Former mayor Annette Main follows father's footsteps

Bill Main was in Wellington yesterday to see his daughter and former Whanganui mayor Annette Main received her ONZM.

Former Whanganui mayor Annette Main received her ONZM at Government House yesterday, three decades after her father received the equivalent OBE.

Ms Main was joined by her 87-year-old father Bill Main in Wellington as she was presented with her medal by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and a ceremony with 25 other recipients.

She was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government in the New Year's Honours.

Mr Main was awarded his Order of the British Empire in the 1980s for services to cycling and Ms Main said it was special having him there yesterday.

"The Governor-General asked Dad about his OBE," she said.

"It was nice. We were talking about how similar it was to when Dad had it. There's not many occasions where you can wear those medals."

She said it was a very formal occasion with a more relaxed morning tea afterwards.
"It was really good," Ms Main said.

"I think when you go to it you realise that it is really significant and you realise that actually maybe you did make a difference."