Unsung heroes George Nathan-Patuawa and Veronica Nathan-Patuawa onboard the Pacific Sun. Photo / Kenny Rodger
To nominate an Unsung Hero for their community service and for terms and conditions go to: www.unsungheroes.org.nz
In 50 years of marriage, George and Veronica Nathan-Patuawa had never taken a holiday, let alone a honeymoon.
"We had never ever been on a cruise, never ever been on a holiday. My husband was a priest in the church so he was busy seven days a week, we never
had time to take a cruise."
But last year the Northland couple enjoyed a 10-day P&O island cruise after being named one of the Herald's Unsung Heroes for their community work.
The trip was so enjoyable - Mrs Nathan-Patuawa spent much of her time "dancing and talking to everyone" - that she is now planning a second cruise with her two young granddaughters.
The couple, who are in their 70s, were among the winners of the 2008 Unsung Heroes series. Last year's winners will take their cruises during the next few months.
Now the Herald wants to hear from anyone who thinks people in their community should be rewarded for their work.
Herald deputy editor David Hastings said the series was about recognising people who worked in their local communities "quietly doing things to make life better for everybody else and who are not normally widely recognised".
"There's an awful lot of people out there making an enormous contribution without any expectation of reward or recognition," he said.
"This is a way of saying thank you to them but also about informing New Zealand about all the positive work being done in our communities."
Chief executive of Carnival Australia and New Zealand Ann Sherry said P&O Cruises was delighted to be a founding partner in the Unsung Heroes programme.
"Over the past two years the amazing stories of courage, commitment and hope have been overwhelming, a testament to the strong Kiwi tradition of community service," she said.
Ms Sherry said P&O was pleased to be able to offer the five winners a cruise holiday in recognition of their contribution.
"But most of all the programme is about acknowledging all the unsung community contributions that occur day in, day out all over the country.
"If you know someone making this kind of contribution, why not nominate them?"
The Unsung Community Heroes series is run annually in the The Herald and on nzherald.co.nz in partnership with P&O Cruises. We invited nominations from readers to recognise people who selflessly work to make a difference in their local communities.
Some will be selected to feature in the paper and on nzherald.co.nz. Five will be chosen to join a P&O winter cruise.
