A man who keeps giving

Ron Hallett By the Far North's immutable standard, Ron Hallett is not a Kaitaia local. Having only lived there since 1989, he is forever disqualified, but he has given enough to his community over the last 24 years to last a lifetime.

Ron is now making plans to move 'down the line,' probably some time after his 88th birthday early next year, to be closer to his children, which has prompted some who know him best to shine the light on a little of what he has done.

Te Ahu customer services manager Nina Gobie describes him as an inspiration.

"Staff come and staff go, but Ron Hallett, a volunteer, just keeps on coming," she said.

Friends of Kaitaia Library was established within months of his arrival in Kaitaia. He was one of the founding friends, and still now, almost a quarter of a century later, he rarely misses a Friday in the library.

"He is an amazing shelver but he has done much, much more to help library staff on a voluntary basis," Nina said.

"He has clambered up ladders, painted, shifted shelves and fixed anything and everything over the years."

And if that wasn't enough he had had a huge impact in other voluntary capacities around the Far North. Also in 1989 he joined the committee for the A&P; show in Kaitaia, served that organisation steadfastly until 2004, culminating as president after various vice-presidential stints in earlier years.

Around that time, still determined to make a difference in the local community, he became a committee member for Age Concern, and continues in that voluntary capacity today. Over the years he has served as treasurer, vice-chairman, and two years as chairman.

Before moving to Kaitaia Ron volunteered with the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust in Kawakawa, applying some of the skills he acquired working for New Zealand Railways.

"If you are ever in the Kaitaia Library on a Friday morning you'll likely find Ron making some order to the bookshelves," Nina added.

"By the way, he was nominated for and deservedly received a Trust Power Community Service Award in 2012."