ago his No.1 goal was to compete at the Paralympics in Beijing and make the top five.
The Whangarei lad eclipsed even his dreams. He won gold in the 150m Individual Medley swimming final, setting a new world record and knocking six seconds of his personal best time in the process.
To top the outstanding year off, the 18-year-old has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to swimming in the New Year's Honours list.
"I would never have imagined having a year like this," an excited Mr Leslie said. "This accolade sits really close behind my gold medal performance (in the Beijing Paralympics)."
Mr Leslie has a quadruple limb deficiency, and is missing both legs below the knee so has no traction in the water from kicking - relying instead on upper body strength. He is also missing four fingers on his right hand and half of his left forearm.
But attitude is everything and Mr Leslie never lets his disability hold him back.
"I might not have all the limbs but you have to use what you've got. Life is what you make of it."
Mr Leslie was celebrating his New Year's honour with his sister in Wellington after spending some time at home in Whangarei with his parents Theresa and Ross.
He chomped into seafood chowder, made by his brother, for Christmas lunch and was laying off the beers as he launched into another gruelling training regime.
In November he has his sights set on competing in the Short Course World Champs in Brazil.
In between training he will continue to study for a communications degree at AUT with an eye on becoming a journalist.
