‘Going the extra mile’: Kwaks win Nan Evans Volunteer Award for community service in Gisborne

Tairāwhiti Community Voice's outgoing president Joan-Ella Ngata (right) congratulates Nan Evans Award-winners Hans and Trish Kwak.

Hans and Trish Kwak are the modest and surprised recipients of the Nan Evans Volunteer Award for “strength of spirit and dedicated work for your community”.

The special Tairāwhiti Community Voice (TCV) award acknowledges volunteers’ actions, teamwork, inspirational leadership or persistent determination to ensure the community’s social needs are being addressed.

Hans said he and his wife were taken by surprise when they were invited to attend a TCV event, where they were presented with their award.

He stressed the award was as much for Trish as it was for him.

A TCV spokeswoman said the couple were acknowledged for their work with Stroke Tairāwhiti, St Andrew’s Church, Gisborne Wainui Lions and other community organisations.

“They are always looking for how they can support members/organisations in Gisborne.

“Hans and Trish help raise funds for equipment for Stroke, St Andrew’s, and have been part of Wainui Lions for many years.”

The Kwaks became well-known for their former business Anton’s Cake Shop, located for many years in the city centre, and were heavily involved with Gisborne Car Club back in the day.

Hans said he had been involved with Lions for more than 40 years.

The couple attend Stroke Tairāwhiti’s Thursday morning tea and a weekly exercise class at the YMCA.

“Trish enjoys it, I don’t.”

The Nan Evans award dates back to 2008 and honours Evans, who was a founding member of TCV (and its predecessor organisation Giscoss – the Gisborne East Coast Council of Social Services) and a prominent and long-serving member of community organisations in the district.

Nominees for the award must do volunteer work, the criteria being that it’s done of one’s own free will, is unpaid and carried out for the benefit of others.

They can be in paid work as well but must be considered to be “going the extra mile” and contributing to the community in a manner above and beyond what is expected in their role.

Last year’s winner was Dot McCulloch, who received the award for her service to Gisborne Care and Craft over 30 years.