Commendations for courage

Two special awards were presented at last week's Far North District Council citizens' awards ceremony.

One of the awards was on behalf of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand to Waipapa volunteer ambulance officer Kerry Sinclair for rescuing, and trying valiantly to revive a man who drowned at 90 Mile Beach in 2009.

The citation stated that 54-year-old Jack Wiki was gathering kaimoana at The Bluff on the morning of December 29, 2009. Two of his mokopuna were playing in shallow water about 50 metres away when they were caught by a wave and carried into a rip running around the rock.

Mr Wiki saw they were in trouble and went to their aid. He reached his grandson and tried to support him by holding his head above water, but struggled to remain afloat himself. Another rescuer took the boy from him, while another tried unsuccessfully to save Mr Wiki, who floated away.

Mr Sinclair, who was driving south, stopped when a group of people alerted him to the unfolding crisis.

He went to investigate and saw Mr Wiki's body floating in the breaker line 100 metres from the shore.

He and three others waded out and brought Mr Wiki to the beach, where Mr Sinclair administered CPR for 30 minutes, with the help of two others. However, they were unable to revive Mr Wiki.

Mr Sinclair was one of five people recognised by the society for their heroic efforts at the beach that day, resulting in the successful rescue of the two children. The society also awarded Mr Wiki a posthumous certificate.

More than a beerMeanwhile, Waimamaku kaumatua Goff Rawiri, QSM, OSM, asked the council to recognise farmhand Rata Moa for the role he played in fighting the fire that destroyed the Opononi Four Square store in June.

Mr Rawiri said the fire could have spread to the adjacent Opononi Hotel if Mr Moa, who was first on the scene, had not exercised initiative and shown remarkable bravery.

He scaled the hotel wall and used a garden hose to direct water along a fire wall between the hotel and the store, which was well ablaze, then turned the hose on the building until the fire brigade arrived, despite intense heat and at great risk to his personal safety.

Mr Rawiri added that Mr Moa's actions were deserving of more than a free beer at the hotel, and the council agreed.